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!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Super website!
David Biedrzycki, the author of Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective, has a great website and he does school visits! Head on over there and check it out. http://www.davidbiedrzycki.com/ he’s also on Facebook and Twitter!
Module 8 Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective
Title of Book: Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective; Author: David Biedrzycki; ISBN: 978-1570916847; Published by: Charlesbridge Publishing
Summary:
Ace Lacewing is hired by the mayor of Motham City to find Queenie Bee who has been kidnapped. It turned out Queenie’s younger sister, Princess Pollen kidnapped her as she wanted to bee (pun intended) queen. Princess Pollen was apprehended and Ace saved the day with some help from his girlfriend who happened to be a rare Xerces Blue butterfly and Sergeant Zito a mosquito.
My Impressions:
AAAAHHH! This is too funny! (I kept waking up my poor husband when my laughing jiggled the bed! No, this blog is not sponsored by Stearns and Foster. Although if you have a connection, let me know!) You will want to spend plenty of time looking through the pictures because there are hidden gems in them. (Instead of “Caution”, the police tape has “Police Bug Off” written on it.) Although I’m not sure the 6-10 year old crowd will appreciate all the Dick Tracy and other mystery innuendos, they are sure to enjoy the story itself. Lucky for us, Biedrzycki has written two more (Ace Lacewing Bud Detective: Bad Bugs Are My Business and Ace Lacewing Bug Detective: The Big Swat), because one will simply not be enough!
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Booklist( From Bowker’s Books in Print)
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. When Queenie Bee, of Hive Rise Honey, goes missing, Motham City is abuzz. Tough P.I. Ace Lacewing (Bad bugs are my business ) is on the case. Red herrings (mosquitoes, maggots, and walkingsticks in this case) abound, all with different stories, but the trench-coat-and--fedora-clad detective remains undaunted, sleuthing his way through the clues until a sticky surprise revelation. Biedrzycki ( The Beetle Alphabet Book, 2003) makes his debut as an author here, and although his story is sometimes text heavy, it's filled with snappy dialogue, wordplay, and puns that will especially appeal to kids with some knowledge of insects (words such as pupae are used). The slick, computer-assisted art has a cartoon flair; and its shadowy backgrounds have a noir flavor. Biedrzycki uses occasional pops of primary color and an array of perspectives and witty detail to add interest. Entertaining fare for those who appreciate creepy crawlies on the humorous side, this will attract both good readers and fans of seek-and-find books. --Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright Septmber 2005 Booklist
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
This would be appropriate for middle school and older- hold a mystery party night! They sell these mystery kits in a box so you can host your own party.
For younger ones, get some magnifying glasses and washable ink pads and let them have fun fingerprinting themselves.
Have a mystery hunt. Put some footprints down on the floor leading to a children bookshelf. Have there be a clue-e.g. you can check out books here- so the children go to the circulation desk where they are presented with another clue. They follow the clues all over the library until they come to the children’s area where they can pick up their prize- a toy magnifying glass or a coupon to check out an extra book.
Summary:
Ace Lacewing is hired by the mayor of Motham City to find Queenie Bee who has been kidnapped. It turned out Queenie’s younger sister, Princess Pollen kidnapped her as she wanted to bee (pun intended) queen. Princess Pollen was apprehended and Ace saved the day with some help from his girlfriend who happened to be a rare Xerces Blue butterfly and Sergeant Zito a mosquito.
My Impressions:
AAAAHHH! This is too funny! (I kept waking up my poor husband when my laughing jiggled the bed! No, this blog is not sponsored by Stearns and Foster. Although if you have a connection, let me know!) You will want to spend plenty of time looking through the pictures because there are hidden gems in them. (Instead of “Caution”, the police tape has “Police Bug Off” written on it.) Although I’m not sure the 6-10 year old crowd will appreciate all the Dick Tracy and other mystery innuendos, they are sure to enjoy the story itself. Lucky for us, Biedrzycki has written two more (Ace Lacewing Bud Detective: Bad Bugs Are My Business and Ace Lacewing Bug Detective: The Big Swat), because one will simply not be enough!
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Booklist( From Bowker’s Books in Print)
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. When Queenie Bee, of Hive Rise Honey, goes missing, Motham City is abuzz. Tough P.I. Ace Lacewing (Bad bugs are my business ) is on the case. Red herrings (mosquitoes, maggots, and walkingsticks in this case) abound, all with different stories, but the trench-coat-and--fedora-clad detective remains undaunted, sleuthing his way through the clues until a sticky surprise revelation. Biedrzycki ( The Beetle Alphabet Book, 2003) makes his debut as an author here, and although his story is sometimes text heavy, it's filled with snappy dialogue, wordplay, and puns that will especially appeal to kids with some knowledge of insects (words such as pupae are used). The slick, computer-assisted art has a cartoon flair; and its shadowy backgrounds have a noir flavor. Biedrzycki uses occasional pops of primary color and an array of perspectives and witty detail to add interest. Entertaining fare for those who appreciate creepy crawlies on the humorous side, this will attract both good readers and fans of seek-and-find books. --Shelle Rosenfeld Copyright Septmber 2005 Booklist
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
This would be appropriate for middle school and older- hold a mystery party night! They sell these mystery kits in a box so you can host your own party.
