OK, just one more post.
I decided I should count up how many of each type of book I read, so here is the tally:
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| Book trucks ready for fall! |
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
The Last Hurrah! (But never the last book)
This is it--the last official day of summer. Of course I've spent most of the last few days at work, trying to re-organize the library for huge class sizes this year. Now don't think I'm taking any sort of break from reading! I've got four things going right now: Howard Zinn's A Young People's History of America, a book of letters by famous children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom Dear Genius, the latest Science and Children Magazine, and School Library Monthly. Plus I read three other new Mo Willems books I didn't list. So there. On to the reviews...
Chase lives with his mom, stepfather, and two sisters in the White Mountains of Arizona. Since his parents run a store and tourist cabins, he has a lot of unpaid work to do every day, but although he sometimes feels put-upon his life is really pretty great. He can leap on his bike whenever his chores are done and ride out into the mountains to go exploring. Exploring is even more fun with his new GPS, because he can use it to find geocaches--hidden treasure boxes that other people have hidden. The game is to find the box using only GPS coordinates. Chase finds his first geocache, which is exciting enough, but what does the mysterious message in the cache's logbook mean? It sounds like someone needs help...This is one of those stories where, as a mom, it's a little hard to read because I just want to yell at the kid "Don't you see you're in over your head? Go tell an adult what's going on already!!" But they never do! Chase wants to do the right thing, and he makes choices that are realistic for someone his age. His emotions when things aren't going so well are realistic too. If you like adventure stories, you'll like this book.
The Goffstown News (a local newspaper. OK, so I ran out of quick books that day.)
The Horn Book, Sept/Oct
Have I said this is my absolute favorite source for reviews? So many good books--It kills me that I don't have a budget (at all!!!) to buy any.
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems (ISBN: 978-142314343-7)
Oh Mo, you are so brilliant. This is another classic Elephant and Piggie book. Gerald the elephant's expressions are so readable, sooooooo funny. I don't know if kids get the subtlety when they read them independently, but it's easy to punch it up with voices when you're reading aloud. Even though I don't have little kids at home anymore, I buy every new one of the easy readers that comes out because I love them so much--and then donate them to the library, of course!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
OK, so I've been busy!
I've got a long list of books to write about today. Since I was behind on the blogging already, it didn't help that I was internet-free all last week on a College Adventure camping trip. Just to clarify the "rules" I've set for myself this summer, I am reading a "book" a day--but that might include a picture book, a magazine, a graphic novel, etc. Also I often read a few shorter things on one day while I'm reading something longer at the same time. So here goes again...
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Of course I had to read one of the Little House books after reading The Wilder Life. It was lovely, as always. I wonder what my students would make of it. I think that what drew me the most in these books was Laura's sense of cozy satisfaction, having just enough and not needing anymore. I used to play "running away" on the landing of our stairs in the big house in Lee where I grew up, and it was all about choosing just the few things that would be "enough," and wrapping them up in a bundle I could carry. I have to admit that I'd like to take my students by the collar and say "Look! You can be happy without having all this modern stuff! You can make your own fun!" Judgmental, I know. For one thing, you need to have enough to eat first.All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn (ISBN: 978-0-329-74655-1)
I read this one so that I could booktalk Hahn's books more effectively. I have a large collection of these ghost stories in the library, and they are very popular. For people my age, I guess you could compare them with Richard Peck's Blossom Culp books, such as Ghosts I Have Been, which I loved as a kid. In other words, it's creepy enough to raise goosebumps, straightforward enough to understand without too much work, the ghosts are real, and at least one kid has an extra sensitivity to the ghosts that helps (usually her) perceive them. That last bit was important to me, I remember. When you're around 9-11 years old, your brain starts telling you that there's more to life than the things you touch with your hands. But although you can feel this invisible world, you aren't ready to understand it. It feels like an extra sense. Maybe it is. Maybe all kids that age are steeped in magic.Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman, pictures by Beth Krommes (ISBN: 978-0-547-31583-6)
A beautiful literary non-fiction book that illustrates the swirl shape in nature. The text is rhythmic, with the refrain "a spiral is a _____ shape" repeating throughout. The scratchboard illustrations, by the winner of the Caldecott for House in the Night are bold enough to "read" in a large group, but detailed enough to reward a closer examination by a single child. I'll combine this book with a drawing lesson, and/or maybe a math lesson for older kids.Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld (ISBN 978-0-8050-8776-5)
Everything has a voice here--clouds, trees, animals, skyscrapers--they all talk to Cloudette as she journeys around being adorable but too small. This is a pretty standard "be true to yourself and keep trying" book. The little guy (cloud) wins in the end, of course. Cute, but undistinguished. Maybe the kids will show me why this book was chosen.My Big Backyard Magazine
Ranger Rick Magazine
These two National Wildlife Federation magazines have gotten a lot flimsier since the days when I read them. I'm trying to decide what magazines would be worth getting in the library this year. Even being thin, these are still notable for their beautiful animal photographs and lack of advertisements. I'll probably get them.Kiki Magazine
This is kind of a cool magazine, but I'm not sure what audience it's really for. It's all about fashion and the fashion industry with a girl-power twist. I don't think it matches up with my kids that well, but I'll leave in on a table and see what they say.Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede (ISBN: 9780545033435)
My own kids and I loved Wrede's dragon books, starting with Dealing With Dragons, and early example of the twisted-fairytale genre that's been so popular in the past few years. This book is a steampunk-y twist on the exploration of the American frontier. This world is a mix of magical technology and 1860's technology. The main character is a strong girl, one of those "I seem to be less magical than everyone else, but really it's because I have some kind of extra-special other magic" kind of characters. I only realized after reading for a while that this is a second book in a series, which doesn't say much for the need for three books about this character instead of one. It was enjoyable enough, and a good match for a car camping trip, since it involves a journey.The New York Times/The Christian Science Monitor
Rose quibbles, but I say that there are far more words in the New York Times than there are in a picture book. I put in two-for-one to make her happy.Zoe Rising by Pam Conrad (ISBN 9780060272173)
I was heartbroken to find out, after reading the magical picture books about The Tub People to another group of second graders, that Pam Conrad had died young. There would never be any more Tub People books, nor any others. But I did go to my favorite out-of-print book source, Alibris, to find out if she had written anything else. I was surprised to learn that she had done several chapter books. One of them, Stonewords, was a terrific ghost story--a lot creepier than Mary Downing Hahn's books actually--and this book is a sequel to that. It's not so much ghost story as a supernatural story. I would have loved it as a teenager.
