Week 10

Week 10: Babymouse, Our Hero by Jennifer and Matthew Holm

Book Summary:

Babymouse’s day starts off bad when she misses her bus. She then finds it even worse when she discovers dodge ball will be part of her grade next week. With determination, she practices and becomes a hero when her team wins, but Felicia has the last laugh.

My Impressions:

Babymouse’s feelings about school and dodgeball are very relatable. I laughed out loud when she gave herself an award for successfully taking out the trash and when she says, “I’ve sprained my ear!” during a dodgeball game. The format of the book took some getting used to for me as I am not a comic fan, but I loved her personality. She accepts the good with bad, and in the end has a positive outlook.

Professional Review:

“Once again the authors maintain a hilarious side dialogue between Babymouse and the reader. Babymouse talks to her audience drawing them in, making friends of them and soon readers find themselves caught up in her world, her problems, and her triumphs.”

- Through the Looking Glass

Library Uses:

Create a book trailer for Mousebaby using images from the book.

 References: 

Holm, J., & holm, m. (2005). Babymouse, our hero. New York, NY: Random House.

Through the looking glass children’s book reviews. (2012). [Review of the book Babymouse

our hero, by J. & M. Holm]. Through the Looking Glass. Retrieved from http://lookingglassreview.com/books/babymouse-our-hero.

Week 10

Week 10: Scary Stories to tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz

Book Summary:

Scary Stories is a collection of scary folklore including favorites such as The Big Toe, The Hook, and High Beams.

My Impressions:

I still check my backseat for knife wielding psychopaths, even when it is daylight, because of High Beams. Scary Stories is an excellent collection of oral tales I heard growing up. I still remember my cousins and I huddled around my mom as she told us High Beams, The Big Toe, and every father’s favorite for obvious reasons, The Hook.

Professional Review:

“Broiling with nail-biting suspense, gruesome goings-on, and shiver-inducing surprises, the books featured here are sure to satisfy readers who love to be scared silly.”

- Joy Fleishhacker, Curriculum Connections--School Library Journal

 Library Uses:

On Halloween have a scary storytime for middle school children. Build a fake campfire for students to sit around as you read scary stories. Invite students to dress in Halloween costumes and bring scary snacks.

References: 

Schwartz, a. (1981.) Scary stories to tell in the dark. New York, NY: Harper & Row, Inc.

Fleishhacker, J. (2010, October 6). Curriculum connections [Review of the book Scary

stories to tell in the dark, by A. Schwartz].  School Library Journal. Retrieved from

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/newsletters/newsletterbucketcurriculumconnections/887081-442/scary_stories_to_savor_and.html.csp.

Week 9

Week 9: Fold Me a Poem by Kristine O’ Connell George

Book cover image (OPTIONAL)

Book Summary:

The book is a collection poems based on the origami animals created by a boy. Vibrant illustrations give personality to the animals.

My Impressions:

I loved the illustrations in Fold Me a Poem, and the poems were simple and beautiful. Every year I have at least one or two expert origamists in my class. I love “Green Dog’s Surprise.” I often think, “You must have been up late last night,” when my students give me their creations.

Professional Review:

“Some of the selections exhibit a creative spark, while others tend to take their meaning from the illustrations, which are the real strength of the presentation. The vividly colored acrylics depict the boy actively engaged in play with his creations, and the details that Stringer provides infuse the verses with both energy and humor. Her illustrator's note offers insight into her own efforts to master the art of origami." Grace Oliff

Library Uses:

Create an Origami station in the library where patrons can create origami. Include colorful paper, Fold Me a Poem, and “how to” books with directions on how to create the shapes in the book such as penguin, lily pad and frog, and the dog.

Storytime: Read Fold Me a Poem, then have an expert show students how to create shapes. Extend the story time by collaborating with LA teachers during poetry units. Invite classes for a reading of  Fold Me a Poem, have guest expert show students how to create a shape, and then have them create their own poem about it in LA class.

References: 

George, K. (2005). Fold me a poem. New York, NY: Harcourt, Inc.

Week 9

Week 9: Amazing Faces by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Book Summary:

Amazing Faces is a collection of universally themed poems by diverse authors.

My Impressions:

I read the first poems and noticed if I had not looked at the accompanied illustrations or the authors’ names, I would not have identified them with any particular ethnic group. I purposefully read the remaining poems without looking and the author’s name or the illustration and found the same to be true of most of them. My favorite was Me x 2 and Yo x 2 as it celebrates the author’s bilingual gifts.