For younger ones, get some magnifying glasses and washable ink pads and let them have fun fingerprinting themselves.
Have a mystery hunt. Put some footprints down on the floor leading to a children bookshelf. Have there be a clue-e.g. you can check out books here- so the children go to the circulation desk where they are presented with another clue. They follow the clues all over the library until they come to the children’s area where they can pick up their prize- a toy magnifying glass or a coupon to check out an extra book.
Module 8 The London Eye Mystery
Title of Book: The London Eye Mystery; Author: Siobhan Dowd; ISBN: 978-0385751841; Published by: Yearling
Summary:
Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim came for a short visit while on his way to move to New York City where his mom had just accepted a new job. Salim wanted to experience the London Eye ride, but when the ride stopped, he wasn’t in the exiting passengers. The whole family including Salim’s father whom he doesn’t currently live with, descend into Ted’s family’s house to find Salim. Salim was rescued when Ted finally figured out he was in a high rise building that was schedule for demolition.
My Impressions:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Ms. Dowd isn’t, but her portrayal of a boy with some sort of autism (?) is remarkable! Ted’s condition was handled in such a real way that it made perfect sense to have that character tell the story. Ted is not glorified in any way, nor does his family treat him like a baby or a saint. He and his sister get into fights just like you would imagine any siblings would. In fact, it’s easy to forget Ted has anything at all until his hand “shakes itself out” or he rattles off weather statistics to calm himself. Another neat thing about this book is it starts with a 3 ½ page description of the mystery and then the events leading up to the mystery unfold. I also love the smallish size of the book- I think that would attract readers. The British spelling (colour, favourite, etc..) did not in any way detract the flow of reading. I would unreservedly recommend this to anyone 14 or older. FYI- the author died in 2007 (the same year the book was published) from breast cancer.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Booklist (retrieved from Amazon.com)
*Starred Review* The facts seem simple enough. While their mothers have coffee, Ted and his older sister, Kat, and their cousin, Salim, wait in a queue to ride the London Eye, an observation wheel that allows those locked in the glass-and-steel capsules to see 25 miles in every direction. A stranger from the front of the line offers one free ticket, and since Salim is the visitor, stopping in London before moving with his mum to New York, he takes it. Ted and Kat see him enter the capsule and follow his ride, but to their shock, he doesn’t exit with his fellow riders. This book, very different from Dowd’s searing A Swift Pure Cry (2007), is much more than a taut mystery. In Ted, Dowd offers a complex young hero, whose “funny brain . . . runs on a different operating system” (seemingly Asperger’s Syndrome) and who is obsessed with shipping forecasts and with his inability to connect well with others. After several long days have passed with no sign of Salim, Ted must use the skills he has and overcome some of his personal challenges to find his cousin. Everything rings true here, the family relationships, the quirky connections of Ted’s mental circuitry, and, perhaps most surprisingly, the mystery. So often the mechanics of mystery don’t bear close scrutiny, but that’s not so here. A page turner with heft. Grades 5-8. --Ilene Cooper
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Perhaps this is out of line, but I would suggest a cancer awareness day in honor of the author’s lost battle with cancer. Invite local doctors and nutritionists and health specialists to come and give talks on how to reduce a person’s risk of cancer. Have a jar for donations to be given to the American Cancer Society. If your town does a walk for Life, consider doing this activity before their culminating walk and making a presentation of the donations at the walk ceremony.
Summary:
Ted and Kat’s cousin Salim came for a short visit while on his way to move to New York City where his mom had just accepted a new job. Salim wanted to experience the London Eye ride, but when the ride stopped, he wasn’t in the exiting passengers. The whole family including Salim’s father whom he doesn’t currently live with, descend into Ted’s family’s house to find Salim. Salim was rescued when Ted finally figured out he was in a high rise building that was schedule for demolition.
My Impressions:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Ms. Dowd isn’t, but her portrayal of a boy with some sort of autism (?) is remarkable! Ted’s condition was handled in such a real way that it made perfect sense to have that character tell the story. Ted is not glorified in any way, nor does his family treat him like a baby or a saint. He and his sister get into fights just like you would imagine any siblings would. In fact, it’s easy to forget Ted has anything at all until his hand “shakes itself out” or he rattles off weather statistics to calm himself. Another neat thing about this book is it starts with a 3 ½ page description of the mystery and then the events leading up to the mystery unfold. I also love the smallish size of the book- I think that would attract readers. The British spelling (colour, favourite, etc..) did not in any way detract the flow of reading. I would unreservedly recommend this to anyone 14 or older. FYI- the author died in 2007 (the same year the book was published) from breast cancer.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Booklist (retrieved from Amazon.com)
*Starred Review* The facts seem simple enough. While their mothers have coffee, Ted and his older sister, Kat, and their cousin, Salim, wait in a queue to ride the London Eye, an observation wheel that allows those locked in the glass-and-steel capsules to see 25 miles in every direction. A stranger from the front of the line offers one free ticket, and since Salim is the visitor, stopping in London before moving with his mum to New York, he takes it. Ted and Kat see him enter the capsule and follow his ride, but to their shock, he doesn’t exit with his fellow riders. This book, very different from Dowd’s searing A Swift Pure Cry (2007), is much more than a taut mystery. In Ted, Dowd offers a complex young hero, whose “funny brain . . . runs on a different operating system” (seemingly Asperger’s Syndrome) and who is obsessed with shipping forecasts and with his inability to connect well with others. After several long days have passed with no sign of Salim, Ted must use the skills he has and overcome some of his personal challenges to find his cousin. Everything rings true here, the family relationships, the quirky connections of Ted’s mental circuitry, and, perhaps most surprisingly, the mystery. So often the mechanics of mystery don’t bear close scrutiny, but that’s not so here. A page turner with heft. Grades 5-8. --Ilene Cooper
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Perhaps this is out of line, but I would suggest a cancer awareness day in honor of the author’s lost battle with cancer. Invite local doctors and nutritionists and health specialists to come and give talks on how to reduce a person’s risk of cancer. Have a jar for donations to be given to the American Cancer Society. If your town does a walk for Life, consider doing this activity before their culminating walk and making a presentation of the donations at the walk ceremony.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Quote of the Week
Best insult heard in a long time…
“It takes six generation to make a lady and you are five short.” (Mary’s stepmother’s rude remark to Mary, her new stepchild.)