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve (ISBN: 9780545222150)
The ISBN above is for the paperback, but we listened to the audiobook in the car. First, Philip Reeve is a fantastic voice author, very unusual for a writer reading his own books. He does a bunch of different voices for his characters with different (English) accents and pitches. We were riveted. The story is great too. It's another steampunk-y book, this time in a future post-apocalyptic world. One of the brilliant ways that Reeve makes this world convincing, is the random bits of ancient language that the inhabitants cobble together to make new words. If I had the print book in front of me, I could find a good example, but the only one I can remember is that they use "blogger" to refer to someone that is a bit stupid. Ouch. The world is violent, dirty, superstitious. Fever Crumb is a strong girl character who doesn't fit well in this world because she has been trained as an "engineer," a scientist of the "old tech" who tries to figure out how these devices worked and re-invent them. This is the first in a three or four book series which is a prequel to another series by Reeve. Highly recommended. |
| Elizabeth Cady Stanton |
These next 3 books were purchased at the gift shop for the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. This was the site of the first Convention to discuss the rights of women in 1848.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (Graphic Library) by Connie Cowell Miller (ISBN 978-0-7368-6194-6)
This is not one of the best of these graphic history books that I have read. The conflict between Elizabeth Cady and her father is played up for dramatic effect. The tour guide at the park actually suggested that Mr. Cady encouraged his daughter's independence by giving her (illegally) title to a house and land. Still, I hope kids who like the other titles in the series will read this one.Marching With Aunt Susan by Claire Rudolf Murphy (ISBN 978-1-56145-593-5)
This book uses the perspective of a young girl to illustrate the fight for women's suffrage, and introduces us to Susan B. Anthony. It is based on the letters and papers of the real Bessie Keith Pond, who lived in California in the late 1800's. It's a good introduction to the times, and should promote discussion.Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone (ISBN 978-0-8050-7903-6)
This is another book about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, beginning with her girlhood, and ending with the Women's Rights Convention. It doesn't give the "end" of the story or talk about why it took another 75 years for women to get the right to vote, but again, it's a good introduction to the topic.Thursday, August 9, 2012
A Marathon Post--I'm Just Behind on Blogging!
The Wilder Life by Wendy McClure (ISBN-13: 978-1594485688)
As promised, here is one of those “I did this crazy thing for a year and it brought me profound insights into my own life” books. Wendy McClure, (like me) was obsessed with The Little House on the Prairie series when she was little. (Or the “Laura and Mary books,” as I called them.) But let me just say right here that Ms. McClure was a total lightweight. She hadn’t even tried making butter until she embarked on her Laura-channelling adventure. Heck, I made butter, candles, helped can peaches, sewed samplers, built campfires in the snow, ate sugar-on-snow...you get the point. Maybe I had a little advantage in that I grew up with a big field of long golden grass beside the house that could effortlessly be transformed into a prairie, and a big sister who could sew prairie skirts. Still, when it comes right down to actually doing any living-history activities, Wendy McClure gets bored, or even a bit snide, like when she refers to a modern-day back-to-the-lander woman as “crazy” for having a loom and a roomful of yarn. Puh-leeeze.It’s interesting to realize though, that it’s not unlikely that some of the my most basic values about what it means to be a competent human being might have some roots in the Laura and Mary books. For instance, you should learn to do as much for yourself as possible. Practice baking bread, growing a garden, sewing and crocheting, woodworking, doing art, fixing plumbing. Also, acquire tools and learn how to use them. Be physically strong or at least not too squeamish. Be adaptable and try to look on the bright side. Take pleasure in small things if you can’t get the big things. These are all qualities I’ve tried to pass on to my kids, without being too conscious of it, and I think that worked out pretty well. What I’m realizing more and more in these scary times is that I think they might just be better-suited to facing the probable challenges in their lives because of it.
The story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s life was not nearly as simple as the books she wrote made it out to be. Thom and I had a discussion about whether or not she would be criticized now for pretending that every word was true, when it’s clear from historical records and her own letters and journals that she took a great deal of liberty with events. But Laura was a storyteller, not just a documentarian. She had a strong sense of the narrative she wanted to create, along with a feeling that she wanted to document a way of life that she felt people should not forget. So what if she didn’t actually see Pa make that door latch in Little House on the Prairie. She probably remembered something similar from another house, but it fit better into the story there. I suppose the issue is simply with how she represented the books. Anyway, it doesn’t bother me that every detail wasn’t experienced in exactly the way it is described. We are all storytellers of our own lives. Most of us just do it only for ourselves.
So even though I wished that Wendy McClure had been willing to get her hands a little dirtier (after all, that’s really how you travel to “Laura World,) I guess she did make me think over those books again. I’ll probably read one again too.
Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Ioin Colfer (ISBN-13: 978-1423161615)
I got in trouble with a parent over the Artemis Fowl graphic novel last spring. Darn Scholastic switched up a few things to make it more teen-friendly without warning us poor defenseless librarians. My fault, of course, for not checking, but a "free" graphic novel is a hard thing to resist and I usually only have a couple of hours to tally up the book fair and decide what I can afford to keep and what gets stuck back into those shiny silver cases. Anyway, it was good to get a reality check on the novel series by reading the very last one. As remembered, Artemis is a great character. Uber-wealthy and off-the-charts brilliant, Artemis thinks he is invincible and is basically out to take over the world. As the series goes on, he realizes his own faults and tries to become a better person. Of course we know he is worthy, because of the love he inspires in the human and fairy characters around him. And all of this character-development comes with a boy-friendly mix of mild potty-humor, shoot-outs with mostly non-lethal weapons, and daring rescues involving fairy technology. It's sad when a book challenge focuses on one word or image, without understanding the whole context of a series. Sigh.The best part of The Last Guardian was an intriguing little bit of the Fowl family backstory alongside some Fairy history. We humans don't come off very well, by the way. But when the world is pushed to the brink of destruction, it turns out, surprisingly, that the humans pull it together and start doing what they should have been doing all along (i.e. alternative energy, local solutions, pulling together to get through a crisis.) The book lacked some of the humor of the early books, (and you would definitely not want to start with this one) but there is still plenty of action, dwarf gas, and undeniable proof that Artemis can't claim to be a criminal mastermind anymore. And there is even the opening for the series to go on, if Colfer really wanted to return to it.
Turning High-Poverty School into High-Performing Schools by William H. Parrett, and Kathleen M. Budge (ISBN-13: 978-1416613138)
This is the last of the poverty-related books I will read this summer. I have a lot buzzing around in my head right now that I'm not exactly sure what to do with, but I think it will be valuable. This book both lays out some of the research regarding the effects of poverty on students, and suggests ways that schools can reform their practice to better serve these students.( I'm not sure if it, by itself, has enough background information, so I would recommend reading it with A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne) This book can function as a workbook for a school, or even a team, to evaluate their current practice and identify action steps to move forward. There are numerous rating scales and checklists to assist in this practice.One thing that all the books emphasized is that it is absolutely crucial to have high expectations for students living in poverty. It got me wondering if part of our problem in Manchester is the low expectations that surround us as teachers. After all, the "public" (as voiced by the Union Leader) is constantly judging us as failing. Calls for abandoning the system proliferate. Teachers are not only failing, they are failing while being expensive--which is the ultimate sin. How would things be different if we were surrounded by people who believed in us? Who celebrate how hard we work? Who, when we are mired and burdened by the day-to-day effort of teaching, could have a clear vision of where we were headed, and could cheer us along when we lose our way?
Now for the more lightweight books--I can't read such weighty tomes all the time! I'm going to have to go and get a handful of picture books.
Micro Monsters by Christopher Maynard (ISBN: 978-0-7894-4756-2)
I'm usually not squeamish, but YUCK! This book gives all the details on the tiny living things that may share our bodies with or without our knowledge--like lice, mites, and bed bugs. Actually, it's pretty fascinating. The electron microscope images are amazing. No space alien could look weirder than a head louse or a flea magnified a gazillion times. I think that the gimmick of having the bugs speak in first "person" is an unnecessary distraction. The material by itself is engaging, and the mix of a narrative style with the scientific content is confusing.
Cloth Paper Scissors magazine
This is what in our family we call a "dumb dumb magazine." In other words, it's just for fun. I like to look at the pictures and imagine all the projects I'd like to do if I had more time and space.
In a Circle, Long Ago (ISBN: 0-679-85807-5) by Nancy Van Laan
Native American poems and legends, written for a young audience. My favorite is the one about Crow bringing the water, which reminds me of Raven by Gerald McDermott. I think I like it because it has the most familiar beginning-middle-ending format. I'm not sure what it is about Native American stories, but the often seem to end too abruptly.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Graphic Novels are Real Reading
My husband used to hate graphic novels, until I brought home the Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi. I've been trying to get him to read the brilliant Bone by Jeff Smith forever, so I don't know what it was about Amulet that he liked better. Anyway, he's read a few now, including some non-fiction titles. Reading a graphic novel requires practice, the building up of a different kind of reading/viewing muscle. In other words, if you've only tried one, don't give up quite yet. I have somewhat mixed feelings about adaptations of classic literature. Should I put them in the same doubtful boat as Reader's Digest versions? Or are they something else entirely? I tend to fall on the latter side of the argument--and, as always, on the side of access--in this case for students that may have heard of classic stories, but aren't ready to read them yet. Did you know that Greek myths are all over video games? And look at the many permutations of the Sherlock Holmes stories in movies and on TV. Most of my kids could never read the originals, but why not get them hooked on the characters in another format? Anyway, the next reviews are of graphics--only one classic.
Moby Dick (The Campfire Graphic Novel) by Herman Melville, adapted by Lance Stahlberg, illustrated by Lalit Kumar Singh (ISBN:978-81-907515-6)
I found it funny that the graphic novel adaptation of this book was slim, even for a graphic novel. The famous children's book editor once wrote, in an encouraging letter to Maurice Sendak, "Yes, Moby Dick is great, but honestly don't you see great gobs of it that could come out?" (I got this from one of my favorite blogs, Letters of Note.) I think the adapter of this book did a pretty good job choosing the great gobs. The art is pretty good too, although in the beginning it was a little hard to tell the different characters apart by their looks--something that might confuse kids. A few kids have heard of this story, so it's not a bad idea to have an adaptation around, especially one that I got "free" at the book fair.Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke (ISBN: 978-1-59643-446-2)
I really liked this one! Charming monsters. Very "readable" art (see comments above--this would be a good trainer.) Strong girl character. Zita and her friend Joseph accidentally get sucked onto another planet by a mysterious alien artifact. Unfortunately, the planet they land on is going to be blown to bits in three days by an asteroid, and a group of aliens kidnap Joseph because they've had a vision that he's going to save them. Zita to the rescue! along with a reluctant adult helper and some cute robots. I can't wait for the next installment.
