Quote of the Week

“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts,others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly,and with diligence and attention.”~ Francis Bacon ~

(Established the scientific method as we know it. Groans from all those kids who are required to do a science fair project to demonstarte their understanding of said method!)

Module 10 babymouse Skater Girl

Title of Book:Babymouse Skater Girl; Author: Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm; ISBN: 9780375839894; Published by: Random House Children's Books

Summary:
As Babymouse skated, a talent scout saw her and offered her a place on her ice skating team. Since Babymouse was desperate to have a trophy in the school trophy case, she accepted a spot on the team. Things got a little hairy however when Babymouse learned of the intense practice routine and dietary restrictions she would need to follow to stay on the team. After some soul searching, she decided that time with friends, books and eating cupcakes were more important than a trophy. Her friends surprised her with her own “Best Babymouse” trophy. The fun pink, white and black graphics just add to the kid appeal as do the smallish size of the books.

My Impressions:
OK, I admit the Babymouse books are never going to win a Newbery award, but it’s just so perfect for the second to third grade crowd! (As adults do we exclusively read Pulitzer Prize winners? Someone’s got to be buying all those National Enquirer magazines I see at the check out lines.) It’s cute, and short, and the reading level is easy, and it’s in the hottest graphic novel format, and Babymouse is just too precious! This series hit a home run! FYI-Jennifer L. Holm was the author of a Newberry Honor book Our Only May Amelia.

Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviews:
From Booklist. Retrieved from Amazon.com
In the seventh book in the Babymouse series, the intrepid heroine takes up ice-skating, learning that it takes hard work to be the best. When her training schedule begins to cut her off from her friends and from her beloved cupcakes, she must decide how badly she wants to win. Once again the brother-sister creative team hits the mark with humor, sweetness, and characters so genuine they can pass for real kids. Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans. Coleman, Tina

Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Celebrate You Day! Gather up some arts and craft supplies to decorate cardboard trophies with. (Check Hobby Lobby or Oriental Trading as they sometimes have ready to decorate trophies that will save you some time.) Let each child decide to give themselves a trophy of something they are best at. Then, allow them to make a trophy to decorate to give to someone special in their life for what that person is great at. You may want to have some ideas up to get the creative juices flowing. Best kicker, best sleeper, best dishwasher unloader, best colorer, best towel folder, best boo boo kisser, etc… Try and steer kids clear of generic “best mom” or “best friend” and help them dig deep!

Module 10: Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets

Title of Book: Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets; Author: Dav Pilkey; ISBN: 978-0545027274; Published by: The Blue Sky Press. Available in Spanish. Title: Captain Calzoncillos y el ataque de los inodores parlantes; Author: Dav Pilkey; ISBN: 978-0606249898; Published by: Turtleback Books

Summary:
The beginning of the book is an introduction (in comic book format) on how Captain Underpants came into being. In a previous adventure, our protagonists Harold and George hypnotized their principal Mr. Krupp so now any time he hears fingers snapping, he turns into the underwear sporting, crime fighting Captain Underpants. In this particular adventure, Hoard and George were in detention and they were drawing a comic book. They wanted to make copies of the comic book so they snuck into the Invention Contest and made copies on the copier that has been modified to bring to life anything it copies. And, you guessed it, their comic book was about talking toilets. A teacher snapped her fingers within hearing of Mr. Krupp who rushed to grab his outfit and began fighting those toilets. The end of our story found Mr. Krupp flushed with success (so sorry; I couldn’t resist) singing his trademark Tra-La-Laaaa! as he ran out of the school ready for his next adventure.


My Impressions:
I’m not exactly sure why this book is so controversial. Yes, there was a crazed, hypnotized principal running around in his underwear battling crime. Yes, there was a fair amount of “potty” humor. (Last year I was cursed out by a first grader who repeatedly screamed, “You are a toilet!” at the top of his lungs. And you thought being a librarian was all fun and games!) The underwear and off color humor didn’t bother me at all. What bothered me was the attitude of hate the teachers at the school exhibited toward George and Harold. They actually threw a party when the two boys got kicked out of school. I also objected to the numerous misspellings (“thier”, “pored” for poured and “exsept” for except).


Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 0 out of 5
Sorry, no way will this former first grade teacher give a book anything other than a “0” when their is spelled “thier”; not even if it has amazingly cool Flip-O-Ramas.

Reviews:
Grade 3-6 This epic novel opens with an introductory cartoon strip that tells the top-secret truth about how two kids, George and Harold, used the 3-D Hypno-Ring to hypnotize their principal, who now becomes Captain Underpants whenever he hears fingers snapping. In this second adventure, the boys are banned from attending the annual Invention Convention and sent to detention to keep them out of trouble. This, of course, is impossible, so they sneak into the school that evening and tamper with all of the inventions to wreak havoc. They also make copies of their newest comic strip of vicious attack toilets and the daddy monster of them all Turbo Toilet 2000. The copy machine is an invention that duplicates into live matter all images it copies and the attack toilets come to life. The wild story actually comes to a logical conclusion, but it really doesn’t matter. The fun is in the reading, which is full of puns, rhymes, and nonsense along with enough revenge and wish fulfillment for every downtrodden fun-seeking kid who never wanted to read a book. The cartoon drawings and the amazing flip-o-rama pages make this book so appealing that youngsters won’t notice that their vocabulary is stretching. Hooray for Captain Underpants! Watch him fly off your shelves. Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL From School Library Journal


Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Host a cartoon drawing party. I suggest getting proficient at a few basics like people or trucks using Ed Emberly’s Complete Funprint Drawing Book or Ed Emberly’s Fingerprint Drawing Book. Those are particularly easy to follow and they involve the child’s thumb or fingerprint. Other supplies you’ll need are copies of blank pages that look like comic book panels, markers, washable ink pads (for the thumb prints) and some wet wipes. Do some demonstrations at the front of the room and perhaps plant some very basic story lines (a superhero saves a dog from the bad guy) then let the children loose to create their comic books.

Quote of the Week

“A poet must leave traces of his passage, not proof.”
Rene Char (French Poet)

Module 9: This Is Just To Say

Title of Book: This is Just to Say; Author: Joyce Sidman; /ISBN: 9780618616800; Published by: Houghton Mifflin 2007

Summary:
A fictitious teacher, Mrs. Mertz, gave her students an assignment to write poems to their family in which they asked for forgiveness for something. The family member was then to write a poem back to the child. These poems ranged from the humorous (a child apologized to his hamster because he had to live in a cage and not the jungles of Asia) to the heartbreaking (a child promised her Daddy she would be perfect if he would just come back.) The poems and their responses are remarkably believable.

My Impressions:
Where has this book been all my life?! I may just learn not to despise poetry if I read any more books like it. The teaching possibilities are endless. In this one book virtually all forms of poetry are presented and it wasn’t boring or tedious (words that I associate with poetry) and I got so caught up in the stories of the children it was much later I realized it was a book of poetry I had enjoyed. Wow! If you are reading this and you know Joyce Sidman, will you please ask her two write a part two and three? FYI- one of the poems included the words, “pissed off at you” and another used Jesus Christ’s name as a curse word.

Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviews:
School Library Journal (Retrieved from Barnes and Nobel)
Gr 4-7 - Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Set up a min-poetry writing station. Mount a cookie sheet or something similar to the wall and display with several sets of those magnetic poetry words. The children can make and add to other patron’s poetry. Copy some poetry starters onto colored Xerox paper and let children fill them in with colored markers and add that to your display area.

Module 9: Awful Ogre's Awful Day

Title of Book: Awful Ogre’s Awful Day; Author: Jack Prelutsky; ISBN: 9780060774592;
Published by: Harper Collins 2001

Summary:
Prelutsky chronicles the life of Awful Ogre in this selection of poems that were illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky.

My Impressions:
Hmmmm….I didn’t seem to connect with this book very well. Awful Ogre was likable and everything, but I just couldn’t jump right in. Having said that, you need to know that I abhor most poetry. Illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky did a beautiful job making Ogre horrible, but very likable at the same time. There were some great moments for me though. Awful Ogre’s morning grooming routine reminded me of Mike and Sully (from the movie Monsters Inc.) using “odorant” instead of deodorant. I don’t know why these poems tickled my funny bone, but my absolute favorites were Awful Ogre Dances and Awful Ogre Boasts a Bit.

Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 4 out of 5

Reviews:
School Library Journal (Retrieved from Barnes and Noble)
Gr 1-5-This collection of 18 witty poems chronicles a day in the life of Awful Ogre. He towers over buildings and ordinary folk with his carpet of grass-green hair; red, bulbous nose; and single, large, green-and-yellow eye. He doesn't sound real cute, but underneath he's one swell guy. In "Awful Ogre's Breakfast," Prelutsky has fun with the normal breakfast routine. The spread depicts the ogre leaning back on his chair, gazing into his bowl of, yes, scream of wheat, complete with tongues and teeth. Children are sure to memorize Prelutsky's inventive verse and will avidly search the illustrations for their hidden jokes. Take for instance "Awful Ogre's TV Time," in which his favorite channel is the Chopping Network. In "Awful Ogre Dances," Prelutsky's prose stretches across the bottom half of the spread in perfect accompaniment to Zelinsky's dozen frames of Awful Ogre lithely (honestly) gliding across the top half. "I dance with abandon/Bravura, and zest,/I carom off boulders/And beat on my chest./I pirouette wildly/And leap into space/With power, panache,/And unparalleled grace." Even though Awful Ogre claims to be the awfulest of all, he remains awfully appealing throughout his rants and misadventures. Consider purchasing an extra copy-just in case he is checked out for an awfully long time.-Lisa Gangemi Krapp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Since Ogre reminded me so much of Shrek and Mike and Sully( characters from Monsters Incorporated), have an ogre movie night. Watch Shrek or Monsters Inc. Maybe even a Shrek marathon for the older ones. Snack on monster eyes (chilled eyes), blood punch (red Kool-Aid), little kid’s finger bones (pretzel sticks) and popcorn because even an ogre loves popcorn, right?

Quote of the Week

One of my Pre-K Spanish classes came to the library the day I installed some automatic air fresheners. One of my little bitty girls gushed in English, “Mmmmmm, it stinks in here.” Got to love that!