From The Lincolns: A Scrapbook of Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming.
“It takes six generation to make a lady and you are five short.” (Mary’s stepmother’s rude remark to Mary, her new stepchild.)
From The Lincolns: A Scrapbook of Abraham and Mary by Candace Fleming.
Amazing author that will hook your kids!
Candace Fleming is my new favorite author! If you are looking for historical fiction told in a way that will get your readers laughing, check out her website http://www.candacefleming.com/ . Her website offers a listing of her books that link to amazing activities including writing prompts. Go check her out!
Module 7 The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary
Title of Book: The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary: Author: Candace Fleming; ISBN: 978-0375836183; Published by: Schwartz & Wade 2008; Available in Spanish
Summary:
Summary:
In a delicious scrapbook form with newspaper clippings, articles, photographs and sketches, Fleming presented the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. Although there were many presidential facts (such as Lincoln and his first vice president didn’t even meet until three days after the election!), most of the facts were about Abraham and Mary the people. Did you know Abraham Lincoln died without a will and Mary would often hold séances to contact her dead sons and husband? The book ended with Robert at his mother funeral while his wife and children stayed home.
My Impressions:
My Impressions:
I see the folly now of presenting only the “good” about someone when doing biographies for children. I was blown away by this real look at our 16th president and his “first lady.” (The first to be called such by the way) I was so ignorant about him! Although the information about President Lincoln was an amazing treasure trove, the eccentricities and pitiful behavior of Mary Lincoln eclipsed all those tidbits. There is no need to read this book in page sequence, for each article or picture is its own little story. Luckily for us, she has done a book about Eleanor Roosevelt (Our Eleanor; A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Amazing Life) and Benjamin Franklin (Ben Franklin’s Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman’s Life). This book is truly for children and adults! If you buy just one book on Abraham Lincoln this year, this book is worth much more than the $25.00 you’ll shell out.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews and Awards:
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2009
ALA Notable Books for Children 2009
School Library Journal (Taken from Bowker’s Books in Print)Gr 6 Up-What did this backwoods boy and this bluegrass girl have in common? Using her signature scrapbook approach, Fleming lays out the answer in a biography that gives equal emphasis to Abraham and Mary Lincoln for an insightful portrait of their lives. Her scholarship over five years pays off with a rich account that is personal and concrete. She recounts Mary's early life as a privileged-but motherless-child, her ambitions for her husband, and her role as "first lady" (a term originally coined for her). Large and small details are juxtaposed with specifics about Lincoln and broadened by Mary's significance. For example, a political decision was made regarding her attendance at the debates; Lincoln wanted to preserve his "common man" image rather than show off his refined and educated wife. Unlike most biographies, which conclude with Lincoln's death, this one follows Mary's story to the end, detailing Robert Todd's role in her commitment to an insane asylum, Tad's death, and her own demise. Presented in period typefaces, the boxed bits of text, sidebars, and numerous running heads and subheads add detail. From portraits to pets, the book contains a wide variety of graphics, including written and visual primary documents that enrich every spread. Notes, resources, and source notes are exemplary. It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library Copyright October 2008 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Have a scrapbook day! Invite children to bring in photos (or copies of photos) along with other memorabilia to make a mini scrapbook. (Hobby Lobby often has a 50 %sale on their scrapbooking supplies.)
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews and Awards:
Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2009
ALA Notable Books for Children 2009
School Library Journal (Taken from Bowker’s Books in Print)Gr 6 Up-What did this backwoods boy and this bluegrass girl have in common? Using her signature scrapbook approach, Fleming lays out the answer in a biography that gives equal emphasis to Abraham and Mary Lincoln for an insightful portrait of their lives. Her scholarship over five years pays off with a rich account that is personal and concrete. She recounts Mary's early life as a privileged-but motherless-child, her ambitions for her husband, and her role as "first lady" (a term originally coined for her). Large and small details are juxtaposed with specifics about Lincoln and broadened by Mary's significance. For example, a political decision was made regarding her attendance at the debates; Lincoln wanted to preserve his "common man" image rather than show off his refined and educated wife. Unlike most biographies, which conclude with Lincoln's death, this one follows Mary's story to the end, detailing Robert Todd's role in her commitment to an insane asylum, Tad's death, and her own demise. Presented in period typefaces, the boxed bits of text, sidebars, and numerous running heads and subheads add detail. From portraits to pets, the book contains a wide variety of graphics, including written and visual primary documents that enrich every spread. Notes, resources, and source notes are exemplary. It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns.-Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library Copyright October 2008 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Have a scrapbook day! Invite children to bring in photos (or copies of photos) along with other memorabilia to make a mini scrapbook. (Hobby Lobby often has a 50 %sale on their scrapbooking supplies.)
