Archive for Formats

Book Review: The Planet Thieves

June 17, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Novels, Reviews, Science Fiction · Tagged , , ,

The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos. 9780765334282. May 2013. Gr. 4-6.

I am quickly becoming a Dan Krokos fan.  Recently, I posted here about his first novel for teens, False Memory.  I felt that False Memory was an inventive and entertaining debut for Krokos, and the second in that series, False Sight, comes out in August and is currently on my extensive “To-Read” list.  Now, Krokos has come out with a middle-grade science fiction title called The Planet Thieves, and based on his other work, I felt I should check it out.

It is the year 2800, and Mason Stark is a 13-year old cadet in the Earth Space Command.  Along with his friends and fellow cadets, he is aboard the largest and most powerful spaceship in the fleet, the SS Egypt. While playing a practical joke on his older sister in the cabin of the ship, there is a red alert, and they find that they are under attack by the Tremist, an alien race that has been at war with humans for many years.  The Tremist are hated by all, but especially Mason, as they are responsible for killing his parents, who were also officers in the ESC.

As Tremist soldiers overtake and board the SS Egypt, it falls on Mason and his fellow cadets to assume responsibility of the entire ship and try and fend off the aliens.  But it soon becomes apparent that the Tremists are looking for something on the ship, and keeping them from finding it may save all of humanity.

The Planet Thieves has some stylistic similarities to False Memory; Krokos knows how to write an enticing, fast-paced thriller.  He deftly builds the drama in the short chapters, and many chapter endings leave the reader with a cliffhanger ending, just begging you to continue on. The Planet Thieves is a fun read, and if you are looking for something for middle-grade science fiction fans, look no further.

Check out the impressive book trailer for The Planet Thieves below:


Ryan H.Blogger: Ryan H.

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Who are you, really?

June 13, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Middle School (6-8), Novel in Verse, Novels, Realistic, Science Fiction · Tagged , , , , , ,

Back in November, Lori posted a great list of titles that explore identity for teens as they ask questions like “How do you know when you have found your place in the world?” and “How and why do people change?”  I was thinking about those questions as I looked at some of the books I’d read recently, and a few stuck out as good choices to spark discussion among teens about the labels they choose or have chosen for them.

formerlysharkFormerly Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham.  May 2013. 9780763653620. Gr. 7-12

In Shark Girl, Jane Arrowood recovered from the traumatic shark attack that led to her losing her arm and adjusted to life as an amputee.  One year later, everyday life isn’t the big challenge anymore.  She is more concerned about moving forward. Can she face her fears?  Does she have what it takes to pursue art as a career?  Or is she obligated to choose nursing as a career to give back in some way?  People see her as disabled or as a victim, but she wants to be more than that.  This novel-in-verse is an opportunity to look at an experience all teens face—deciding their future career course—through the eyes of someone with a slightly different perspective.

earthgirlEarth Girl by Janet Edwards. January 2013. 9781616147655. Gr. 6-9

In the year 2788, being from Earth isn’t a good thing.  The only people who live on Earth anymore, now that there are so many other planets to choose from and portals that main inter-planetary travel easy, are the ones who are stuck there with an allergy that limits them to Earth.  They are viewed as “handicapped” by off-worlders who rarely come into contact with them.  Jarra wants to prove that she isn’t so different from her off-world peers, so she applies to be a part of an off-world history course that will be spending a year on Earth to study the ancient archaeological sites on the planet.  She quickly distinguishes herself as one of the best students, but it isn’t easy to keep her “Earth Girl” identity secret as she gets closer to her classmates.  This is an interesting look at prejudice and identity with a futuristic back drop that will appeal to science fiction readers in middle or high school.

openlystraightOpenly Straight by Bill Konigsberg. June 2013. 9780545509893. Gr. 9-12

Rafe came out as gay in eighth grade. It wasn’t a big deal at his accepting school, and his parents were very supportive.  But Rafe describes waking up one day and looking in the mirror to see nothing but his label: Gay.

“Where had Rafe gone?  Where was I? The image I saw was so two-dimensional that I couldn’t recognize myself in it.  I was as invisible in the mirror as I was in the headline the Boulder Daily Camera had run a month earlier: Gay High School Student Speaks Out.”

