Module 15: To Kill a Mockingbird

Book Summary:  Scout and brother Jem make quick friends with visiting neighbor Dill.  The three of them are bound and determined to make friends with and see the reclusive neighbor Boo Radley.  That summer Scout's father Atticus is representing a black man, Tom Robinson, accused of rape and the white people aren't happy about it.  Atticus does a heroic job of trying to defend Tom as one truth after another comes to light.  Tom is found guilty even though a lot of evidence outs Bob Ewell.  Tom is shot and killed while trying to escape from prison.  Ewell tries to get back at Atticus by attacking Jem and Scout and Scout finally gets to see Boo Radley as he steps in to save the day.

APA Reference:  Lee, Harper.  (1988).  To kill a mockingbird.  New York, NY:  Grand Central Publishing.

Impressions:  I have heard so many good things about this book and have seen it on so many lists of both censored and best selling books that it makes me wonder why I've not read it sooner.  I want to hang out with Scout, Jim, and Dill and see the world through their eyes.  I want to meet Atticus and I want to leave a thank you note for Boo Radley for saving the kids from Ewell.  This was a great book and I see what the fuss is all about.  I don't see what all of the fuss with censorship is all about though.  Yes it deals with rape, racism, and moral dilemmas, but I feel that if it were written today there would be no problem or it wouldn't be as big.  I will definitely be reading this one again.

Professional Review:  There was never a story so historically accurate and yet so immersed in its character's own lives as Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird.

Set in the American South, Alabama, Lee masterfully spins a tale of prejudice and ignorance of equality through the young yet intelligent eyes of a little girl, our central character, Scout Finch. "Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" – a lawyer's advice to his children while he defends the real mockingbird in this story, Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white girl. In the time of the Great Depression when rights for black people had only just been won, the odds are cruelly turned against Tom and his lawyer Atticus Finch.

But inequality is everywhere, not just in court. Seen and heard by Scout and her brother Jem in their very own neighbourhood in Maycomb, hidden in snide comments and everyday actions. Family name, colour, race, background – all values that the adults of Maycomb hold so dear. It only takes a child with an open mind to see how very wrong they are.

The characters in To Kill a Mockingbird are vividly drawn to build an entire world. The beliefs and faults of the Deep South in the thirties are humorous and yet not only make the reader think, but teach them of how people used to think of race in the past, and how foolish this way of thinking was.

Harper Lee uses fiction to show what real courage is, not "a man with a gun in his hand" but "when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what".

Although the lengthy and detailed descriptions of the characteristics and habits of Maycomb County and its residents may seem a little unnecessary or stilted, this is what makes the small town seem like an entire world to the reader and also, later on in the book, the reader will be sure to come to the realisation that a lot of these characteristics and habits are the product of prejudice.

Boo Radley will seem quite a significant mystery towards the start of the story, a never-heard-of man who stays locked up in his house, never seen by his neighbours. However, once the major events of the trial and several other happenings occur, the reader, as well as the characters in the story, Jem and Scout, will come to know that Boo Radley is a perfect example of the effects of judgment based on race, family and colour.

Lee uses a perfect blend of character, mystery and history to portray the past as accurately and honestly as a classic such as this could.

This story is a lasting one with characters that are remembered long after the last page is read.

A touching book, simply for being so remarkably real.

[Review of To kill a mockingbird].  (2013).  The Guardian.  Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/jun/29/review-harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird

Library Uses:  Due to the language I would definitely want to read this with more mature readers. This would be a great extension activity to support curriculum.  I would want to focus on why the book got the title and really dig deep with this text.   It would expose the readers to a lot of topics that would generate some phenomenal conversations.

Module 14: Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems

Book Summary:  Singer has taken famous fairy tales like Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Cinderella, and more to create her book of reverso poetry.  One character's poem told from their point of view is one side of the page and the exact same poem is on the other side of the page- but in reverse to be a different characters point of view.  An example of this is the Evil Stepmother on one side and Snow White on the other side.  

APA Reference:  Singer, Marilyn.  (2010).  Mirror mirror:  A book of reverso poems.  New York, NY:  Dutton Books for Young Readers.  

Impressions:  This is extremely creative!  I'm amazed that this is a thing and that it totally makes sense.  This is a unique spin on classic stories as well as poetry.  I found myself stopping and reflecting on each one.  

Professional Review:  This ingenious book of reversos, or poems which have one meaning when read down the page and perhaps an altogether different meaning when read up the page, toys with and reinvents oh-so-familiar stories and characters, from Cinderella to the Ugly Duckling. The five opening lines of the Goldilocks reverso read: “Asleep in cub’s bed / Blonde / startled by / Bears, / the headline read.” Running down the page side-by-side with this poem is a second, which ends with: “Next day / the headline read: / Bears startled / by blonde / asleep in cub’s bed.” The 14 pairs of poems—easily distinguished by different fonts and background colors—allow changes only in punctuation, capitalization, and line breaks, as Singer explains in an author’s note about her invented poetic form. “It is a form that is both challenging and fun—rather like creating and solving a puzzle.” Singer also issues an invitation for readers to try to write their own reversos on any topic. Matching the cleverness of the text, Masse’s deep-hued paintings create split images that reflect the twisted meaning of the irreverently witty poems and brilliantly employ artistic elements of form and shape—Cinderella’s clock on one side morphs to the moon on the other. A must-purchase that will have readers marveling over a visual and verbal feast. Grades 2-5. --Patricia Austin

Austin, Patricia.  [Review of the book Mirror mirror:  A book of reverso poems].  Booklist.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Book-Reverso-Poems/dp/0525479015

Library Uses:  Not only would this be great for poetry lessons, but it would be amazing for point of view!  Students should know the fairytales mentioned and should be able to identify who is the speaker in each side of the poem.  A challenge would be to have a contest for students to write their own reverso poems. 

Module 13: Magic Treehouse #24: Earthquake in the Early Morning

Book Summary:  Annie and Jack are whisked back in time to the great earthquake in San Francisco in 1906.  The two are sent on a journey from Morgan La Fay to go to San Francisco and complete a task.  The task is to find a special writing that is 'something to lend.'  When the earthquake hits Jack and Annie have a hard time looking for the writing due to the destruction and the needs of the people.  The fires and the rubble slow down their search.  Betty the reporter steps in to have them take a picture holding a sign.  The kids are taken back to their own treehouse, meet with Morgan in her own library and cheer up King Arthur with their story and picture from the earthquake.

APA Reference:  Osborne,  Mary Pope.  (2010).  Magic treehouse #24:  earthquake in the early morning.  New York, NY:  Random House LLC.

Impressions:  This was my first time to read this series and I loved the concept.  Traveling back in time on a quest to help Merlin and Morgan la Fay while learning about history.  This is a perfect mix of fiction and fact for early readers.  I was a bit confused about who Morgan was and about the writings they had to find.  After further research on the series I've found that you need to read them in order to fully understand.  As a reader who knows how to monitor my comprehension I felt that it was ok for me to not go back and reread all of the series and still be able to comprehend the text.  I'm not sure that a younger reader would know that some of the things mentioned in the book are from other books within the series.  I think they would not know what is going on and just skip on over it and keep going.