Module 7 Butterflies and Moths
Title of Book: Butterflies and Moths; Author: Nic Bishop; ISBN: 978-0439877572: Published by: Scholastic Nonfiction 2009
Summary:
Bishop presented facts about butterflies and moths by using amazing up close and personal photographs along with quirky facts about the species presented. Did you know, for example, the Luna moth does not have a mouth? There was a really neat two page fold out of a butterfly flying. Included is the very adventurous story of how Bishop snagged his photos of the snake imitating caterpillar.
My Impressions:
Wow, wow, wow! I learned so much from this book and I’ve been teaching first graders about caterpillars and butterflies for years! Here are some gems- the Atlas moth has a wing span of almost a foot and caterpillars eat their old skin. There is a photograph of a caterpillar that imitates a snake, but the caterpillar did such a good job that I just had to take Bishop at his word. Luckily for us, Bishop has written four other books very similar to this; Frogs, Spiders, Marsupials and Lizards. You’ll want to purchase them all!
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (Retrieved from UNT Electronic Resources Bowker’s Books in Print) Gr 2-5-"There is no mistaking a butterfly," begins this striking, beautifully crafted exploration of these intriguing winged insects and their "more secretive" brethren. There's also no mistaking the loving care with which this book was made, setting gorgeous photographs against jewel-toned pages, with fascinating, meticulously captioned close-ups and new angles on a familiar subject (such as spectacular fold-out pages showing the mechanics of a butterfly's flight through a seamless series of photos). Bishop has received much well-deserved acclaim for his stunning photographs, but his text, too, stands out, with information-packed prose that shimmers like butterfly wings, capturing the sense of wonder that infuses his photographs. That passion also shines through in an afterword in which he shares the story of how he took the pictures (including a years-in-the-making mad dash to Costa Rica to photograph a caterpillar that can puff its body up to look like a poisonous snake before turning into a pupa). This book is an example of the very best kind of nonfiction-the kind that inspires as well as informs.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD Copyright June 2009 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Grab all kinds of books, audio tapes and DVDs on butterflies and moths (including fiction and the adult non-fiction books) and make a themed display. Have some bookmarks with kid friendly websites on butterflies and moths. Cut out construction paper butterfly shapes and let children write 1 thing they learned from the book and post these with the display.
Have an art extravaganza. Cut out large white construction paper butterfly shapes and provide an assortment of craft materials (small pompoms, colored circle stickers, pipe cleaners and washable markers and crayons) for the children to decorate the butterfly with.
Summary:
Bishop presented facts about butterflies and moths by using amazing up close and personal photographs along with quirky facts about the species presented. Did you know, for example, the Luna moth does not have a mouth? There was a really neat two page fold out of a butterfly flying. Included is the very adventurous story of how Bishop snagged his photos of the snake imitating caterpillar.
My Impressions:
Wow, wow, wow! I learned so much from this book and I’ve been teaching first graders about caterpillars and butterflies for years! Here are some gems- the Atlas moth has a wing span of almost a foot and caterpillars eat their old skin. There is a photograph of a caterpillar that imitates a snake, but the caterpillar did such a good job that I just had to take Bishop at his word. Luckily for us, Bishop has written four other books very similar to this; Frogs, Spiders, Marsupials and Lizards. You’ll want to purchase them all!
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (Retrieved from UNT Electronic Resources Bowker’s Books in Print) Gr 2-5-"There is no mistaking a butterfly," begins this striking, beautifully crafted exploration of these intriguing winged insects and their "more secretive" brethren. There's also no mistaking the loving care with which this book was made, setting gorgeous photographs against jewel-toned pages, with fascinating, meticulously captioned close-ups and new angles on a familiar subject (such as spectacular fold-out pages showing the mechanics of a butterfly's flight through a seamless series of photos). Bishop has received much well-deserved acclaim for his stunning photographs, but his text, too, stands out, with information-packed prose that shimmers like butterfly wings, capturing the sense of wonder that infuses his photographs. That passion also shines through in an afterword in which he shares the story of how he took the pictures (including a years-in-the-making mad dash to Costa Rica to photograph a caterpillar that can puff its body up to look like a poisonous snake before turning into a pupa). This book is an example of the very best kind of nonfiction-the kind that inspires as well as informs.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD Copyright June 2009 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Grab all kinds of books, audio tapes and DVDs on butterflies and moths (including fiction and the adult non-fiction books) and make a themed display. Have some bookmarks with kid friendly websites on butterflies and moths. Cut out construction paper butterfly shapes and let children write 1 thing they learned from the book and post these with the display.
