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!
Monday, July 26, 2010
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.
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