Professional Review:  The year is 1906, the place is San Francisco. Annie and her brother, Jack, have just traveled here in their magic tree house, on a mission from Morgan le Fay, the mysterious magical librarian from King Arthur's time. In an effort to save Camelot, the children have already found three special kinds of writing for Morgan's library: something to follow (Civil War on Sunday), something to send (Revolutionary War on Wednesday), and something to learn (Twister on Tuesday). Now it's time to find "something to lend." It's a quiet, peaceful morning in San Francisco, and Annie is eager to start exploring. So eager, in fact, that she pulls Jack away from his research just before he would have learned a very important piece of information... All too soon, the siblings figure it out for themselves: they have arrived in this lovely city a moment before one of the biggest earthquakes the U.S. has ever known shakes the Bay Area to pieces! Stunned, Jack and Annie wander the streets, but quickly find a purpose. Lots of people need help transporting goods to safety, and many more are left without any idea where to go or what to do. But what about their mission? Will the kids find something to lend before the entire city goes up in flames?
Mary Pope Osborne's tremendously popular Magic Tree House series offers young readers a chance to immerse themselves in spellbinding adventures even as they learn about history. The terrible San Francisco earthquake is described with great historical accuracy, but with admirable age-appropriateness. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Coulter, Emilie.  [Review of the book Earthquake in the early morning].  Amazon.com Review.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Tree-House-24-Earthquake-ebook/dp/B003QMLI28/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431127677&sr=1-1&keywords=magic+tree+house+earthquake+in+the+early+morning

Library Uses:  This would be a great series to do a book club with early readers.  It would be interesting to have several groups reading several different titles and then come back together as a whole group to discuss what they have in common and what is different as well as the facts they learned.

Module 12: Becoming Babe Ruth

Book Summary:  George Ruth gets into a lot of trouble.  When he is seven his father enrolls him in Saint Mary's School, where the students call themselves, 'inmates.'  Life in Saint Mary's is extremely boring and redundant except that Ruth gets to play baseball every day with his friends.  His talent lands him in the Major League and he holds many impressive records for pitching, and his famous home runs.  Early in his career his teammates started calling him Babe because he was so young and soon the newspapers were calling him that as well.  Later on in life when Saint Mary's burns down he is able to pay to rebuild it and give back to the school that led him to his destiny.  

APA Reference:  Tavares, Matt.  (2013).  Becoming babe ruth.  New York, NY:  Candlewick.  

Impressions:  I loved how this biography seemed more like a narrative than an informational book.  There were all of the important dates and facts for Babe Ruth but the style of writing was what I liked so much.  I really enjoyed the illustrations as much as the text and I liked how on some of the pages there was a lot of whitespace around one or several smaller pictures while others took the full spread across the centerfold.  I had no idea that Babe Ruth was a trouble maker and I enjoyed the narrative style of learning about his past.  The title is spot on- how did Babe Ruth become who he was.  Great read.

Professional Review: On the cover portrait of this picture-book biography, George Herman Ruth’s eyes twinkle so realistically, one expects the famous wink. Inside, this exceptionally engaging chronicle recounts Ruth’s amazing rags-to-riches story, from his early family troubles and placement at age seven into Saint Mary’s Industrial School for Boys to his triumphant career with the New York Yankees. The narrative wisely telescopes much of his baseball career, citing a few professional feats, explaining the origin of his nickname, and vividly capturing his larger-than-life celebrity status, including his enormous appetite, undisciplined lifestyle, and boyish charm. But there’s also an emphasis on Ruth’s time at St. Mary’s and the critical influence of the school’s Brother Matthias. The story comes full circle, closing with Ruth’s generosity to the school after a disastrous fire. Well-researched, realistic illustrations, rendered in watercolor, gouache, and pencil, depict early-twentieth-century life and Major League Baseball during Ruth’s era. Equally important, the art captures Ruth’s irrepressible personality and joy in playing baseball. Yes, the eyes definitely twinkle. Back matter includes a chart of statistics, author’s note, and bibliography. Grades 1-4. --Linda Perkins

Perkins, Linda.  [Review of the book becoming babe ruth].  Booklist.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Babe-Ruth-Matt-Tavares/dp/0763656461

Library Uses:  This book has so many different possibilities!  Of course there are summer and sport displays as well as biographies.  I think this would be a great book for part of an introductory research assignment as well- plenty of facts while not being a dry informational text.  

Module 11: 14 Cows for America

Book Summary:  In the wake of the tragedy of 9/11 hurt and sorrow were felt world-wide.  14 Cows for America tells the story of a tribe in Kenya who felt moved to do something kind for Americans.  In 2002, an American diplomat received 14 cows from the Masai tribe in Kenya.  Cows to these people are extremely important and represent life.  The gift of cows from different families within the tribe was a huge gift of friendship and kindness to America to symbolize their heartfelt sorrow after 9/11.  

APA Reference:  Deedy, Carmen Agra.  (2009).  14 Cows for america.  New York, NY:  Peachtree Publishers.

Impressions:  The title of this text intrigued me as well as the artwork.  At first I thought it was a story of homecoming, but once I got into it I was surprised to see it wasn't just an African tribal tale but that it was actually a story of hope and friendship.  Once I finished it I immediately went right back to page one and read it straight through again.  If a cow means life to the Masai, the gift of 'life' was what was truly given to America and the fact that they give what they had and what was also so important to them really struck a chord with me.  I felt sorrow as I remembered the tragedy and then I immediately felt hope mixed in with the sorrow.  What a great story to share- I'm glad I read it.  I also felt that the artwork added tremendously to the text- loved the bright colors!

Professional Review: This is a lovely picture book about foreign aid involving the United States and a remote village in ­Kenya, but it’s not what you think. Instead of an earnest tale about Americans helping an impoverished people far away, it opens with a Kenyan named Kimeli returning to his village from New York City in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

14 COWS FOR AMERICA
“A child asks if he has brought any stories,” Carmen Agra Deedy writes. “Kimeli nods. He has brought with him one story. It has burned a hole in his heart.” Kimeli tells the people gathered around him about the destruction of the twin towers, and they are stunned. They cannot imagine buildings so tall they touch the sky, let alone fires so hot they melt steel. The villagers scarcely fathom what happened, but they are touched and want to help. “What can we do for these poor people?” one elder asks.

The villagers are Masai, both warriors and cattle-herders, who measure their lives in part by the number of cattle they own. The illustrations by Thomas Gonzalez are beautifully evocative. They show Kimeli in his Stanford windbreaker and running shoes, surrounded by villagers and, of course, innumerable cows. Over and over in the scenes, two spears or two sticks or even two giraffe necks appear in the background, a subtle echo of the twin towers.