That’s why Rafe decides to go back in the closet at his new school.  It isn’t that he’s ashamed of who he is.  It’s that he wants to be seen for all the things he is. At least, that’s what he tells himself.  Turns out, it’s not that simple, especially when a potential romance complicates things even more.  This book is thought-provoking and insightful, but it’s also funny and romantic.  Highly recommended.

All three of these novels may surprise readers who might think they have little or nothing in common with the main characters.  I think they’ll find that they relate more than they expect.

 

MindyBlogger: Mindy R.

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Picture Book Inventors & Robots

June 10, 2013 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Kids are great at questioning the things they see and coming up with their own unique solutions to problems.  When my older son, Alex, was four, I took him along shopping for some new furniture.  He was fascinated with all the beds and the sofas, and on our way home, he announced that furniture stores should stay open every night…to give the homeless people some place to sleep.

These fun picture books about three inventive kids and a curious robot can be used just for reading or as a springboard to a discussion on problems and solutions.

Awesome DawsonAwesome Dawson by Chris Gall. 9780316213301. 2013. Gr PK-2.

Dawson is an inventor…and a recycler.  All of his inventions are made from discarded items from his home, school, and neighborhood.  Dawson’s problem?  He wants to tinker all the time, but his parents expect him to do his chores! His solution is creating a new invention—the Vacu-Maniac!  But with everything the Vacu-Maniac eats, it gets larger and larger.  It crashes through the walls of his house into his yard and keeps going into town.  How can Dawson stop this thing?  Awesome Dawson is an exciting and funny way to introduce the ecological concepts of recycling and reusing.  Readers can pore over the materials that Dawson uses to create his inventions—and might be inspired to create their own!

How to bicycle to the moonHow to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers by Mordicai Gerstein. 9781596435124. 2013. Gr K-2.

The young narrator thinks it is too bad that the moon is so dreary and lifeless. But what can he do about it?  Quite a bit, in fact, because he is a genius inventor—and he has a great idea.  He just needs a bicycle, a NASA spacesuit, and about 200,000 miles of garden hose.  This guide covers everything from getting there and dealing with the loneliness of space to methods of planting and watering his seeds to handling all the acclaim back on earth.

Randy Riley's Really Big HitRandy Riley’s Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen. 9780763649463. 2012. Gr PK-2.

Randy Riley plays baseball with the other kids, but he always, always strikes out. He’s a genius, but he just can’t seem to hit the ball.  His passion is outer space, and he knows everything about planets and constellations and rocket ships. One day, while peering at the sky through his telescope, he sees a massive fireball and calculates that it is racing toward earth.  What can he do?  No one believes him!  Well, Randy has a solution…but he has only 19 days!  Will his plan save earth?

Doug unpluggedDoug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino. 9780375966439. 2013. Gr K-2.

Doug is a robot, and every day before his parents leave for work, they plug him into the computer so he can learn facts and more facts.  One day, as he learns all about the city, he sees a pigeon on the windowsill.  He just learned that pigeons fly in flocks from the computer—but he didn’t know that they made such a funny sound.  Maybe there were more things he could learn if he went into the city!  So he unplugs—and learns many fascinating things that you can’t learn from a computer.  Such as:  a flock of pigeons scatters when you fly into it, wet cement feels squishy under your feet, garbage cans are smelly, and that friends are fun to play with.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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Book Trailers

June 6, 2013 · Filed under Easy Readers, Fiction, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Uncategorized

Book trailers promote books and reading in different ways and can be really fun literacy enhancement tools.

You can use a great book trailer to introduce a book to a young reader. Then, after reading the book, you might initiate a discussion comparing and contrasting the book and the book trailer.

Bluebird by Bob Staake is a beautiful wordless picture book about a lonely looking boy and a small bird. Words aren’t needed to tell this story about companionship and loss; the clean, elegant illustrations do the work. (ISBN 9780375870378. Gr K-3.)

That Is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems lends itself well to a book trailer, as the book is set in a silent movie theater. Goslings in the audience are watching a movie in which a fox seemingly lures a goose into a forest and over for dinner. The goslings pipe up with warnings, and the suspense is sure to lure in children and adults alike. (ISBN 9780062203090. Gr K-3.)

Book trailers are also great hands-on activities for older kids. After reading a book, they can create their own short trailers, incorporating photos, drawing, video, and audio. Most computers have simple movie-making software that young people can use. While this is a fun and engaging activity, it also supports standards such as the Common Core in multiple ways: Book Trailers and the Common Core Standards at Book Trailers for Readers.