Kingdom Hearts: by Shiro Amano (ISBN 978-1-4278-1504-0)
Sorry Gabriel, I tried this one but couldn't make head-nor-tail of it. I only realized after I started that it's book 2 in the series. And I only realized after I plucked it from the book fair that it is "based on the hit video game." I'd hoped that this would be OK manga to have in an elementary school (that's always a bit dicey, but the kids are fascinated by the novelty of right-to-left, back-to-front reading.) Sadly, this book's confusing story, so-so art, and tie in with a product disqualify it for Wilson Library.
Bad Island by Doug TenNapel (ISBN: 978-0-545-31480-0)
Funny how you can try books a couple of times and then finally just "get" them. This graphic novel has great art (I'm going to have to start defining for myself what that means. For now, it basically means "I wish I could draw like that") It also has a lot of funny dialog that shows the realistic back and forth in a family that's not always happy with each other. It has a tight story that wraps up nicely at the end, (family gets trapped on a seriously bad island) an appropriate amount of scariness for elementary school kids, and lots of good monsters. Fun!
Monday, July 30, 2012
The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch (ISBN-13: 978-1439189719)
One day I was drifting around Barnes and Noble and several books on the memoir shelf just jumped out at me. Memoir and what they call these days "creative non-fiction" are probably my favorite non-fiction genres along with how-to books. (OK, I admit it, I'm kind of addicted to those "I did this totally insane thing for a year and here are all the profound insights into the human condition I got" kind of books. Don't worry--one of those will be coming up soon!) Anyway, it probably helped that this book has a jaunty yellow cover, but the word "Asperger" caught my attention. Let's just say my family has a special interest in the Autism spectrum. It's a sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking chronicle of "one man's quest to become a better husband," after a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome gives him some insight into why his marriage may be falling apart. You cheer for the depth of love that he shows as he does something so hard, so alien to him. You also groan, or squirm, as he beats the project to death in a typically "Aspergian" way, the final straw being a requirement that his wife give him "performance reviews." The Journal of Best Practices has good insights for both neurotypicals and, (though I can't speak for anyone of course) people with Asperger Syndrome who are married to us.Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich (ISBN-13: 978-0312626686)
This is the book that was Banned in Bedford. (Or almost. They certainly made sure that kids didn't have to read anything their parents were not comfortable with. I think the protest was because Barbara Ehrenreich uses the words "Jesus" and "socialist" in the same sentence. ) Ehrenreich wanted to know what it would be like to try and live on the wages that people typically make without a college degree, or much work experience. In 2001, this was $6-$7 per hour. In the course of her reporting, she worked as a house cleaner, waitress, Walmart team member and maybe something else I can't remember. She also finds apartments she can "afford," only uses her wages to buy food, medicine and clothing, and limits her outside-of-work activities to things that she would realistically be doing as a low-wage worker (including limiting books and reading-gasp!) Her goal was to be able to pay her bills with the given job for one month before moving on to the the next job. Basically, she found out that it's near to impossible, even going into it with a working car. This book was part of my summer reading on poverty. I will never look at people in Walmart in quite the same way again I definitely recommend this book to anyone who would like to have his/her eyes opened to what it is like to be one of the working poor.
Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester Laminack (ISBN: 978-1-56145-564-5)
"We do all the work around here," complain the hens in this NH Ladybug Nominee. To the peacock's credit, instead of just standing around being admired, he decides that he would like to be more useful. The final message is that everyone has their own way of helping. I'm not sure I like that Peacock's physical beauty is his most important asset, though. Nice, bold illustrations will work in a group.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Our Eleanor by Candace Fleming (ISBN 978-0689865442)
A biography of Eleanor Roosevelt was a logical follow-up to Dead End in Norvelt. I think I have a new hero. Although decidedly not perfect, Eleanor Roosevelt was astonishingly brave, compassionate, and tireless--in a time when women were often not taken seriously. I've read that Hilary Clinton has seen her as a role model, and I understand why--the parallels are striking. For instance, both women were criticized for having too much influence on the president's policies. Both women felt that government had an important role to play in American society. Both women had well-liked husbands that were philanderers, although you can bet that FDR was never publicly censured for his behavior. This bio is a little hard to follow in that it doesn't follow a strictly chronological, but rather thematic, order. I kept it propped open on the dining table, and read a few pages whenever I was sitting down to eat. There are photographs on every page, copies of newspaper articles, quotes from others about Eleanor, as well as quotes from her own autobiographies. Highly recommended for older readers. I'd like to find a shorter book for Wilson students. It is balm to my soul to read about a person who wasn't afraid to get in and help people.Teaching With Poverty in Mind by Eric Jensen (ISBN-13: 978-1416608844 )
This book was much more of a slog (read that as more clinical and academic) than A Framework for Understanding Poverty . It definitely begins with that "deficit model" that Payne speaks of, describing how living in poverty can make changes in the brain that hampers students' success in school. This can be pretty depressing, but the second half of the book describes the most powerful research-based interventions that schools can make. Written for administrators, the emphasis on improving teachers and recruiting "better" teachers is a little off-putting. However, there is much to validate things we are already striving for at Wilson. The emphasis on brain research may be valuable in moving people from blame to understanding, so that we can respond to kids' behavior in more ways than punitive consequences--as we are doing with our new homework policy.
Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (ISBN-13: 978-0545331807)
I have to admit that I rolled my eyes when I saw the promo for this book on the Scholastic Book Fair commercial DVD. "Oh puh-leeze," I thought, "not another southern girl coming-of-age novel!" Glory is even, like Opal in Because of Winn-Dixie the motherless child of a preacher. But the commercial sold this book short, probably because Scholastic has a tendency to sell their audience short, always. Glory Be is actually another civil-rights story, from the perspective of a white girl who's been sheltered enough to never think about how the black people who are part of her everyday life are treated differently than herself. At the beginning, she's less worried about injustice than the fact that it's Mississippi-summer HOT, the pool has been closed until further notice, people are being mean to her new friend from up North, and no one seems to be thinking about her birthday for gosh sakes. But Glory is fearless once she feels that people she knows are suffering (albeit partly because she just doesn't understand the possible consequences of challenging the status quo.) What makes this book special is that this is so realistic--exactly the level that an eleven-year-old would think about things. Also, there is a hero librarian! This book would make a great companion to Christopher Paul Curtis' The Watsons Go to Birmingham--kids could get both sides of the story without teacher-analysis getting in the way.