Kimeli declares that he wishes to give his cow — he has only one — to the suffering Americans, and asks for the elders’ blessing. They not only approve but add 13 more cows to the gift. Later, the American ambassador comes to the village, and the Masai solemnly present him with 14 cows, as the book puts it, “because there is no nation so powerful it cannot be wounded, nor a people so small they cannot offer mighty comfort.”

This is a true story, as an afterword by Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah explains. He describes how he went to America on a scholarship and was shown great kindness there. So when he wanted to do something after 9/11, he thought: To heal a sorrowing heart, give something that is dear to your own.

That is how the United States came to receive foreign aid from a Masai village. And if you’re wondering what happened to the cows: No, the United States ambassador has not been inviting all his friends to steak dinners. These are sacred cows that are not meant to be slaughtered, and a Masai elder is looking after them on our behalf. They have calved and the herd now numbers more than 35. Kimeli explains the purpose of this charming book: “The Masai wish is that every time Americans hear the simple story of 14 cows, they will find a measure of comfort and peace.”

Kristof, Nicholas.  (2009).  [Review of the book 14 cows for america].  The New York Times.  Retrieved fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/books/review/Kristof-t.html?_r=0

Library Uses:  This would be a great way to teach about 9/11 to younger students.  The text addresses what happened while focusing on the kindness of others.  I would make this a book of the month for September or feature it a display of books that feature characters from Africa.  

Module 10: Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Book Summary:  Henry started life as a slave who had a kind owner.  When his first owner died he was given to the owner's brother- having to leave his family.  The new boss was not as kind.  Fastforward to adulthood and he is married to Nancy and has a family.  The new boss sold his wife and children one day and Henry knew he wouldn't see them again.  James was inspired by a bird having freedom and longed for his own freedom.  He met with James and Dr. Smith and they schemed up a plan for Henry to be delivered through the mail to freedom in Philadelphia.  In order for the plan to work they had to create an injury for Henry to have a reason to not go to work.  When Henry was in the process of being mailed he was accidentally turned upside down for a long time- extremely uncomfortable.  When he arrived in Philadelphia he was greeted by kind people who helped him and gave him the name Henry Box Brown.

APA Reference:  Levine, Ellen.  (2007).  Henry's freedom box:  A true story from the underground railroad.  New York, NY:  Scholastic Press.

Impressions: I had read a social studies passage years ago about Henry and his box and was intrigued to hear more about his story.  One thing that stuck out to me was that when Henry was happy with his family he would hum or sing.  After his family was sold he didn't sing anymore and it wasn't until he heard a bird singing that he paid attention to the freedom the bird had.  The music played a fairly big part of happiness and freedom- I expected there to be music at the end of this story when he was in Philadelphia,  and was surprised there wasn't any.  I enjoyed this book because it narrated Brown's journey to freedom.  Knowing that this book is for children I feel that the book stopped in the appropriate place, but as an adult reader I was wanting to know more about what he found when he got to Philadelphia and was he ever reconnected with his wife.  I may have to go read some more about this now since it has sparked my interest- and a good book will do that.

Professional Review:  Grade 2–5—Inspired by an actual 1830s lithograph, this beautifully crafted picture book briefly relates the story of Henry "Box" Brown's daring escape from slavery. Torn from his mother as a child, and then forcibly separated from his wife and children as an adult, a heartsick and desperate Brown conspired with abolitionists and successfully traveled north to Philadelphia in a packing crate. His journey took just over one full day, during which he was often sideways or upside down in a wooden crate large enough to hold him, but small enough not to betray its contents. The story ends with a reimagining of the lithograph that inspired it, in which Henry Brown emerges from his unhappy confinement—in every sense of the word—and smiles upon his arrival in a comfortable Pennsylvania parlor. Particularly considering the broad scope of Levine's otherwise well-written story, some of the ancillary "facts" related in her text are unnecessarily dubious; reports vary, for instance, as to whether the man who sealed Henry into the crate was a doctor or a cobbler. And, while the text places Henry's arrival on March 30, other sources claim March 24 or 25. Nelson's illustrations, always powerful and nuanced, depict the evolution of a self-possessed child into a determined and fearless young man. While some of the specifics are unfortunately questionable, this book solidly conveys the generalities of Henry Brown's story.—Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Review of Henry's freedom box:  A true story from the underground railroad by Catherine Threadgill].  School Library Journal.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Henrys-Freedom-Box-Underground-Railroad/dp/043977733X

Library Uses:  I believe that this book would be great with older readers to help show the desperation slaves had to escape to freedom.  I think it would be fun and out of the ordinary to read a read aloud picture book to older readers to introduce the Underground Railroad and slavery.

Module 9: Who Pushed Humpty Dumpty: And Other Notorious Nursery Tale Mysteries

Book Summary:  Binky the Frog Detective is hot on the case- of a lot of famous fairy tale mysteries.  He helps The Three Bears find Goldilocks, The witch's family from Hansel and Gretel, he gets to the bottom of who actually pushed Humpty Dumpty and why, he helped Snow White get to the hospital after her incident with the apple, and he also helped Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk.

APA Reference:  Levinthal, David.  (2012).  Who pushed humpty dumpty:  And other notorious nursery tale mysteries.  New York, NY:  Schwartz and Wade.  

Impressions:  I chose this book because I was curious to see what a mystery would look like in a smaller picture book.  In a chapter book there is plenty of time to develop the mystery and through the use of familiar stories Levinthal is able to get quickly to the point in a picture book format- and I loved it- very clever.  The voice of Binky the Frog Detective sounds like a detective on T.V.- someone well versed about their job and many years into it.  Case after case is told in this book where Binky goes out to the site, sifts through the details and solves the case.  I kind of felt that Binky would speak rather quickly like you would imagine an old-timey newspaper journalist. "Case Closed," pops up across the guilty person's face at the end of most adding in a creative element to ending one mystery before solving another.  I liked how short each mystery was and how you wouldn't technically have to read the story from beginning to end in one setting.  This could be something you skip around in as needed because each mystery has a subheading and there is a clear beginning and end to each.  I enjoyed this one so much that I didn't just rent it for this assignment like a lot of these, I actually purchased it.  

Professional Review:  “There are eight million stories in the forest. This is one of them,” announces bullfrog Binky, the plainclothes cop who investigates situations like Humpty Dumpty’s demise and a witch’s disappearance in “Hansel and Gretel.” Binky starts his day with a call from Mrs. Bear, reporting a robbery. Once Goldilocks confesses, Binky unsentimentally reports, “They’ll feed her three meals a day where she’s going.” Another incident involves “that sweet girl who cleaned for the Seven Dwarfs.... Boy, what a knockout!” When Snow White is poisoned, suspicion falls on the royal judge of a beauty pageant. Following each procedural, a red “case closed” stamp appears across a picture of the jailed or handcuffed culprit. Levinthal, best known for his photography, nails the tone of the Dragnet-style escapades that make up his picture book debut, and Nickle’s (Hans My Hedgehog) obsessively detailed acrylics have a sinister edge that suits the mood. His panels are somewhat awkwardly framed in unadorned borders, and the no-frills, sans-serif typeface does little to complement the images or deadpan narration, but readers should still be tickled by these noirish retellings. Ages 4–8. 