Here are some great titles for summer reading. After reading, kids can develop their own book trailer based on the book.

3103425Claude in the City, by U.K.-based Alex T. Smith, is the first title of the adorable Claude books (the second will be released in September 2013). Smith’s intricate illustrations of Claude–a dog who wears a jaunty beret–and his sidekick, Sir Bobblysock (a striped sock) perfectly accompany the laugh-out-loud stories about Claude’s escapades during the day when his humans are gone at work. (ISBN 9781561456970. Gr 2-4.)

3140541In Runt by Nora Raleigh Baskin, sixth-graders tell their stories in short, interwoven snippets. Thoughts about school and family and recalled events in and out of school reveal the sometimes caustic relationships that can plague middle school. The stories show that it’s not always clear who is right and who is wrong; who is the bully and who is the victim. (ISBN 9781442458079. Gr. 3-6.)

3099262Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz tells about an abrupt and shocking event in the lives of Annie, her little brother, Rew, and their Gran, who live in the birch and oak woods outside the town of Sunshine, where the largest business is the state prison. Summer had come to Sunshine, school was out, and Annie and Rew spent their time in the Zebra Forest telling pirate stories. But one evening after dinner, the summer is altered–and so are their lives. (ISBN 9780763660413. Gr 4-7.)

 

Happy book trail(er)s!

–Blogger: Lori C. Lori

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Book Review: Winger

May 30, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Humor, Novels, Reviews · Tagged , , , , , ,

Winger by Andrew Smith. 9781442444928. May 2013. Gr. 9-12.

Ryan Dean West, AKA Winger, is a boy with many typical adolescent male issues.  However, he also has issues that present problems unique to him.  He is a brilliant student, and has proven himself academically and become a  14-year old high school junior.  He is also a star rugby player who is fast and tough and can compete with anyone.  Unfortunately, he is not as skilled socially (the case with many boys his age) and he struggles with navigating life as a teenager.

Ryan attends Pine Mountain, an elite private school that Ryan Dean refers to a “rich kids’ school”.  He is stuck in O-Hall, the “troublemakers” dorm, for stealing a cell phone.  Here, he lives with some very colorful characters, including his roommate, the dim and muscular jock, Chas.  Ryan excels at schoolwork, but his real loves are rugby and Annie Altman.  He is good friends with the amiable Annie, and hopes to become more than friends, but fears that she views him as a little kid since he is a very young high-schooler.  Due to his age, Ryan Dean finds himself having to prove himself in other areas as well, trying to fit in on the rugby pitch and in the adolescent male realm, where being physically small can be a hindrance.

His relationship with Annie is not the only complicated relationship Ryan Dean has to deal with.  He faces hazing, bullying, betrayal, physical fights, and girl issues (beyond those with Annie).  All of these make for a great story, and give author Andrew Smith a lot of material, but beyond that, I believe it is an authentic portrayal of relationships that adolescents have to navigate.  Ryan Dean also has an openly gay friend, Joey, who is portrayed as an overall great guy, and I loved the fact that he is accepted by most of his peers for who he is, although discrimination against him does provide some major plotlines.

There is an edginess to Winger.  Smith doesn’t shy away from describing the adolescent condition, warts and all.  But I found most of the edginess to be done in a way that isn’t gratuitous.  For example, there is plenty of swearing in Winger, but this is Ryan Dean’s written account of his life, and he writes that he makes a point of trying not to swear in conversation.  His account serves as a kind of diary, and I believe it is a good message that shows what is acceptable in what time and place, and that people should be able to add anything to a private account of their lives.  Similarly, the relationship between Ryan Dean and Annie is very innocent, but yet there is a lot of sexually-charged “guy talk” about girls.  Much of this is typical adolescent bluster, yet Ryan Dean’s relationship with Annie is respectful and appropriate.  In short, the edgy topics are moderated and balanced.

Winger is a fun read about growing up, making poor decisions and numerous mistakes, and weaving through all of the obstacles of adolescence.  Here is a link to Andrew Smith’s blog, where he blogs about Winger, which is getting good reviews and acclaim all-around!

Ryan

Blogger: Ryan H.