Have an art extravaganza. Cut out large white construction paper butterfly shapes and provide an assortment of craft materials (small pompoms, colored circle stickers, pipe cleaners and washable markers and crayons) for the children to decorate the butterfly with.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Module 6 Ron's Big Mission
Title of Book: Ron’s Big Mission; Author: Rose Blue; ISBN: 9780525478492; Published by the Penguin Group
Summary:
Nine year old Ron McNair (African American astronaut who lost his life on the Challenger) had a plan to get his own library card at a time when library cards were reserved for whites only. When Ron arrived at the library, he chose several books on planes and walked to the check out desk, refusing an offer from a white patron to check out the books for him. When the desk clerk would not check out the books to him, he climbed on the counter top and refused to come down despite the presence of the police and his mother’s appeal. The head librarian filled out a library card in his name and he was allowed to check out the books.
My Impressions:
If you are going to add just 1 book to your library on African American history this year, it absolutely must be this one. Ron is not portrayed as a hero, just a regular kid very politely standing up against a rule he (and a lot of others in the book) believes is unfair. It showcases not only Ron’s strength of character, but also the head librarian’s. This book has an appeal that reaches out to every possible category of reader. Who hasn’t felt outraged by an unfair law, who among us hasn’t rooted for the underdog and who among us hasn’t rejoiced when an injustice has been righted? In addition, I think every reader can appreciate Ron’s feeling that someone else checking out the books for him just isn’t the same as him checking out the books for himself.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (from Bowker’s Books in Review)Gr 1-4-When nine-year-old Ron tries to take library books home instead of just looking at them, he knowingly challenges the rule that "only white people can check out books." The boy does not back down, even when his mother and the police arrive. The librarian finally relents and creates a library card for Ron, who proudly checks out the airplane books he loves to read. The purpose of Ron's "mission" is revealed with dramatic subtlety. There's no hint of racism as he walks through his 1950s South Carolina town on the way to the library where he is its "best customer." The truth emerges when a white patron offers to check out his books for him as the clerk blatantly ignores the boy. Stylized cartoon illustrations convey the town's benign facade while revealing tension through Ron's expressions of determination mixed with fear. The impact of his actions shows in the confusion and anger of onlookers. Readers do not learn if the library will change the rules for everyone, or just for Ron, but the final scene resonates as the child eagerly opens his book to page one. An author's note explains that this is a fictionalized account of a real incident from the childhood of astronaut Ron McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion. This context lends power and poignancy to the event and adds to the book's value as an introduction and discussion starter for concepts of racism and individual courage.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library February 01, 2009, OR Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Put up an aviation themed display. Make sure to include books, videos, magazines, audio books, drawing books and handouts with kid-friendly or educational web sites on aviation. The NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/ even has a Kid’s Club. Put out several inexpensive model airplanes and a themed jigsaw puzzle or two for your patrons to put together.
Summary:
Nine year old Ron McNair (African American astronaut who lost his life on the Challenger) had a plan to get his own library card at a time when library cards were reserved for whites only. When Ron arrived at the library, he chose several books on planes and walked to the check out desk, refusing an offer from a white patron to check out the books for him. When the desk clerk would not check out the books to him, he climbed on the counter top and refused to come down despite the presence of the police and his mother’s appeal. The head librarian filled out a library card in his name and he was allowed to check out the books.
My Impressions:
If you are going to add just 1 book to your library on African American history this year, it absolutely must be this one. Ron is not portrayed as a hero, just a regular kid very politely standing up against a rule he (and a lot of others in the book) believes is unfair. It showcases not only Ron’s strength of character, but also the head librarian’s. This book has an appeal that reaches out to every possible category of reader. Who hasn’t felt outraged by an unfair law, who among us hasn’t rooted for the underdog and who among us hasn’t rejoiced when an injustice has been righted? In addition, I think every reader can appreciate Ron’s feeling that someone else checking out the books for him just isn’t the same as him checking out the books for himself.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (from Bowker’s Books in Review)Gr 1-4-When nine-year-old Ron tries to take library books home instead of just looking at them, he knowingly challenges the rule that "only white people can check out books." The boy does not back down, even when his mother and the police arrive. The librarian finally relents and creates a library card for Ron, who proudly checks out the airplane books he loves to read. The purpose of Ron's "mission" is revealed with dramatic subtlety. There's no hint of racism as he walks through his 1950s South Carolina town on the way to the library where he is its "best customer." The truth emerges when a white patron offers to check out his books for him as the clerk blatantly ignores the boy. Stylized cartoon illustrations convey the town's benign facade while revealing tension through Ron's expressions of determination mixed with fear. The impact of his actions shows in the confusion and anger of onlookers. Readers do not learn if the library will change the rules for everyone, or just for Ron, but the final scene resonates as the child eagerly opens his book to page one. An author's note explains that this is a fictionalized account of a real incident from the childhood of astronaut Ron McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion. This context lends power and poignancy to the event and adds to the book's value as an introduction and discussion starter for concepts of racism and individual courage.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library February 01, 2009, OR Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Put up an aviation themed display. Make sure to include books, videos, magazines, audio books, drawing books and handouts with kid-friendly or educational web sites on aviation. The NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/ even has a Kid’s Club. Put out several inexpensive model airplanes and a themed jigsaw puzzle or two for your patrons to put together.