(2012).  [Review of Who pushed humpty dumpty: And other notorious nursery tale mysteries].  Publisher's Weekly.  Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-375-84195-8

Library Uses:  This would be an amazing quick read aloud to introduce elements of mysteries and build an interest in mysteries.  There could be a conveniently located mystery display ready for the students after the read aloud to help them find a good mystery right away.  

Module 8: James and the Giant Peach

Book Summary:  James' poor parents are eaten up by an angry rhinoceros right on the first page!  He is sent to live with his dreadful Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker where he leads a miserable life with no fun, no toys, no books, and no friends.  When he is 7 he is visited by a strange man who gives him a bag of magical crystals and in James' excitement he accidentally trips and spills the bag thinking that any hope of using the magic is gone.  The lone peach tree in the garden soaks up all of the magic along with the bugs that live in and around it.  The peach tree gives off one peach that continues to grow and grow.  James falls into the peach and is greeted by life size insects.  These insects know James and they feel sorry for him for what he has been going through with his awful aunts and they take James on the adventure of his lifetime.  James, his new friends and the giant peach cross the Atlantic, fly up into the clouds to discover what really goes on with the weather, and ends up getting stuck on the top of the Empire State Building.  James was able to leave his miserable life behind and make friends with these unlikely creatures.  They saved him from his horrible aunts and led him to a lifetime of happiness and friendship.

APA Reference:  Dahl, Roald.  (2007).  James and the giant peach.  New York, NY:  Puffin Books.

Impressions:  At first I was a bit weary of reading a book with insects as some of the main characters but I had heard really great things about this book and wanted to try it.  This was my first Dahl book and now I want to read them all.  I love the way he put this story together.  My absolute favorite sentence is sadly about James' parents but I love how lighthearted he writes about a serious subject:  "Then, one day, James’s mother and father went to London to do some shopping, and there a terrible thing happened. Both of them suddenly got eaten up (in full daylight, mind you, and on a crowded street) by an enormous angry rhinoceros which had escaped from the London Zoo."  This style of writing reminded me a lot of C.S. Lewis in the Narnia series.  I actually felt like I should be reading it in a British accent it was so formal and the wording was slightly different in some places.  Loved it.  I'm a sucker for happy endings and I felt that in about chapter 15-ish I was destined to get that happy ending.  I wanted desperately for James to get away from his awful aunts and was delighted to see them flattened by the peach.

Professional Review:  When poor James Henry Trotter loses his parents in a horrible rhinoceros accident, he is forced to live with his two wicked aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. After three years he becomes "the saddest and loneliest boy you could find." Then one day, a wizened old man in a dark-green suit gives James a bag of magic crystals that promise to reverse his misery forever. When James accidentally spills the crystals on his aunts' withered peach tree, he sets the adventure in motion. From the old tree a single peach grows, and grows, and grows some more, until finally James climbs inside the giant fruit and rolls away from his despicable aunts to a whole new life. James befriends an assortment of hilarious characters, including Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider, and Centipede--each with his or her own song to sing. Roald Dahl's rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that parents will not tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do over and over again! With the addition of witty black and white pencil drawings by Lane Smith (of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs fame), upon which the animation for the Disney movie was based, this classic, now in paperback, is bursting with renewed vigor. We'll just come right out and say it: James and the Giant Peach is one of the finest children's books ever written. (Ages 9 to 12)

[Review of James and the giant peach].  Amazon.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/James-Giant-Peach-Roald-Dahl/dp/0142410365

Library Uses:  I think this would great to encourage readers to do an author study.  Read this book, then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc... and form a book club group to discuss similarities and differences.

Module 7: If I Stay

Book Summary:  Mia's family is very close, lots of good memories.  At the beginning of the book the family is traveling to some family friends' house and there is an extremely tragic wreck killing the parents, the brother and leaving Mia in a coma.  Mia realizes she is in a coma and has to decide if she wants to continue to live or if her time is up and she should die.  The story is told through sequences of flashbacks to memories Mia has.  She is remembering her life, grieving over the loss of her family, questioning what life would be like with out them.  Friends and family members are visiting Mia in the hospital and she is aware of all of them- almost like an out of body experience.  With each new visitor comes a whole other set of memories.  In the end she decides that she does want to live life and chooses to come out of her coma.

APA Reference:  Forman, Gayle.  (2010).  If i stay.  New York: NY:  Speak.

Impressions:  I had seen a movie preview for this book and was excited to see it on our class book list.  I'm the kind of person who has to read the book before the movie and I was glad I did with this book.  I don't have any desire to see this movie now that I've read it.  That was fairly blunt but I was not impressed with this book at all.  I thought that the writing was great, the structure with the flashbacks and the memories were a unique concept but I never felt like the plot reached it's full potential.  When the story ended I felt cheated, and then Amazon of course was more than willing to try to get me to read the rest of the series on my Kindle, which I happily declined.

Professional Review:  The last normal moment that Mia, a talented cellist, can remember is being in the car with her family. Then she is standing outside her body beside their mangled Buick and her parents' corpses, watching herself and her little brother being tended by paramedics. As she ponders her state (Am I dead? I actually have to ask myself this), Mia is whisked away to a hospital, where, her body in a coma, she reflects on the past and tries to decide whether to fight to live. Via Mia's thoughts and flashbacks, Forman (Sisters in Sanity) expertly explores the teenager's life, her passion for classical music and her strong relationships with her family, friends and boyfriend, Adam. Mia's singular perspective (which will recall Alice Sebold's adult novel, The Lovely Bones) also allows for powerful portraits of her friends and family as they cope: Please don't die. If you die, there's going to be one of those cheesy Princess Diana memorials at school, prays Mia's friend Kim. I know you'd hate that kind of thing. Intensely moving, the novel will force readers to take stock of their lives and the people and things that make them worth living. Ages 14–up.

[Review of If i stay].  Publisher's Weekly.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/If-I-Stay-Gayle-Forman/dp/014241543X

Library Uses:  Well, this book does make you take note of the important memories you have and the loved ones that are in your life.  This could be used with a book club to discuss the importance of life.

Module 7: Because of Winn Dixie

Book Summary:  Opal and her father, the preacher, have moved to Florida and Opal hasn't made any friends yet.  At the Winn Dixie grocery store there is an awesome scene caused by a dog running loose.  Opal steps forward and saves the dog from the pound, names him Winn Dixie and takes him home to see if the preacher will let her keep him.  Opal is able to make several friends in the small town because of Winn Dixie and even gets the courage to ask the preacher about her mother.  Winn Dixie helps other people in town be more social and helps build a bridge between the preacher, who sometimes acts like a turtle, and Opal.