Me, Jane by Patrick McDonnell (ISBN-13: 978-0316045469)
Another NH Ladybug nominee. Introduction to the life of Jane Goodall. Not a biography, exactly, though there is a biographical note in the back. I liked the retro-looking woodcuts mixed in with McDonnell's watercolors and views of Jane's own early sketches. Nice creamy-thick paper. Might not "read" well for a large audience.
Citizen Scientists by Loree Griffin Burns (ISBN-13: 978-0805090628)
Non-fiction describing several real participatory science projects (the Audabon bird count is one example,) that kids can get involved in. The book includes lists of equipment needed to successfully participate in the work, addresses to contact the organizations running the studies, and more science resources. I love the introduction, which makes that case that kids are ideally suited to do science. I'll be trying to get this at Wilson.
The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley (ISBN-13: 978-0689844614-print book; audiobook by Listening Library, available through Audible.)
I listened to this one for a project back in library school, and I've been thinking about it ever since. The voice-actor who narrates the audiobook has a beautiful, lilting, and extremely understandable Irish accent. It's fantasy, my favorite genre, and the selchie (seal-folk) legend is at the heart of the story. I've been obsessed with this folk tale since I read Shulamith Oppenheim's The Selchie's Seed when I was in middle school. I listened to this while working on an art project and it was perfect.
Monday, July 23, 2012
More History
Countdown by Deborah Wiles (ISBN 978-0545106054)
This one was in my to-read pile for a long time. Deborah Wiles calls it a "documentary novel." The narrative is interspersed with historical photographs and short biographies of people important to the events of 1962. It's not exactly multi-media, but almost. Actually, it would be cool if they included a cd of the music of the time, since Franny, the main character talks a lot about it. 1962 was the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and since Franny's dad is in the Air Force, the crisis is very real to her. The book is an effective way for kids of 2012 to learn what this was all about, and to marvel at what it must have been like to "duck and cover" in school (maybe not so different from the post-Columbine lock-down drills we do today?) Franny is a realistic kid, trying to work through growing up while being terrified that she'll never have a chance to.Legend of the Blue Frog by Dianne de las Casas (ISBN 978-1455614592)
This one was disappointing. I always do a kindergarten lesson on the origin of chocolate around Valentine's Day, and I thought this would be a good addition. However, the story is too simplistic, and there is a very significant TYPO that actually changes the pattern of the story! Can't spend the money on this one.
A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne (ISBN 978-1929229482)
Every summer I pick a theme for professional development, read and take notes on the theme, and plan ways to implement what I learn in the coming year. This summer my theme is poverty and how it effects kids in school. This was a great introduction. Payne describes an "additive" model (vs. a "deficit" model) that posits that we all have strengths when we are immersed in the culture we grow up in, but when we move outside that culture we struggle. She describes the techniques teachers can use to add to our students skills, rather than demeaning them or writing them off as hopeless.
Friday, July 20, 2012
A Historical Interlude
Rose and I have just gotten back from a trip to Pennsylvania to see Lehigh University, and also Gettysburg. I hadn't been there since I was little, and Rose never had. We loaded up Molly the Little Red Truck for another camping adventure, and drove 9.5 hours the first day, making it all the way to Caledonia State Park (which is a great place to stay for Gettysburg--a straight shot of about 20 minutes to the park.) It was a good four-day trip, including the thunderstorm and the 2 bears. Of course, I had to keep reading...
Nurse, Soldier, Spy by Marissa Moss (ISBN 978-0-8109-9735-6)
Fascinating story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, one of the many women who dressed, and fought, as men during the Civil War. One of the most curious facts about her was that she was dressing as a man for 2 years before joining up--as a way to escape an unwanted marriage. Bold caricature-like illustrations will read well at a distance. Extended resources and bibliography in the back are great for filling in the details.Voices of the Civil War (Stories from the Battlefields Series) by Jason D. Nemeth (ISBN 9780-1-4296-5625-2) Brief profiles of real-life participants in Civil War battles. Good-sized print and fairly low reading level will make this book interesting to fourth and fifth graders. Resources in back.
This series would be good to get in library bindings for the boys who want a "war book." While there are some gruesome details in the text, there are no photos of death.
Summer's Bloodiest Days: The Battle of Gettysburg as Told From All Sides by Jennifer L. Weber (ISBN: 978-1-4263-0706-5) Describes the 3 day battle in some detail, including strategies and troop movements. Main text is suplimented with interesting sidebars and fact boxes. The technique of pulling out "dramatic" moments in the story by putting them in a mix of larger fonts is somewhat distracting. The print is smaller and the reading level higher than the book above. This one would be mostly for 5th graders and up.
Of course, we needed something to do on that long drive, so we listened to this year's Newbery Award Winner,
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos (audiobook)
Who do I think I am? One thing about an "expert" reader-alouder (that would be me,) listening to an audiobook is that I am thinking constantly about how I would have said that sentence. In this case, since it's Jack Gantos himself who is reading his own book--who am I to quibble? But really, Gantos does a great job with this book, modifying his voice just slightly for different characters, emphasizing the right words to clarify meaning, strategically pausing at dramatic moments. Some authors, strangely enough, are terrible at reading their own writing. I wonder if it matters how much time has passed between finishing the book and doing the audio? I know that for a good long time after I write something, I can't see the story for the words.Dead End in Norvelt won the Newbery this year, and I'm cheering to see another "boy book" get the win. (There's a fascinating commentary on Newbery history in this month's Horn Book Magazine) "Boy book" is my shorthand for a book that has something in it to appeal to reluctant (most often boys, lets face it,) readers who can't stomach a book that's all interior monologue. In the case of Norvelt the "something" is blood, dead people, and big moments in history. That doesn't mean that girls wouldn't like this book too--Jackie's mom, and Miss Volker are wonderful characters with strong, clear voices--they might just be turned off by all the gore and not really pay attention to the story. Jackie is about 10, growing up in the small western PA town of Norvelt. Norvelt (real place, lots of real details from Gantos life,) was founded by Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930's to help poor people "get a leg up." It was founded on the principle that everyone deserves a decent place to live, and a means to make a living. Now Norvelt is (literally,) dying off, and Jack the Everykid is stuck between his Mom, who grew up in Norvelt and believes deeply in its communal values; and his Dad, who is suspicious of anything "commie" and wants a better living someplace else. Jack has just been grounded for the whole summer, but one of the only things he's allowed to do outside the house is help his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker, write the obituaries of the town's founding residents--and they're dying like flies.