Module 6 Here Lies the Librarain
Title of Book: Here Lies the Librarian; Author: Richard Peck; ISBN: 978-0545046619; Published by Puffin
Summary:
Jake and Peewee (who just happens to be a girl) run a garage in a pipsqueak little town unkindly referred to as “Rubesburg.” The hiring of not one, but four young, rich, gorgeous, sorority library students to reopen the long closed public library turns Jake and Peewee’s world upside down. One of the new librarians, Irene, takes Peewee under her wing. Jake enters a car race only to have his bellowed car stolen before the night of the race. Although Jake is loaned a car, he is knocked in the head during the race in a vicious attack by a garage competitor of his, so Peewee victoriously finishes the race.
My Impressions:
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is: This book is an utter GEM! Don’t be put off by the horrible front cover that does not even HINT at the amazing story that lies within. Now for the bad news; I can’t imagine any young adult ever wanting to read this book. Sorry, but there it is. It’s got fashion (I had to look up hobbled skirt), romance, humor, cars, danger, gen-u-ine crazy people, and about 40 other great things going for it, but I can’t imagine anyone this side of 30 giving this book anything but a parting glance.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Gr. 5-8. Stubborn, fearless, and loyal, 14-year-old Peewee (Eleanor) McGrath, who dresses like a boy, lives with her brother, Jake, in Indiana, "way out in the weeds." Together, they run a struggling garage, where Jake is building a racecar. It's 1914, and the electric self-starter has made automobiles more accessible to women. One day, four female drivers, library students all, arrive in a Stoddard-Dayton in need of repair; later, they return to reopen the town library. With these young women as role models, Peewee comes to realize that being female and being independent aren't mutually exclusive. Peck's one-liners, colorful physical comedy, and country dialect, prominent in most of his recent novels, are great as usual. And his characters, if not fully developed, are wonderfully quirky. Yet even with some exciting scenes of old-time dirt-track racing, the pace lags, and the story is choppy. Young fans of Danica Patrick, today's "Queen of the Road," may want to read this, but it will probably be librarians who'll have the most fun. Peck recounts an incident in an endnote in which one of the characters appears at the Indianapolis 500 with Janet Guthrie; unfortunately, there's not enough explanation to know whether or not it's all true. Stephanie Zvirin Booklist Copyright © American Library Association.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
This story is better suited to a middle or high school audience. In the story, the former librarian’s headstone is engraved with the following; “SHH Here Lies The Librarian After Years of Service, Tried and True, Heaven Stamped Her-OVERDUE. Draw on your audience’s creativity by having a headstone writing contest. What are some possible humorous sayings for the headstone of a vet, doctor, grocer, dry cleaner, auto repair person, etc…
Summary:
Jake and Peewee (who just happens to be a girl) run a garage in a pipsqueak little town unkindly referred to as “Rubesburg.” The hiring of not one, but four young, rich, gorgeous, sorority library students to reopen the long closed public library turns Jake and Peewee’s world upside down. One of the new librarians, Irene, takes Peewee under her wing. Jake enters a car race only to have his bellowed car stolen before the night of the race. Although Jake is loaned a car, he is knocked in the head during the race in a vicious attack by a garage competitor of his, so Peewee victoriously finishes the race.
My Impressions:
I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is: This book is an utter GEM! Don’t be put off by the horrible front cover that does not even HINT at the amazing story that lies within. Now for the bad news; I can’t imagine any young adult ever wanting to read this book. Sorry, but there it is. It’s got fashion (I had to look up hobbled skirt), romance, humor, cars, danger, gen-u-ine crazy people, and about 40 other great things going for it, but I can’t imagine anyone this side of 30 giving this book anything but a parting glance.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Gr. 5-8. Stubborn, fearless, and loyal, 14-year-old Peewee (Eleanor) McGrath, who dresses like a boy, lives with her brother, Jake, in Indiana, "way out in the weeds." Together, they run a struggling garage, where Jake is building a racecar. It's 1914, and the electric self-starter has made automobiles more accessible to women. One day, four female drivers, library students all, arrive in a Stoddard-Dayton in need of repair; later, they return to reopen the town library. With these young women as role models, Peewee comes to realize that being female and being independent aren't mutually exclusive. Peck's one-liners, colorful physical comedy, and country dialect, prominent in most of his recent novels, are great as usual. And his characters, if not fully developed, are wonderfully quirky. Yet even with some exciting scenes of old-time dirt-track racing, the pace lags, and the story is choppy. Young fans of Danica Patrick, today's "Queen of the Road," may want to read this, but it will probably be librarians who'll have the most fun. Peck recounts an incident in an endnote in which one of the characters appears at the Indianapolis 500 with Janet Guthrie; unfortunately, there's not enough explanation to know whether or not it's all true. Stephanie Zvirin Booklist Copyright © American Library Association.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
This story is better suited to a middle or high school audience. In the story, the former librarian’s headstone is engraved with the following; “SHH Here Lies The Librarian After Years of Service, Tried and True, Heaven Stamped Her-OVERDUE. Draw on your audience’s creativity by having a headstone writing contest. What are some possible humorous sayings for the headstone of a vet, doctor, grocer, dry cleaner, auto repair person, etc…
Monday, July 5, 2010
Quote of the Week
“When you get to the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.”