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New Animal Characters in Picture Books

May 27, 2013 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

I recently made a list of my favorite picture books, and I realized that most of the starring characters are animals.  Pooh and Piglet, of course, and a baby bird that couldn’t find its mother. A curious monkey, a disobedient rabbit, and a puppy that is always late.  A mama duck tries to cross a busy city street with her babies, and a king tries to keep the mice out of his cheese.  And my all-time favorite, a bull who likes to stop and smell the flowers.

My boys, too, loved books with animals, real or fantastic.  A young boy’s best friend is a huge, drooling dog that is afraid of storms.  A young tree snake doesn’t want to change colors and get boring. The Big Bad Wolf wants to explain WHY he ate the three little pigs.  A K-9 officer upstages her partner.  Cows type, frogs float on lily pads, and a beastly tyrannosaurus has no friends.

Here are some new picture books with endearing animal characters to add to the old favorites!

New Blue SocksHave You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting, illus. by Sergio Ruzzier. 9780547752679. 2013. PK-1.

With a cadence similar to Green Eggs and Ham, this book tells of a young duckling that is looking for its new blue socks.  When he asks his friend the fox if he has seen them, the fox replies, “I have not seen your new blue socks. Did you look inside your box?  Did you ask your friend the ox?”  Careful readers will see the socks before one of the peacocks points them out to the duck, who exclaims, “Thank you, thank you, dear Peacocks. At last I’ve found my new blue socks!”  Also, like Green Eggs and Ham, this book is perfect for beginning readers.

Ol' Mama SquirrelOl’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein. 9780399256721. 2013. PK-1.

You’ve heard the warning about getting between a mama bear and her cubs?  Well, that’s nothing compared to this mama squirrel’s reaction to anyone getting near her babies!  Cats, owls, dogs—it doesn’t matter—she will chatter and scold “Chook, chook, chook!” until the intruder slinks away.  Even kites and planes and the tree-pruner receive a tongue-lashing for getting too close to her family.  But when a grizzly bear shows up, Mama Squirrel might just be out of her league.

Perfectly PercyPerfectly Percy by Paul Schmid. 9780061804366. 2013. PK-1.

Percy’s favorite things in the world are…balloons!  As with most kids and balloons, the fun ends with a popped balloon.  But Percy has more problems with balloons than most youngsters, because Percy is a porcupine.  And as author Paul Schmid says, “HAPPY little porcupines with balloons are soon SAD little porcupines.”  But Percy is also a thinker, and maybe, just maybe he can solve this problem.  How would you solve it?

Puffin PeterPuffin Peter by Petr Horacek. 9780763665722. 2013. PK-1.

Peter and Paul are best puffin friends.  So one day, when a big storm blows Peter out to sea, his first thought is how to find his way back to Paul.  A kindly whale stops to help and asks for a description.  Peter says that Paul is funny and noisy, and happily the whale says he knows just where to look.  But when he and Peter arrive at an island of funny and noisy parrots, Peter adds more to his description:  Paul’s feathers are black and white!  The whale again has an idea—but Paul is not among the penguins.  Will Peter ever be able to describe Paul well enough?  This book is great for a lesson on differences and similarities.

Red HatRed Hat by Lita Judge. 9781442442320.2013. 2013. PK-1.

In this almost wordless book by the author of Red Sled, a young boy washes his red, knitted cap and pins it to the clothesline—where it is seen and stolen by the woodland animals.  They chase each other—a furry mix of tag and keep away—and in the mayhem the hat starts to unravel.  Then it unravels some more…and some more…and suddenly there is nothing left but string, which the guilty animals sneak back and hang up on the clothesline.  What will the child do with a bunch of tangled yarn?

This Moose Belongs to MeThis Moose Belongs to Me by Oliver Jeffers. 9780399161032. 2012. PK-2.

Wilfred has a pet moose named Marcel.  And since Wilfred prefers things to be “just so,” he has quite a few rules for his pet.  Marcel is not always so good at following all the rules, unless there are apples involved.  He has an especially hard time with rule # 7 : Maintain a certain proximity to home.  One day while they are out on a walk, they meet up with a lady who claims that “Rodrigo” is her moose, and Marcel stays with her (she has an apple).  What will Wilfred do without his pet—and friend?  Marcel wanders back just in time for a rescue, and Wilfred realizes that he needs to relax his rules.

Bibliography – my childhood favorites:

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. 9780394900186.

Curious George by H.A. Rey. 9780395159934.

The King, the Mice, and the Cheese by Nancy Gurney. 9780394900391.

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. 9780670451494.