This story, like most Newbery winners, is about a kid trying to figure out who he is supposed to be, while only half understanding what's really going on around him. And that's an experience that every kid has. Personally, I found this book inspiring and uplifting, as well as laugh-aloud funny. I don't know if Gantos wanted to make a political statement (since it's semi-autobiographical, I know he's not just pontificating,) but Miss Volker's history lessons are mostly about social justice. About how once-upon-a-time it was OK to help people without judgement, and how everyone has "an inherent worth and dignity" as the UU's would say. That concept gets dismissed as Socialist these days, sadly. Some of this will go over kids' heads. That's OK. They can just enjoy the story's humor, pathos, and mystery. And an awful lot of nosebleeds. I highly recommend Dead End in Norvelt.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (ISBN-13: 978-1423152194)
This is a powerful book--definitely high school/adult level, although most of the violence happens "off stage" so-to-speak, so we know the narrator has survived (so far,) with her wits about her. That doesn't mean it's not scary--and deeply chilling when you let yourself imagine the things that are described, especially when you know that these things really happened in Nazi-occupied France. But this book is not mostly about terror and torture--it's about friendship. The narrative is fascinatingly multi-layered, but through it we learned the story of two young British women, incredibly brave, helping to fight the war. We hear the story of how they met, how they made their way in the male-dominated military world of wartime England, the deep love and loyalty they feel for each other. And gradually we piece together the bits to form the story of what happened, as if we too were breaking a code. Read this when you have some time--you won't want to put it down.Rethinking Homework by Cathy Vatterott (ISBN 978-1-4166-0825-7)
This was for professional development purposes. Mainly Vatterott tries to make the case that homework should be limited in time, tied to clear learning goals, "de-criminalized", and flexible enough to accommodate students that don't have support at home. She contradicts herself at times, but mostly the arguments are valid. Supports Wilson's new homework policy.
Why Do Feet Smell? 20 Questions and 20 Answers About the Human Body by Gilda and Melvin Berger (ISBN 978-0-545-34665-8)
This one came out of the book fair. Very basic answers to questions young children might have about the body. As usual, I wanted a deeper answer for each question, but maybe kids would be satisfied. Good model for giving information in the Q/A format.
Stars by Mary Lyn Ray (ISBN 978-1-4424-2249-0)
Another great book by NH author Ray, illustrated by Marla Frazee, who did the beautiful All the World a couple of years ago. Her illustrations strongly remind me of Satomi Ichikawa's "Tanya" books, which were favorites of Ruth when she was little. This is a lap-read book, rather than a group read-aloud, I think. This will make it difficult to get across to a big group during NH Ladybug time. Still, it's a lovely book, showing all the ways that stars touch our lives, both real stars, and a paper star you might keep in your pocket. I would read this with Eric Carle's Draw Me a Star and teach them how to make their own shiny paper stars.
This is for you Kevin! You're right, it is a good book. It's kind of thick, so it lasts a while, but it's not too hard to read. It's an exciting fantasy story about two kids who discover that their grandparents are caretakers of a Fairy preserve. Kendra and Seth's curiosity gets them into a lot of trouble, but their bravery and cleverness helps them save the day. This story has real danger in it. It's a lot like the Spiderwick books in that way. Should appeal to both boys and girls. I'll try to get copies of the other books in the series.
Pete the Cat--I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin (ISBN 978-0-545-43414-0)
Another Ladybug nominee. I was worried that this one would be too babyish for the 1st and 2nd graders, but I hear that at least one class of 2nd graders love it. The books (I think there are 3 now,) all come with free song downloads. Should make doing storytime easy, if a little rowdy!
Oye, Celia! by Katie Sciurba (ISBN 0-8050-7468-6)
I picked this up from a remainder pile for a couple of dollars. It's a well-done, brief introduction to "The Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz. Rather than being a biography, it focuses on the feeling of the music, and is sprinkled with words in Spanish. Colorful, energetic chalk illustrations on black backgrounds. Must be read with some of her music to listen to. Great possibilities for collaboration with art and music classes. Glossary and pronunciation for Spanish words in the back.
Before John was a Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford (ISBN 978-0-8050-7994-4)
Another (sadly) remaindered book. I thought this was a really interesting way to give the biography of young John Coltrane--through his ears. Every page has a new sound that might have crept into his music, from"hambones knocking in Grandma's pots" to "the sobs of kinfolk at family funerals," with the refrain "before John was a jazz giant" beginning each page. I could see doing a biography-writing unit where kids research their person and then tell the story through sounds. Unlike the book about Celia Cruz, this book includes a full-page biographical note in the back, as well as a bibliography of sources for further reading.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Keeping up with the reading
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| See review for Neville below |
With longer books, it's harder to keep up, but there are always books in progress! Here are a few...
Oh Yeah! by Tom Birdseye (ISBN-13: 978-0823416493) This picture book tells the story of two kids camping out in the backyard, who keep one-upping each other in the "I'm not afraid..." department. It is one of those books that I have read a few times, but never got it right until that last week of school when I read it 5 times in a week. It's amazing how much a good read-aloud is like acting. A book can be completely un-funny if your timing is off, but once you get it, you can get the laugh every time.