Professional Review:

 “Illustrated with large, handsome watercolor portraits, the 16 poems in this anthology celebrate the rich diversity of American kids—what makes each one special and the connections between them. Most poems are original to this collection, except for the final, “My People,” by Langston Hughes, which is paired with a close-up view of a huge crowd of parents and kids of many backgrounds that also appears on the cover… A great collection for sharing at home and in the classroom.” --Hazel Rochman

Library Uses:

Create a display of poetry books by diverse authors.

References: 

Hopkins, L. (2010). Amazing faces. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc.

Rochman, H. (2010, April 15) Booklist review [Review book Amazing faces]. The

Booklist Online. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Amazing-Faces-Lee-Bennett-Hopkins/pid=4067553.

Week 8

Week 8: Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

Book Summary:

Jack and Annie discover their tree house is magical when it takes them back in time when dinosaurs roamed the earth. As they explore, Jack writes his observations about Pteranodon and Triceratops in his notebook. When they spot T-Rex, Pteranodon swoops down and carries them away to safety.

My Impressions:

Dinosaurs Before Dark is a great beginner chapter book and will appeal to dinosaur lovers. The story gives a new twist to tree houses, which have always had a magical element to them. The mysterious gold medallion had me hooked on the next book in the series. I loved the illustrations of the tree house as well.

Professional Review:

“It's been 20 years since Jack and Annie, the famous siblings in Mary Pope Osborne's award-winning "Magic Tree House" series (Random), burst on to the scene and inspired countless children around the globe to follow their time travel adventures.”

-Debra Whelan

Library Uses:

Invite a magician as a guest speaker to perform magic tricks. Display Magic Tree House books, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi and other books with magic themes.

References: 

Osborne, M. (1992). Magic tree house: dinosaurs before dark. New York, NY: Random

House.

Whelan, D. (2012, May 10). Magic tree house turns 20: SLJ speaks with Mary Pope

Osborne. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/ home/ 894422-312/magic_tree_house_turns_20.html.csp.

Week 8

Week 8: Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine by Barbara Park

Book Summary:
The excitement begins when Junie B. Jones teacher prepares the class for a Valentine's Day party. She insists each student give everyone a valentine. Junie is outraged when she finds she is short one valentine. When she discovers a mushy, gushy valentine from a secret admirer, she she is shocked when she finds out who it is from.

Impressions:

Junie B. Jones is hilarious. I love that she doesn't care "valentime" doesn't have an "m" in it,  and "Silly Sausage" is my favorite new pet name. I have read negative reviews about grammar and her behavior, but the story is real and very typical of children her age. Kids want to laugh, and Junie B. is always up to something. 

Professional Review:

“it’s rare to find a child that isn’t quickly seduced by these silly, often slapstick stories. Even adults who are rankled by Junie B.’s impulsive, oft-unpunished shenanigans (playing with scissors or head-butting other children, for instance), can occasionally laugh at her odd little-girlisms.” - Grossman

Library Uses:

Have a mushy, gushy, valentine-writing contest during Valentine’s Day. The prize can be a heart shaped box of candy.

References: 

Park, B. (1999). Junie B. Jones and the mushy, gushy, valentine. New York, NY:

            Scholastic, Inc.

Grossman, A. (2007, July 26). Is Junie B. Jones talking trash. New York Times. Retrieved

from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/fashion/26junie.html? pagewanted=allMy

Week 7

Week 7: What the World Eats by Faith D’Aluisio

Book Summary:

What the World Eats explores the foods consumed by people around the world. Photographs of families with the food they eat in one week are provided along with how much they spend and where they buy it. Charts illustrating life expectancy, number of fast food restraunts per person, and obesity rates give further insight into the health and economic development of a country.

My Impressions: What the World Eats is one of most fascinating books I have encountered. There are endless opportunities for inferencing just by looking at the photographs. One can determine the wealth and availability of food in a country, determine the geographical location of a family based on available food, and determine if the family grows its own food or purchases it from a grocery store.

Professional Review:

“this brilliantly executed work visits 25 families in 21 countries around the world. Each family is photographed surrounded by a week's worth of food and groceries, which Menzel and D'Aluisio use as a way of investigating not only different cultures' diets and standard of living but also the impact of globalization… A wealth of supporting information—lush color photographs, family recipes, maps, sidebars, etc.—surrounds the text (superb design accomplishes this job harmoniously) and implies questions about global food supplies.” From Publishers Weekly

Library Uses:

Book Talk: Use What the World Eats, Material World, How People Live, and A life Like Mine.

Reference: 

D’Aluisio, F. (2008). What the world eats. New York, NY: Tricycle Press.

Children’s review. (2008, September 1). [Review of the book What the world eats, by F. D'Aluisio].

Publishers Weekly. Retrieved at http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-58246-246-2.