Darrell K. Royal- winningest football coach in University of Texas Longhorn history
Module 5 Killer Pizza
Title of Book: Killer Pizza; Author: Greg Taylor; ISBN: 978-0312373795; Published by: Feiwel & Friends 2009
Summary:
Summary:
Toby, Annabel, and Strobe were all hired to be employees of Killer Pizza. After a few weeks on the job, they are ushered into Killer Pizza’s basement and offered their real job- hunting down monsters. Guttata horridus horridus to be exact. Guttata monsters bit unsuspecting victims and turned them into more Guttata. The three accepted the assignment and had several showdowns with the monsters. Amanda is kidnapped by them and in the process of her rescue, the Alpha Male Guttata was killed. This destroyed the colony of Guttata who needed his saliva to survive. (Ewwwwwww!!!)
My Impressions:
My Impressions:
Yeah Greg Taylor! This is his first books and I hope not the last! Killer Pizza is sort of like Men in Black without the cool uniforms. This is absolutely perfect for those children in 5th-7th grade who want to read horror stories, but aren’t ready for true terror. In one scene, Toby, a secret foodie, battles a Guttata with his $12.41 pizza slicer, chili peppers and the cord to a food processor! There is even an actual recipe for a pizza inside the back cover. FYI- Some very light (if there can be such a thing) cursing and a Guttata did feast on one kid, but nothing graphic is ever discussed.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
Screenwriter Taylor's first novel seems birthed from an idle thought about pairing pizza making and zombie hunting, a weird mix that actually doesn't play off in as dissonant a manner as one might expect. Toby gets his first summer job making pies at the brand-new Killer Pizza. What he soon learns is that the chain is a front for a secret underground organization dedicated to battling the monsters hiding among the general populace (and, oh yeah, monsters hide among the general populace). A group of guttata (sort of shape-shifting zombies imbued with various ill-fitting powers and convenient weaknesses that make them perfect targets for young monster-hunters) threatens the unwitting citizens, and it's up to Toby and his fellow initiates to train relentlessly and take out the beasts. Toby's transformation from a confidence-light loser to heroic day saver is handled less smoothly than the cinematic and sometimes genuinely scary scenes of guttata bashing. Overdramatic and totally ridiculous, yes, but done in a way that perfectly complements the cheesy horror.--Chipman, Ian May 1, 2009 Booklist (Retrieved from Bowker’s Books in Print)
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
I can’t imagine anything more appropriate than a movie showing of Men in Black (part one) and snacking on pizza.
Toby’s secret desire is to be a chef and he tried out several new pizzas, so have a pizza tasting party at your library. Ask your local pizza places to donate (or sell you very cheaply) one or two different kinds of pizzas. Take them back to the library and let the kids sample away. You can even make up different silly categories to rate them on like “most likely to cause someone to pass out from sheer bliss.” Make sure to have your pizza sponsors posters and business card displayed with your pictures and voting results. Remember to send the businesses a nice letter they can frame in their shop.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
I can’t imagine anything more appropriate than a movie showing of Men in Black (part one) and snacking on pizza.
Toby’s secret desire is to be a chef and he tried out several new pizzas, so have a pizza tasting party at your library. Ask your local pizza places to donate (or sell you very cheaply) one or two different kinds of pizzas. Take them back to the library and let the kids sample away. You can even make up different silly categories to rate them on like “most likely to cause someone to pass out from sheer bliss.” Make sure to have your pizza sponsors posters and business card displayed with your pictures and voting results. Remember to send the businesses a nice letter they can frame in their shop.
Module 5 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Title of Book: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane; Author: Kate DiCamillo; ISBN: 978-0763647834; Published by: Candlewick 2009
Summary:
Edward Tulane is a three foot tall china doll that belongs to Abilene Tulane. Edward is very self-absorbed and arrogant. Edward falls overboard while on a cruise with his young mistress and there begins his transformation from a narcissistic bunny to a bunny who deeply cares about his owners. Through a series of adventures, he passes through the hands of a fisherman and his wife, a tramp named Bull and his dog Lucy, an old woman, and a little boy named Bryce. In the end, there is a happy reunion when Abilene, now all grown up with a child of her own finds Edward for sale in a doll shop.