Science and Children Magazine, Summer 2012 published by the National Science Teachers Association. I'm trying out this new journal to help me work science into library classes. This one issue is packed with good ideas for lessons I could try. I keep thinking that teaching science will benefit kids as we transition to the Common Core, because of the new emphasis on using "evidence" to support thinking.
The Candy Bomber by Michael O. Tunnell (ISBN-13: 978-1580893374)
This is a non-fiction book about the Berlin Airlift, and the pilot who impulsively decided to drop candy for the German children he met while on leave one day. This small action soon blossomed into Operation Little Vittles. Donations of candy and handkerchiefs for the little parachutes flowed from the United States, while letters of thanks and requests for special treats poured in from our former enemies. This story reminded me of a dim memory that my father was in Germany around this time. A call to Mom confirmed this. He was in Berlin during the airlift (a potentially dangerous time, as everyone was hungry and afraid that Russia would cut off the supply of food.) I haven't figured out what exactly he was doing there, but now my curiosity has been peaked...
Neville by Norton Juster (ISBN-13: 978-0375867651)
Norton Juster plunks us right down in the middle of Neville's head, the way a middle grade novel might be written. Pictures emphasize the feeling of utter alone-ness this boy feels after being involuntarily moved to a new house. Vast stretches of creamy whiteness surround the scratchy-pencilled characters, until--halfway through the book--they end up sprawled together on a green triangle of lawn. Then you know it's going to be OK. If only we all were as brave and resilient as Neville! Another real winner among this year's NH Ladybug Award nominees. I'm going to have a terrible time deciding which book I want to win!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey
Monday, July 2, 2012
The Serpent’s Shadow: Kane Chronicles, Book 3 by Rick Riordan (ISBN-13: 978-1423140573)
This was the book I set aside for after school ends, my reward for getting through the last couple of weeks. Like many folks, when Rick Riordan started this new series after wrapping up with the Percy Jackson books, I thought he was nuts. I mean, if you’re going to abandon well-loved characters, you should do it for something totally new. The Kane Chronicles seemed like a re-tread, only instead of Greek Mythology, we had much more complicated Egyptian Mythology and a narrative that switches between two viewpoints. Needless to say, all the gnashing of teeth I was doing distracted me from the story. The second book was better, partly because I had learned who the major Egyptian gods were, and partly because I had let go of my disappointment over Percy. (And I found out that Percy would be returning in the Heroes of Olympus series!) The Serpent’s Shadow brings this series to a satisfying conclusion, with Sadie and Carter fulfilling their destinies and, of course, saving the world as we know it. Great summer read for fantasy fans. Now can we have the next in the Heroes of Olympus series? Please? (News Flash! The Mark of Athena is coming out in October!)Sunday, July 1, 2012
So Many Books, So Little Time...
Well, just so you know, I did cheat a little tiny bit, because a few of these books I read before my "official" start date--but only by a week or two. I also need to fill in with picture books when I have one or two longer things in progress. For instance, right now I am reading The Leader in Me for professional reading, the audiobook of Dead End in Norvelt (when driving or doing dishes,) and I'm about to begin a YA novel called Code Name Verity (can't wait for that one--it got really good reviews!)So, anyway, recently completed books include:
Shark Wars by EJ Altbacker (ISBN: 978-0-545-44728-7) I pulled this one out of the bookfair this spring, and I read it for my boys. It's another humanlike-animal story, destined to be a series, in the vein of Warriors and Guardians of Gahoole. (To my knowledge there is at least 1 more already published.) Like those other books, this one stars a misfit/outcast male main character, reveals a "culture" based on qualities/behaviors of the real animals, has a bad-guy leader of a bad-guy gang to test the strength of the young hero, and a mystical elderly character who will lead the young (in this case, shark,) to enlightenment. The elements are all in place, and the story is adequate to carry the reader along. There is real peril here, real fighting and death, which some boys will find enticing. An underlying environmental message helps to make the bad characters less black-and-white. My favorite part of this book was actually the shark language. A "shiver" is a group of sharks under a leader and his "five in line." If a shark dies, he goes to the "Sparkle Blue", etc. Certain boys just love sharks, and this book would be right up their alley--with a shark encyclopedia by their side so they can really imagine all the different characters. I'll see how it circulates before I buy more, but the title alone might "sell" it!
Now, 2 of the NH Ladybug Picture Book Award Nominees...
Calvin Can't Fly, the Story of a Bookworm Birdie by Jennifer Berne (ISBN: 978-1-4027-7323) I have a confession to make--I dislike most "Isn't reading GREAT!" books, and cringe when there is one on the Ladybug list (which there often is.) There, I said it. Does that mean I'm not a true librarian? Actually, this book has a bit of a twist on the standard fare, in that it turns out to be quite a problem for Calvin that he only reads, but never practices what he reads about. In the end it's clear, both reading and doing are necessary parts of life.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Rainy Days--More Time to Read
Let's see, last post on Sunday, that means I need to account for 3 days...1. The Horn Book--May/June
2. The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle (ISBN: 978-0399257131) Another nice book by the rock star of picture books. (No joke. I went to a conference at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art a few years ago, and he just popped into the auditorium. Every librarian there stood up and screamed.) This one has the message that one should make art that gives one joy, no matter what anyone else thinks. This would pair up nicely with Ish by Peter Reynolds
3. Extra Yarn by Matt Barnett (ISBN-13: 978-0061953385)
Sunday, June 24, 2012
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Don't Let the Pigeon Just Do Apps!