APA Reference:  DiCamillo, Kate.  (2009).  Because of winn-dixie.  New York, NY:  Candlewick.

Impressions:  You can't help but love this dog and Opal.  These characters grew on me and I was sad when the book ended- not because of the ending but because I wanted to keep meeting people in town with Opal.  No matter where she went with Winn-Dixie she made a fast friend and it was interesting to see her become more confident with herself and to see how the dog's presence affected the whole town.  Opal needed this dog and didn't even know it until that day in the grocery store.  The other characters in this story had to have been based on real people DiCamillo knew, their descriptions and how they interacted with each other was fantastic.  I loved how she described each of them and I was able to see how a little girl and a mess of a dog made an impact on each one of them.  There were some serious topics mentioned in here that I wasn't expecting, divorce/abandonment and alcoholism.  This has been one of my favorite books so far on my journey throughout children's literature.

Professional Review:  Because of Winn-Dixie, a big, ugly, happy dog, 10-year-old Opal learns 10 things about her long-gone mother from her preacher father. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal makes new friends among the somewhat unusual residents of her new hometown, Naomi, Florida. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to find her place in the world and let go of some of the sadness left by her mother's abandonment seven years earlier.
With her newly adopted, goofy pooch at her side, Opal explores her bittersweet world and learns to listen to other people's lives. This warm and winning book hosts an unforgettable cast of characters, including a librarian who fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace, an ex-con pet-store clerk who plays sweet music to his animal charges, and the neighborhood "witch," a nearly blind woman who sees with her heart. Part Frankie (The Member of the Wedding), part Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird), Opal brings her own unique and wonderful voice to a story of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance. Opal's down-home charm and dead-on honesty will earn her friends and fans far beyond the confines of Naomi, Florida. (Ages 9 and older)

Coulter, Emilie.  [Review of Because of winn-dixie, by Emilie Coulter].  Amazon.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Because-Winn-Dixie-Kate-DiCamillo/dp/0763644323

Library Uses:  I would love to use this to support curriculum with kids who are struggling readers.  This text offers so much through the characters and I feel like it would be a great book to do a small group book club with.  Every reading skill could easily be brought up in this multiple times but I think a struggling reader could connect to Opal and the other characters. Maybe Winn-Dixie could have a positive effect on their lives as well.

Module 6: Duck for President

Book Summary:  Duck doesn't like to do his chores.  He thinks he can run the farm better than Farmer Brown and hosts an election to vote for him for Farmer.  The animals took the election very seriously and had voter registration.  Farmer Brown loses and demands a recount and Duck still wins.  Running a farm is of course no fun and Duck aspires to be Governor and does all of the things he can do to run the election process.  Duck wins and wins the recount.  Being a Governor is hard work and now Duck sets his eyes on the Presidential election.  He again does all of the things that presidential nominees do.  He of course wins- even a recount.  Being President is hard work and sees a Help Wanted ad in the local paper for his old job as Duck.  He goes back to the farm and begins his autobiography.  

APA Reference:  Cronin, Doreen.  (2004).  Duck for president.  New York, NY:  Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impressions:  This book is hilarious!  Who knew that running for office could be so much fun!  I do think that every one of the jokes made about politicians is way over kids heads here, but a lot of fun for the adults.  I loved that every single vote had a recount and that Duck still won.  I thought it was such a hoot that it said that he went on the campaign trail and gave speeches that only other Ducks understood- sometimes I feel like that when I watch a lot of politicians speaking too.  The things he did to get elected to President definitely poked fun at real life Presidents like playing saxophone on Letterman- too funny.  This book is definitely for kids but I think it is the adults who will truly appreciate the satire.

Professional Review:  PreSchool-Grade 2--This award-winning team returns with a third story of farm animals with ambition. Duck is tired of doing his chores (mowing the lawn and grinding the coffee beans), and decides to hold an election to replace Farmer Brown. When he wins, Duck quickly realizes that running a farm requires too much hard work, and sets out to run for governor. With the help of the hens, and speeches "that only other ducks can understand," he eventually ends up running the country. Executive office gives him a headache, however, so Duck returns to the farm to work on his autobiography--on a computer, with the typewriter from Click, Clack, Moo(S & S, 2000) in the wastepaper bin next to him. Lewin's characteristic humorous watercolors with bold black outlines fill the pages with color and jokes. Cronin's text is hilarious for kids and adults and includes a little math and quite a bit about the electoral process. The animals, who have no verbal language that humans can understand, are empowered by the use of the written word, and the subliminal message comes through loud and clear--one can almost hear youngsters thinking, "Watch out grown-ups! Just wait till I learn to read."--Jane Barrer, Washington Square Village Creative Steps, New York City
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Review of Duck for president by Jane Barrer].  School Library Journal.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/President-Times-Illustrated-Childrens-Awards/dp/0689863772

Library Uses:  I think this would be a great lesson for younger readers about appreciating what you already have and a lesson on theme.  I think it would be more fun for older readers to enjoy after learning about the electoral process and some of our nation's history with running for office.

Module 5: Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Book Summary:  Harriet Tubman is a slave who decides to escape north to freedom.  Moses is told through Tubman's conversations with God as well as the actual events of escaping.  When she is scared and needing guidance God guides her to safety.  As she is escaping there are multiple times where there is a feeling of suspense as she is fleeing and she is always quick to thank God for not being safe.  She meets lots of strangers on her way and is rightfully scared to trust them but God guides her.  When she arrives in Philadelphia she realizes that her people are still in slavery and through more conversations with God she is led back to the south and learns how to be a conductor on the Underground Railroad to rescue her family and more.

APA Reference: Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2006).  Moses:  When harriet tubman led her people to freedom.  New York, NY:  Hyperion Books.

Impressions:  Harriet Tubman's story is so familiar that it is refreshing to hear it from her point of view and through her conversations with God.  The way the text blends in with the illustrations is amazing.  The text is as interesting as the illustrations.  I really liked how the dialogue with God was shown and I really enjoyed hearing her thoughts.  At first I thought, "is this whole thing a dialogue with God?  That is interesting/strange for a children's book."  I'm so glad I didn't abandon it and I finished it.  I needed to see that perspective. We so often think of the amazing things she did that we sometimes don't think about how it must have been to actually go through the events and save so many people.  This book lets the reader see that side of the journey- all of the unknowns as well as the risks.  