The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey. 9780307103284.

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. 9780670674244.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. 9780723247708.

Bibliography – my sons’ favorites:

Click, Clack, Moo : Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. 9780689832130.

Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind by Cynthia Rylant. 9780689808388.

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann. 9780399226168.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. 9780670827596.

Tuesday by David Wiesner. 9780395551134.

Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast by Jack Prelutsky, (illus. by Arnold Lobel). 9780688115692.

Verdi by Janell Cannon. 9780152010287.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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Text Sets in the Elementary Classroom

May 23, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, History, Intermediate (3-5), Math, Nonfiction, Novels, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Science, Science Fiction, Social Studies

Teachers and librarians know that pairing fiction and nonfiction is a great way to get students to think more deeply and creatively about particular areas of study. Common Core calls for an infusion of more nonfiction in the classroom, and one of the anchor standards addresses the use of multiple texts on a particular theme or topic (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take).

With lots of great nonfiction to choose from and a plethora of fiction titles that weave in innovative ideas not usually associated with fiction, using text sets is easier than ever. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Topic: Helping the Environment (upper elementary)

3115867This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy Cavanaugh features an eleven-year-old girl who, motherless, believes she has no role model and is lost in trying to “become who I’m really supposed to be.” Her father, eternally distracted by auto repairs and his tireless campaign to save a local park, appears to Ratchet as a less-than-ideal resource as she struggles to find ways to make friends and fit in. An unlikely role with a group of boys building go-carts forges a first friendship and a renewed relationship between Ratchet and her father. As the time comes for the park to be destroyed, Ratchet and her allies lay down a valiant effort to save it. This heartwarming novel is creatively written as Ratchet’s journal, on lined paper in a font that looks like handwriting. Graphic organizers and doodles accompany her various journal entries, or “writing exercises,” as she labels them. (ISBN 9781402281068. Gr 4-6.)

3060428Make a Splash! by Cathryn Berger Kaye and Philippe Cousteau is a junior activists’ guide to working on projects that benefit water and the environment. Neatly broken into chapters based on the five main tenets of service learning—Investigate, Prepare, Act, Reflect, and Demonstrate—it also features sidebars and text bubbles that offer statistics, definitions, tips, and other interesting facts and ideas. Colorful, fun spreads and interesting info bits make this book accessible and engaging for everyone. Co-authored by Phillipe Cousteau, the grandson of Jacques Cousteau and founder of EarthEcho–an organization dedicated to empowering youth in restoring and protecting the earth’s water. (ISBN 9781575424170. Gr 4-6.)

You might also consider…

Flush by Carl Hiaasen (ISBN 9780375841859. Gr 6-8.)

Not Your Typical Book about the Environment by Elin Kelsey (ISBN 9781897349847. Gr 3-6.)

Operation Redwood by S. Terrell French (ISBN 9780810997202. Gr 4-6.)

Topic: Aftermath of a Hurricane (middle/upper elementary)

2982305In Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes, Lanesha lives in this New Orleans community with her beloved Mama Ya-Ya, the elderly woman who took her in as an infant after her own mother died at Lanesha’s birth. Mama Ya-Ya’s kindness, confidence, and extraordinary abilities are things she shares with Lanesha–who also has the “sight,” recognizing the ghost of her mother in Mama Ya-Ya’s bedroom, as well as other ghosts that mill about at school and in the streets. Mama Ya-Ya’s sixth sense warns her that a terrible storm is coming, and Lanesha helps her prepare for it. As the water rises in the Ninth Ward, Lanesha, Mama Ya-Ya, the neighbor boy TaShon, and a friendly stray dog hole up in the attic, hoping for help to come. When it doesn’t, Lanesha’s resilience and resourcefulness are challenged like never before. (ISBN 9780316043083. Gr 4-7.)

Mangled by a Hurricane by Miriam Aronin is a nonfiction ac2636204count of Hurricane Katrina, narrating the true stories of survivors of the disaster in the Ninth Ward, many of whom survived by climbing onto the roofs of their homes (like Lanesha in the novel). The narratives are accompanied by scientific explanations of the storm and the destruction it left behind. Text features include sidebars, diagrams, safety tips, a glossary, and a bibliography. (ISBN 9781936087495. Gr 3-6.)

You might also consider…

Hurricane Katrina by Peggy Caravantes (ISBN 9781617839580. Gr 3-6. 8/13.)

Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods (ISBN 9780142421864. Gr 4-7.)

Topic: Numbers and Equations (middle/upper elementary)

3230952Numbed! by David Lubar is a fun novel featuring Logan and Benedict, two youngsters who dare to trespass in a secret research area inside a mathematics museum. They encounter a strange robot that “numbs” them–causing them to forget how to do any math at all. To become “un-numbed,” the boys need to perform a series of tasks within the museum so that they are able to calculate math again and get good grades on an upcoming math test at school. Dr. Thagoras at the museum and their teacher, Ms. Fractalli, guide the two in realizing the value of math in this light read in which the chapter numbers are equations for the reader to solve. (ISBN 9781467705943. Gr 2-5.)

2662960Math: A Book You Can Count On! created by Simon Basher and written by Dan Green, part of a fun nonfiction series for kids, features a cast of characters known as the Number Bunch. These entertaining characters introduce mathematical concepts in a fun and light-hearted manner (Zero: “I am called nix, zip, zilch, nada, zippo…Hovering between being and not-being, I am one of the most important numbers in math”). (ISBN 9780753464199. Gr 3-6.)

You might also consider…

Edgar Allan Poe’s Pie: Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems by J. Patrick Lewis (ISBN 9780547513386. Gr 1-4.)

The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman (ISBN 9781596433076. Gr 2-5. 6/13.)

The 14 Fibs of Gregory K. by Greg Pincus (ISBN 9780439912990. Gr 4-6. 10/13.)

Topic: Leadership—Mandela’s South Africa (early elementary)

3035873The Herd Boy by Niki Daily tells the story of a day in the life of Malusi, a young boy growing up in the veld, a steppe region in South Africa, where he tends a herd of sheep and goats–a big responsibility for a young boy. While keeping his animals safe, Malusi finds time for a bit of soccer with his friend Lungisa and some lunch with his sister, but he springs to action when baboons threaten the herd and a lamb is wounded. As he carries the lamb home, he and Lungisa encounter a car. The driver (Nelson Mandela, as is apparent in the illustration) stops to talk with them and discovers that Malusi dreams of being president one day. He tells Malusi, “a boy who looks after his herd will make a very fine leader.” A glossary in the back of the book defines Xhosa and Afrikaans words that appear throughout the story, and an author’s note explains how many great leaders have come from humble beginnings. The beautiful story and illustrations evoke the sensory experiences of a day in Malusi’s life. (ISBN 9780802854179. Gr K-2.)

3038756Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson is one of the most striking books I have ever seen. This biography tells in sophisticated, deliberate prose the story of this world leader’s life, accompanied by gorgeous, realistic, large-as-life paintings of people and events along the way. This is a powerful introduction to Mandela that will grab students’ attention and spur meaningful discussions about determination and leadership. (ISBN 9780061783746. Gr K-3.)

You might also consider…

Leadership by Sue Barraclough (ISBN 9781432933227. Gr 1-3.)

The World Is Waiting for You by Barbara Kerley (ISBN 9781426311147. Gr PS-3.)

Many teachers begin with the story–the fiction title–and then fuel students’ desire for more information by providing the nonfiction title. Look around the Internet for creative ways to use these text sets–there are lots of fun ideas! You can start by trying these sites:

Read Write Think

The Reading Zone

Layers of Learning

Blogger: Lori C.

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Face Your Fears

May 20, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, Graphic Novel, High School, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Novels, Realistic · Tagged , , , , , ,

As I was choosing titles for our Spring 2013 webcast, I noticed a theme running through several of the books that ended up on my final list.  Perhaps it is my taste in books showing through my choices or maybe it’s a larger trend in children’s publishing this season. Either way, I highly recommend these books for exploring the idea of facing your fears and moving on.

sleepwalkersSleepwalkers by Viviane Schwarz. May 2013. 9780763662301. Gr. 2-6

If you’re ever afraid to go to sleep, all you need to do is leave a letter under your pillow for the Sleepwalkers.  They will save you from your nightmares.  The Sleepwalkers take on the monsters and scary situations that disturb our sleep by giving the dreamer what they need to face their fears. But the three heroes have been rescuing children from their nightmares for a long time, and they are ready to train their replacements.  This is the story of the new Sleepwalkers as they learn to conquer their own fears right in the dreams of the children they are rescuing.  Viviane Schwartz creates a fantastic world with unusual heroes that just may  have young readers looking at their dreams and fears with new perspective.