I said I was going to look at a couple of books that were in electronic formats, so here goes. First, I downloaded Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App by Mo Willems (app by Disney, available on iTunes for $6.99) This app is based on one of Mo Willems most popular books, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. I chose this it because I think Willems is a genius, and because the app was recommended in The Horn Book magazine. The main feature of the app is a Mad Libs-style story where the "reader" (player?) uses a voice recorder built into the app to answer the bus driver's questions, and then these answers are plugged into the framework of the story. Basically, the storyline is the same as the ...Bus book, with the Pigeon asking to do something, the reader (or read-aloud audience,) saying repeatedly "No!" and the Pigeon freaking out. Younger kids can also have the app plug in randomized answers so that the story is different every time. As I said, I think Willems is brilliant, but I found this app to be too repetitive. Now, a three or four-year-old might not think so--and that's great--but one of the reasons that I love the books so much is that they can be enjoyed by all ages. This is because the art is at once so simple and subtle and sly, and you have to use changes in your voice, pauses, and eye contact with your audience to punch up the humor. I feel like something is lost when the Pigeon gets animated. He does all the work for the "reader." I find myself feeling sorry for the kids who get to hear a chorus of disembodied child voices and a laugh track in place of participating in the give and take of a read-aloud. Am I just being a curmudgeon? Is it just the best thing ever that a kid can hear their favorite story over and over, without needing an adult to read it? Is it more, or less, interactive to record your own voice "making" the story vs. the call-and-response with a loving adult?
I liked Freight Train by Donald Crews better. (Harper Collins Publishers, iTunes, .99) This is a more straightforward e-book with fairly minimal animation (think Reading Rainbow-style, in which the original art is used in a active way, rather than new animated drawings being created.) The addition of music--which you can turn off--and sound effects, adds to the reader's understanding of what a freight train is, without stealing anything from the original pacing of the story. I feel like I use more of my brain reading this e-book than I do when "interacting" with the Pigeon app? (and what is the right word for what a child does with a picture book app, anyway?)
My next foray into electronic books will be to read a full-length novel on Ruth's Kindle. Tally-ho!
Friday, June 22, 2012
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| from Piggybook by Anthony Browne |
Is this a keeper? Piggybook by Anthony Browne
One of a librarian's jobs is to weed the collection, and though I'm not as sentimental as some people are about books, it's always a bit of a wrench to discard an almost-new picture book. (Of course it's only "new" in the sense of never been read much, which should be my answer.) I knew I had heard of this book before--it must have been on recommended lists or something--but I couldn't recall ever having read it. What caught my eye was the cover--a whole family--including a pinstripe-suited dad with a Cheshire cat grin--riding piggyback on the back of a woman who is decidedly not smiling. It's actually quite shocking, when you take a minute to look at it.Obviously, the main theme of this story is how the mom in the family is completely taken for granted. The other members of the family (all men) are metaphorically, (and literally by the end,) pigs. It's dated, right? Does the illustration above resemble what goes on in your family? This book was published in the bad old days (1989?) but we don't need messages like this anymore, do we?
Well, I just checked goodreads for more information on this book, and found many recent positive reveiws, including one from 2012 that says "Every family needs to read this book. Every. Night. Until they die." OK then. Maybe if it provokes that strong a reaction (and that wasn't the only one,) it deserves its place on the shelf. What do you think?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Are you a Book Dropper, or a Sticky Reader? (see poll above!)
I was talking to a smart person today who said she nearly always finishes a book she starts, even if she's not really enjoying it. I do that too, figuring I somehow owe it to the author. Maybe it's because I love to write myself. Maybe it's because I just like to think about writing as I read--if something is bad, why is it bad? If I don't like it, am I just not up to it? Is it just a question of taste? I also think that everyone--even adults and maybe especially teachers, should read things now and then that are challenging in some way. I like to read Scientific American for that reason. Even the vocabulary is hard--and I'm pretty lost when it comes to physics concepts, but I like that feeling of struggling to understand, especially when the only thing I have to lose is a little time.I calculate that I have to catch up by 4 books--I've been reading, just not posting about everything, so here goes:
Goblin Wood by Hilary Bell
ISBN-13: 978-0060513719
I pulled this fantasy out of the donation box, thinking Ruth would like it. Turns out she's a Book Dropper and only made it halfway through. I was bored, so I read it. It's about an orphan "hedgewitch" who ends up becoming the ally and defender of the goblins in her country against the narrow-minded soldiers who are trying to wipe out any magic they can't control. Some ambguity about who are the "good guys," plus touches of humor throughout, raise this above the average. Not life-changing, but enjoyable enough. (I just found out while checking the ISBN that this is the beginning of a series, which makes sense, since it sort of leaves you hanging.)
As Simple As It Seems by Sarah Weeks
ISBN-13: 978-0060846657
Verbena ("Verbie") can't figure out why she feels angry all the time. She's just graduated from 5th grade, and everything she's taken for granted seems to be falling apart. When she finds out the truth about her parents, she hates herself even more. She gets a chance to re-invent herself, however, when a boy named "Pooch" moves into the haunted house down the road. Verbie gets to be mysterious and exciting--but also kind and brave. The title of this book has a double meaning. In some ways, Verbie's unhappiness is as simple as it seems--she's just growing up. On the other hand, nothing is ever simple, and all we can do is just muddle through. This would make a good end-of-the-year book. It's a family story, full of the rhythm and texture of summer.
All About Japan: Stories, Songs, Crafts, and More by Willamarie Moore
ISBN-13: 978-4805310779
Every year I use a study of Japan to teach my 3rd graders research skills, and this book is a terrific addition to my collection of resources. A great find from a local independent bookstore, Gibson's in Concord.
Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors by Hena Khan
ISBN-13: 978-0811879057
This concept book uses objects from the Muslim religion to illustrate colors along with rhyming text. The Muslim children in my classes giggled to see illustrations like a hijab for blue, and henna hand designs for brown. I think they were pleased, if a bit shy. It's tricky, making religion into this kind of object. The author is from Pakistan, and of course Islam is not the same everywhere, so there were two or three objects that my students looked puzzled about. On balance though, I think it's best to try to select books that portray as much diversity as possible, without worrying about getting it perfect.
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