My Impressions:
I know this book received glowing reviews from everyone on the face of the planet, but I hated it. There it is, now you know. Who cares about an arrogant china doll? I know we are meant to rejoice at his transformation from a hard hearted bunny to one who cares about people, but I didn’t. I was more concerned about the sad, sad lives of the people who shared Edward. The tramps who whispered the names of their children to him, the fisherman and his wife who were so desperate for company that they talked to him like he was real. And what about poor little six year old Bryce who ran away from his abusive father after his little sister Sara Ruth dies from neglect? What about them? Who gives a flip about a porcelain rabbit when there are all these people hurting? If you are looking for a bunny book about love, stick with the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 2 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal Retrieved from UNT Electronic Resources Bowker’s Books in Print Gr 3-6-This achingly beautiful story shows a true master of writing at her very best. Edward Tulane is an exceedingly vain, cold-hearted china rabbit owned by 10-year-old Abilene Tulane, who dearly loves him. Her grandmother relates a fairy tale about a princess who never felt love; she then whispers to Edward that he disappoints her. His path to redemption begins when he falls overboard while during the family's ocean journey. Sinking to the bottom of the sea where he will spend 297 days, Edward feels his first emotion-fear. Caught in a fisherman's net, he lives with the old man and his wife and begins to care about his humans. Then their adult daughter takes him to the dump, where a dog and a hobo find him. They ride the rails together until Edward is cruelly separated from them. His heart is truly broken when next owner, four-year-old Sarah Ruth, dies. He recalls Abilene's grandmother with a new sense of humility, wishing she knew that he has learned to love. When his head is shattered by an angry man, Edward wants to join Sarah Ruth but those he has loved convince him to live. Repaired by a doll store owner, he closes his heart to love, as it is too painful, until a wise doll tells him that he must open his heart for someone to love him. This superb book is beautifully written in spare yet stirring language. The tender look at the changes from arrogance to grateful loving is perfectly delineated. Ibatoulline's lovely sepia-toned gouache illustrations and beautifully rendered color plates are exquisite. An ever-so-marvelous tale.-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY Copyright February 01, 2006 2006 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Go to some garage sales and get a few great stuffed bunnies (most will go through the washing machine just fine, just stick in a pillow case). Get some index cards and decorate them up like postcards. Let the bunnies and a postcard go home with patrons. Parents can help their children fill out the postcard with an adventure the bunny had (I went to Wal-Mart today) and then return both bunny and postcard to the library. Pass the bunny to the next patron until those who’d like a chance have had one. Make a little display with the postcards you have received.
Get a fabulous looking bunny (borrow one if you need to). Photograph the bunny at different locations in your town (Wal-Mart, front of the library, post office, local school, museum, etc…). Make sure it’s not too obvious where you are. Make a display of the photos and allow patrons to guess where each photo is taken. (Great for your local history week if you have one). Winners with the most correct answers get a special pass to check out one more library book than they would normally be allowed to.
Summary:
Edward Tulane is a three foot tall china doll that belongs to Abilene Tulane. Edward is very self-absorbed and arrogant. Edward falls overboard while on a cruise with his young mistress and there begins his transformation from a narcissistic bunny to a bunny who deeply cares about his owners. Through a series of adventures, he passes through the hands of a fisherman and his wife, a tramp named Bull and his dog Lucy, an old woman, and a little boy named Bryce. In the end, there is a happy reunion when Abilene, now all grown up with a child of her own finds Edward for sale in a doll shop.
My Impressions:
I know this book received glowing reviews from everyone on the face of the planet, but I hated it. There it is, now you know. Who cares about an arrogant china doll? I know we are meant to rejoice at his transformation from a hard hearted bunny to one who cares about people, but I didn’t. I was more concerned about the sad, sad lives of the people who shared Edward. The tramps who whispered the names of their children to him, the fisherman and his wife who were so desperate for company that they talked to him like he was real. And what about poor little six year old Bryce who ran away from his abusive father after his little sister Sara Ruth dies from neglect? What about them? Who gives a flip about a porcelain rabbit when there are all these people hurting? If you are looking for a bunny book about love, stick with the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 2 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal Retrieved from UNT Electronic Resources Bowker’s Books in Print Gr 3-6-This achingly beautiful story shows a true master of writing at her very best. Edward Tulane is an exceedingly vain, cold-hearted china rabbit owned by 10-year-old Abilene Tulane, who dearly loves him. Her grandmother relates a fairy tale about a princess who never felt love; she then whispers to Edward that he disappoints her. His path to redemption begins when he falls overboard while during the family's ocean journey. Sinking to the bottom of the sea where he will spend 297 days, Edward feels his first emotion-fear. Caught in a fisherman's net, he lives with the old man and his wife and begins to care about his humans. Then their adult daughter takes him to the dump, where a dog and a hobo find him. They ride the rails together until Edward is cruelly separated from them. His heart is truly broken when next owner, four-year-old Sarah Ruth, dies. He recalls Abilene's grandmother with a new sense of humility, wishing she knew that he has learned to love. When his head is shattered by an angry man, Edward wants to join Sarah Ruth but those he has loved convince him to live. Repaired by a doll store owner, he closes his heart to love, as it is too painful, until a wise doll tells him that he must open his heart for someone to love him. This superb book is beautifully written in spare yet stirring language. The tender look at the changes from arrogance to grateful loving is perfectly delineated. Ibatoulline's lovely sepia-toned gouache illustrations and beautifully rendered color plates are exquisite. An ever-so-marvelous tale.-B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Library, Sag Harbor, NY Copyright February 01, 2006 2006 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Go to some garage sales and get a few great stuffed bunnies (most will go through the washing machine just fine, just stick in a pillow case). Get some index cards and decorate them up like postcards. Let the bunnies and a postcard go home with patrons. Parents can help their children fill out the postcard with an adventure the bunny had (I went to Wal-Mart today) and then return both bunny and postcard to the library. Pass the bunny to the next patron until those who’d like a chance have had one. Make a little display with the postcards you have received.
Get a fabulous looking bunny (borrow one if you need to). Photograph the bunny at different locations in your town (Wal-Mart, front of the library, post office, local school, museum, etc…). Make sure it’s not too obvious where you are. Make a display of the photos and allow patrons to guess where each photo is taken. (Great for your local history week if you have one). Winners with the most correct answers get a special pass to check out one more library book than they would normally be allowed to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)