Keeping up with the reading

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!