Professional Review:  Weatherford's handsome picture book about Harriet Tubman focuses mostly on Tubman's religious inspiration, with echoes of spirituals ringing throughout the spare poetry about her struggle ("Lord, don't let nobody turn me 'round"). God cradles Tubman and talks with her; his words (printed in block capitals) both inspire her and tell her what to do ("SHED YOUR SHOES; WADE IN THE WATER TO TRICK THE DOGS"). Nelson's stirring, beautiful artwork makes clear the terror and exhaustion Tubman felt during her own escape and also during her brave rescue of others. There's no romanticism: the pictures are dark, dramatic, and deeply colored--whether showing the desperate young fugitive "crouched for days in a potato hole" or the tough middle-aged leader frowning at the band of runaways she's trying to help. The full-page portrait of a contemplative Tubman turning to God to help her guide her people is especially striking. Hazel Rochman

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

[Review of Moses:  When harriet tubman led her people to freedom by Hazel Rochman].  Booklist.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Moses-Harriet-Tubman-Freedom-Caldecott/dp/0786851759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430788536&sr=1-1&keywords=moses+when+harriet+tubman+led+her+people+to+freedom

Library Use:  This would be a great way to introduce a slavery unit and teach about life before the Civil War.  It would also be great as a character/biography study of Harriet Tubman.  Her conversations with God let you see a different side of her than is mostly learned and that would offer a unique perspective.  

Module 5: Goin' Someplace Special

Book Summary:  'Tricia Ann is excited she gets to go someplace special by herself and gets dressed up.  She leaves the house full of excitement but on her journey she is challenged with Jim Crow laws that separate white people from black people.  She is not allowed to sit on the bench that is for white's only and she has to sit at the back of the bus.  It isn't until the end of the book that the reader finds out where she is going- the public library.  The sign above the library says:  Public Library:  All are Welcome.  The library is 'Tricia Ann's someplace special.

APA Reference:  McKissack, Patricia.  (2008).  Goin' someplace special.  New York, NY:  Aladdin Books.

Impressions:  I couldn't help but fall in love with this book!  The pictures by Jerry Pinkney suck you in with amazing watercolors and then you notice how great a character 'Tricia Ann is.  I love how quickly she rebounds after seeing something like the 'white's only' bench.  Her resiliency through the Jim Crow Laws are inspiring.  When times get tough she is reminded of words of wisdom from loved ones and that helps her push her way onward to someplace special.  By the end I was dying to know where her someplace special was and I was delighted to see it was the library and I loved how the author ended by simply stating the sign.

Professional Review:  McKissack draws from her childhood in Nashville for this instructive picture book. "I don't know if I'm ready to turn you loose in the world," Mama Frances tells her granddaughter when she asks if she can go by herself to "Someplace Special" (the destination remains unidentified until the end of the story). 'Tricia Ann does obtain permission, and begins a bittersweet journey downtown, her pride battered by the indignities of Jim Crow laws. She's ejected from a hotel lobby and snubbed as she walks by a movie theater ("Colored people can't come in the front door," she hears a girl explaining to her brother. "They got to go 'round back and sit up in the Buzzard's Roost"). She almost gives up, but, buoyed by the encouragement of adult acquaintances ("Carry yo'self proud," one of her grandmother's friends tells her from the Colored section on the bus), she finally arrives at Someplace Special a place Mama Frances calls "a doorway to freedom" the public library. An afterword explains McKissack's connection to the tale, and by putting such a personal face on segregation she makes its injustices painfully real for her audience. Pinkney's (previously paired with McKissack for Mirandy and Brother Wind) luminescent watercolors evoke the '50s, from fashions to finned cars, and he captures every ounce of 'Tricia Ann's eagerness, humiliation and quiet triumph at the end. Ages 4-8.

[Review of Goin' spomeplace special]  Publisher's Weekly.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Goin-Someplace-Special-Patricia-McKissack/dp/1416927352


Library Uses:  This would be an amazing book to introduce segregation and discuss equality.  I also believe it would be part of a great display for Black History Month.

Module 4: Number the Stars

Book Summary:  Annemarie's friend Ellen and her family are in trouble when the Nazi's come to Copenhagen.  Ellen's family is Jewish and the Nazi's are beginning to deport Jewish people out of the country.  Annemarie's family is not Jewish and is able to take Ellen in and pretend that she is the recently deceased Lise.  This is not easy as Ellen has dark hair and Annmarie's family has to find photos to prove that Ellen is indeed 'Lise' when the German soldiers come.  Annemarie acts quickly and rips off Ellen's Star of David necklace so that it doesn't give her away.  Annemarie is charged with helping Ellen and her family escape to Sweden and again Annemarie is confronted by soldiers and asked about what she is doing.  Ellen's family is safely taken to Sweden.  

APA Reference:  Lowry, Lois.  (1989).  Number the stars.  New York, NY:  HMH Books.

Impressions:  My impression of Number the Stars was suspenseful.  I know it is a book for younger readers but I still found myself wanting to fast forward to the resolution.  When the soldiers came to the house to ask about the Rosens I was sure they were going to catch Ellen, but thankfully they didn't.  I was also very worried for little Annemarie taking her package to uncle Henrik- how dangerous!  I'm now interested in reading this with a small group in class to see how they respond to the suspenseful parts as well.  I want to know if I panicked because I have a lot of knowledge about this topic or if the text really does pull you in regardless of background knowledge.  

Professional Review: The author of the Anastasia books as well as more serious fiction (Rabbi Starkey, 1987) offers her first historical fiction--a story about the escape of the Jews from Denmark in 1943. Five years younger than Lisa in Matas' book (below), Annemarie Johansen has, at ten, known three years of Nazi occupation. Though ever cautious and fearful of the ubiquitous soldiers, she is largely unware of the extent of the danger around her; the Resistance kept even its participants safer by telling them as little as possible, and Annemarie has never been told that her older sister Lise died in its service. When the Germans plan to round up the Jews, the Johansens take in Annemarie's friend, Ellen Rosen, and pretend she is their daughter; later, they travel to Uncle Hendrik's house on the coast, where the Rosens and other Jews are transported by fishing boat to Sweden. Apart from Lise's offstage death, there is little violence here; like Annemarie, the reader is protected from the full implications of events--but will be caught up in the suspense and menace of several encounters with soldiers and in Annemarie's courageous run as courier on the night of the escape. The book concludes with the Jews' return, after the war, to homes well kept for them by their neighbors. A deftly told story that dramatizes how Danes appointed themselves bodyguards--not only for their king, who was in the habit of riding alone in Copenhagen, but for their Jews.

[Review of Number the stars]  (1989).  Kirkus Reviews.  Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lois-lowry/number-the-stars-2/

Library Uses:  I would want to make a display of young people (fictional and nonfictional) who did heroic acts and include this as one of the selections.  It could also be part of a study on different religions and we could incorporate other stories that deal with Judaism.  

Module 3: Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears

Book Summary:  This book starts with Mosquito telling Iguana a lie which starts a chain reaction including: Python, Rabbit, Crow, Monkey, and Owl.  Monkey falls on one of Owl's owlets and kills the baby.  Mother Owl is so sad about the loss of her baby that she doesn't call for the sun to rise and night time goes on and on.  King Lion calls a meeting of the animals to get to the bottom of what is going on and each animal tells why their part of what they did and why.  The entire mess is traced back to Mosquito lying to Iguana and the animals want justice.  Mosquito was too big of a chicken to go to the meeting and now spends the rest of his life buzzing in people's ears asking if they're angry at him.  This is ultimately met with a "KPAO" when the person slaps him.

APA Reference:  Aardema, Verna.  (1975).  Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears.  New York, NY:  Puffin Books.

Impressions:  My overall impression was that I wanted more justice for Mother Owl.  I felt like the situation was never fully resolved.  I loved how the author used descriptive sound words to show movement: "mek, badamin, kili wili, etc..."  These words added a lot of character to the book and helped make it unique.  Of course, this is a Caldecott winning book for illustrations and I can see why.  The illustrations add as much character as the actual text does.

Professional Review: This tale from Africa is another of those cumulative goose chases except that instead of pursuing an object, the game here is fixing the blame for an overlong night. As King Lion summarizes the chain of events after it's all straightened out, ""it was the mosquito who annoyed the iguana, who frightened the python, who scared the rabbit, who startled the crow, who alarmed the monkey, who killed the owlet--and now Mother Owl won't wake the sun so that the day can come."" Not one of your indispensable kernels of folk wisdom, but it is the kind of brisk go-round that can pick up a lagging story hour group. And though the stunning illustrations are not our favorite Dillons--they don't generate much life or involvement--their crisp cut paper look commands attention.

 [Review of Why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears] Kirkus Reviews.  (1975).  Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/verna-aardema-4/why-mosquitoes-buzz-in-peoples-ears/

Library Uses:  This would be great to make a display for texts showcasing stories from different parts of the world.  It would be amazing to support curriculum with a cause and effect lesson.  Another idea would be to talk about gossip and the chain reaction it causes as it spreads.  The kids could even play the telephone secret game where they whisper the secret from one student to another and see if it stays the same. 

Module 4: Island of the Blue Dolphins

Book Summary:  Karana's people are leaving their island to head east but her brother Ramos left his fishing gear and goes back for it.  Karana gets off the boat to go find her brother and while they are gone they realize they've been left behind.  Karana and her brother are left to fend entirely for themselves.  Ramos is attacked and killed  by the pack of wild dogs on the island and Karana finds herself entirely alone on the island.  She tames a wild dog and names him Rontu while she learns how to survive.  Years later a group of Aleuts comes to the island and Karana hides in a cave but makes friends with a girl.  When the girl and the rest of the Aleuts leave she realizes how lonely she is.  Years later a ship comes and docks on the island and Karana dresses in her best dress and goes to meet the people- ready to be with humans and she finds out the fate that became of her tribespeople.  

APA Reference:  O'Dell, Scott.  (1960).  Island of the blue dolphins.  New York, NY:  HMH Books.

Impressions:  I couldn't put it down!  As I was reading it made me wonder as to the truth of this story.  I did some quick research and learned that in the 1800's there was a real girl who was left behind on her island.  That made me love the story even more - knowing that as it was a fictional account of a true story had me dying to get to the end to see if she was ever going to be reunited with her tribespeople.  I was disappointed at the end that there was not athe big happy ending like I was so desperately wanting for our Karana.  I also enjoyed how descriptive the text was- it was very easy for me to visualize what was going on even if I had no context for it.

Professional Review:  This book is a true story about a 12 year old girl called Karana who is stranded on an island and has to work out how to survive. Her main enemies on the island are the wild dogs and she lives in fear of the Aleuts (a tribe who arrive on the island to hunt seals).

We loved learning about survival with no tools except those you make from the materials around you and the way that Karana found enough food to eat. The book was sad in some parts but it only went to show you how tough Karana was.

We admired Karana's hard work, she never gives up. She did become lonely and through her loneliness we noticed that she overcame the fear of her enemies and actually changed. Her relationship with her dog was an important part of the book for us. Her attitude to the animals around her changed too, she starts off seeing them as materials to be used to make clothes or tools and of course to eat. As she becomes older and lonelier she changes and they become her friends. She then has to adapt how she lives.

This book was not an easy read, it took some concentration to read but the story carried us along and the struggle for survival provided plenty of suspense and thrills to keep us turning the pages.

(2013). [Review of Island of the blue dolphins].   The Guardian.  Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2013/jun/21/review-island-blue-dolphins-scott-o-dell

Library Uses:  This would be wonderful for learning about survival without modern day tools.  It would be great for learning about perseverance and not giving up when things are difficult.  I could also see it introducing some research if the students are interested in learning about the truth behind the story. 

Module 2: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Book Summary:  Little Alexander truly has a bad day in this classic children's book.  From the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed he believes that everyone is against him - including the cat. Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, slips on his skateboard, doesn't get to sit up front even though he has car sickness, doesn't get the good pair of shoes, etc...  Every couple of pages he gets so fed up with his life he says, "I think I'll move to Australia."

APA Reference:  Viorst, Judith.  (1987).  Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.  Atheneum Books.  New York, NY.

Impressions: My overall impression as a kid was one of, "Poor Alexander."  As an adult my impression has changed- and I like that.  Now I see Alexander as more of a cause and effect chain reaction.  Alexander got gum in his hair because he slept with it in his mouth.  He slipped on his skateboard because he forgot to put it up. He didn't get the prize in the breakfast cereal because he didn't get there in time.  My entire perspective of this story changed to see the pattern of not being responsible.  I'd want to move to Australia too if I had all of that happen in one day.

Professional Review: "I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair and when I got out of bed this morning I tripped on the skateboard and by mistake I dropped my sweater in the sink while the water was running and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day."

So begin the trials and tribulations of the irascible Alexander, who has been earning the sympathy of readers since 1972. People of all ages have terrible, horrible days, and Alexander offers us the cranky commiseration we crave as well as a reminder that things may not be all that bad. As Alexander's day progresses, he faces a barrage of bummers worthy of a country- western song: getting smushed in the middle seat of the car, a dessertless lunch sack, a cavity at the dentist's office, stripeless sneakers, witnessing kissing on television, and being forced to sleep in railroad-train pajamas. He resolves several times to move to Australia.

Judith Viorst flawlessly and humorously captures a child's testy temperament, rendering Alexander sympathetic rather than whiny. Our hero's gum-styled hair and peevish countenance are artfully depicted by Ray Cruz's illustrations. An ALA Notable Book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a great antidote to bad days everywhere, sure to put a smile on even the crabbiest of faces.

[Review of Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day].  Retrieved from  http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Terrible-Horrible-Good-Very/dp/0689711735

Library Uses:  This could be used for a lot of different purposes but I think I would use it to support curriculum with a cause and effect lesson.  It could also be used to just talk about bad days we've had and the students could make connections to what they have had happen to them.  I'd like to see if the students could create a page to add to the book- give another scenario that would add to the bad day.

Module 3: Many Moons

Book Summary:  Princess Lenore is sick and the one thing she thinks will make her better is the moon.  The King summons his best men:  a Lord, a wizard, and a mathematician to get the moon for his daughter.  No one is able to get Lenore the 'moon' until a jester has an idea to ask her what she thinks the moon is made of and how big it is.  She ends up getting a moon shaped necklace and is cured.  The next big challenge is how to keep her from seeing the real moon which is of course still in the sky.  Again the smartest men cannot solve this dilemma and if falls upon the jester to solve.

APA Reference:  Thurber, James.  (1973).  Many moons.   New York, NY:  HMH Books.

Impressions:  Cute!  I really enjoyed reading this story.  When I noticed the pattern with the wise men reading off their list for the various things they have got for the King I saw some humor shine through.  There were some wacky things that these men have done for this King and I loved how at the end of each list were a few items their wives had tacked on for the wise men to get them.  Clever.  I also loved Lenore's explanation for why there was another moon in the sky- sounds like an explanation one of my students might come up with.  The best part- to me- is that no one is able to solve the King's dilemmas except the court jester- nice twist.

Professional Review:
Although the Caldecott-winning edition illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (HBJ, 1943) is the one that many parents and librarians grew up with, this new full-color version by Simont has a charm of its own. His illustrations are more modern in appearance, although the essentially periodless style of dress on the characters has the timeless look that this literary fairy tale demands. Backgrounds are generally sketchy, giving the characters center stage. The clever Jester, dressed in fool's motley, is still the only one of the King's advisors who has the sense to ask Princess Lenore just what she expects when she asks for the moon. The pompous Lord High Chamberlain, the skatty Wizard, and the absent-minded Mathematician are as helpless as ever, and the little princess with her common sense and gap-toothed smile is charming. This will delight a whole new generation of children.

Cerny, Rosanne.  (1991).  [Review of Many moons].  School library journal.  Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0156569809?ie=UTF8&isInIframe=1&n=283155&redirect=true&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=books&showDetailProductDesc=1#iframe-wrapper.

Library Uses:  This book would be a great introduction to teaching younger kids about the moon, where it is, what it is made of, and is it possible to catch it.  The repetition would be great for making predictions as well.

Module 2: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Summary:  In Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, grandpa tells an amazing story that takes place in the small town of Chewandswallow.  The people of this town never have to cook because food falls from the sky three times a day until the weather starts acting peculiar.  The food starts to act like dangerous weather and the people of Chewandswallow have to set sail for a new place to live.  When they arrive in their new land they have to learn how to shop for food and even how to cook it.

APA Reference: Barrett, Judi.  (1978).  Cloudy with a chance of meatballs.  New York, NY:  Macmillan Publishing Company.

Impressions:  I remember when the movie came out- I saw the preview and thought, "that looks dumb," and never went and saw it.   This week I read this book with a group of students on a level N and got this book out of the Literacy Closet hoping I could entice them with a book that had a movie attached to it.  As we read it- I noticed that I liked it way more than the kids did!  I truly enjoyed Grandpas story about the town of Chewandswallow. I loved how silly the name of the town is and how silly the idea of food falling from the sky is.  The detail put into this story is great like open roofed restaurants, a sanitization department, and weather/food predictions on the evening news.  I also enjoyed the detail from the illustrations that made the story even better!

Professional Review:  Overall, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a fun and entertaining book for children.  It helps children explore their imaginations, picturing the different things that are happening in the small town of Chewandswallow.  The author brings the imaginative land to life and we can see this through the pictures changing from black and white to color.  The storybook is aimed for children between the ages of 4 and 8 but it is an enjoyable book for people of all ages. 

     Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs helps one to use their imagination.  Recently this world-renowned storybook was made into an animated movie.  However the characters and story lines are somewhat different, the idea of food falling from the sky is still the main theme throughout.  What children can learn from reading the book or watching the movie are things about the weather.  Severe storms bring danger and harm where slight weather conditions such as rain brings food (in the story) but in real life water to plants.  This book is a very good book to relate with a science activity in the classroom.  It can also be related back to the food pyramid.  Children can determine what foods are healthy or unhealthy for them to eat. 

     I think this book is well written and entertaining.  Bedtime stories can take a child anywhere they want in the world, and this story shows exactly that.  The children are taken to a land where food falls from the sky.  This is unlike any other ‘normal’ story that we hear.  A child must use their imagination to really grasp the humor and excitement that is portrayed in the storybook.

Brown, L. (2011).  [Review of Cloudy with a chance of meatballs by L. Brown].  Retrieved from http://reviews-of-childrens-literature.pbworks.com/w/page/10581679/Cloudy%20With%20a%20Chance%20of%20Meatballs

Library Uses:  This would be great to tie into some writing curriculum and have a creative writing lesson that goes along with reading the story.  Another way to use this in the library would be to have an art project where the kids get to illustrate what a 'tomato tornado' and a 'pea soup fog' would look like.  Could they come up with another food/weather incident and illustrate it?

Module 1: The Giving Tree

Book Summary:  The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein, is about a tree that gives everything she has to a boy.  When the boy was young the tree gave apples and a place to play.  When the boy grew older the tree gave him her apples to sell for money, branches to build a house, and her trunk to make a boat. In the end all the boy-now an old man needs is all the tree has- a stump to sit on.  There is a repeated phrase throughout the story, "And the tree was happy," because no matter what the boy needed throughout his life the tree was happy to give it to him.

APA Reference:  Silverstein, S. (1992).  The giving tree.  New York, NY:  Evil Eye Music, Inc.

Impressions:  My impression of this book has changed over time.  When I was little I loved the book, it was an easy read about a caring tree who had a great friendship with a boy.  Now that I'm an adult re-reading this book- it makes me cry.  This book is a very touching story of friendship and giving.  Not just giving, but giving everything you have for the happiness of someone else.  It is amazing to me that such a simple picture book can encompass that kind of generosity from the tree.  I also notice that the adult version of me gets a little mad at the boy for asking for so much and not truly appreciating the depth of what the tree has done for him.

Professional Review:  Parents need to know that Silverstein's story really hits an emotional button; readers seem to either love this book or hate it. Some see selfless love as beautiful, even if it's taken to an extreme. It's easy to imagine the tree as a mature, patient mother dependably being there for her child throughout his life. But the tree can also be seen as a masochistic female who doesn't know how to set limits. (Or could the story even be a warning about greedily using Mother Nature's resources?) Still, there's little concern that the youngest readers will grasp much negative meaning from this sensitive parable.

The giving tree:  classic, sensitive parable about selflessness. 

[Review of the book The giving tree]. Common Sense Media.  Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-giving-tree#

Library Uses:  This book would be great for several different lessons during a read aloud session like: character study focusing on both the tree and the boy, making predictions for what the boy ask for and what the tree will give, real world applications involving deforestation and conservation, plus many more.

Greetings!  This blog is dedicated to my continuing education of children's literature.  Throughout the semester I will be blogging about some of my favorite books including information about the content, professional reviews, and suggested library uses for each.  I can't wait to dive in and get busy reading, so without further adieu, I present my first blog.