aftereliAfter Eli by Rebecca Rupp. August 2012. 9780763658106. Gr. 6-8

It’s been three years since Daniel’s brother Eli died in Iraq.  Though that time has passed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the pain has lessened.  Daniel still adds names to the Book of Death notebook where he lists the names of people who have died particularly senseless or cruel deaths.  His parents aren’t really present for him anymore, and Daniel is focused on keeping the memory of his brother alive on his own.  When he meets some unconventional new friends, he finds that he is slowly drawn in to their lives, which is what he needs to be able to process his grief and move on.

willandwhitWill & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge. May 2013. 9781419705465. Gr. 7-10

Wilhelmina Huckstep has an old fashioned soul—she likes old things and a simple life—but she is haunted by shadows, and she has been ever since her parents died. She would love to eschew modern life to spend time with her friends without technology getting in the way, but she’s embarrassed to admit that she’s afraid of the dark.  It turns out that Hurricane Whitney forces the issue when it knocks out the power, and makes Will and everyone else in town to do without for a few days.  Artistically inclined readers may relate to the way Will uses art to face her grief from her parents’ death.  Will is a likable heroine, and her story will have readers alternately cheering for her and tearing up.

There’s a lot more in the webcast on this theme and beyond.  I thought I’d pick just a few of them to share on the blog perhaps to entice those of you who haven’t watched the webcast yet to check it out.  You’ll hear my voice in the sections devoted to realistic teen fiction, graphic novels, and secondary science.  :)

MindyBlogger:  Mindy R.

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Basketball and Literacy

May 16, 2013 · Filed under Intermediate (3-5), Nonfiction, Picture Books, Reviews, Sports · Tagged , , , , , ,

Let’s talk hoops!

I am a big basketball fan, but for some reason my slow, low-jumping, 5’11” body was not attractive to NBA General Managers, and alas, I was not selected in the 1992 (or any other) NBA draft, so my career ended in high school.  But that’s what is great about sports…anyone can be a fan of the game even if you aren’t highly skilled.

The college season recently wrapped up with March Madness crowning Louisville as king, and the NBA Playoffs are currently in full swing.  I thought this would be a great time to talk about a basketball-related event and contest we recently had here at Mackin, and about a great new basketball-themed title I love.

Recently, a group of us at Mackin gathered to watch a webcast featuring two giants of their respective fields:  James Patterson, author of numerous books for children and adults, and Dwyane Wade, star guard for the NBA’s Miami Heat.  Their common bond is that they are outspoken advocates for getting children to read, so that makes me an instant fan of them both.  The webcast featured their commentary about the importance of reading in their youth, as well as answering questions from students at Ponce de Leon Middle School in Florida.  Also featured were video clips from other NBA stars, encouraging kids to read.  Overall, the webcast is a great tool that shows academic and athletic role models coming together for a great cause.  An on-demand replay of the webcast is available for viewing at jamespattersonevents.com for anyone interested.  Also, the Mackin-sponsored contest where you can win autographed items from both Patterson and Wade is still open!  Enter the contest here, until May 31st.

Sticking with the hoops theme, a recent book by Twin Cities author John Coy has grabbed my attention.  It is Hoop Genius, and is a great way to introduce children to the history and origin of the game of basketball.  The title refers to Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball, and tells how he devised the game that has become a huge phenomenon today.  It turns out that he was a young P.E. teacher who was having trouble engaging a group of boys in games that weren’t boring or that didn’t result in rough play and injury, and came up with a game he called “Basket Ball” to achieve this.

Coy’s story is enhanced by Joe Morse’s illustrations, showing the dress of the late 1800s as well as the mustachioed young men that played the first-ever game of basketball.  A small photo at the end of the book shows that the illustrations are historically accurate…evidently sporting a bushy mustache was the height of fashion for young men of the era!  I was especially interested in the reprint of Dr. Naismith’s original rules of the game, which shows how the game has evolved in the 100-plus years since its inception.  It would make a great compare/contrast activity to do with students, especially those that are basketball fans or players.

I will leave you today with a quote from one of basketball’s all-time greats, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “I’m not comfortable being preachy, but more people need to start spending as much time in the library as they do on the basketball court.”

RyanBlogger: Ryan H.

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Character Ed & Picture Books

May 13, 2013 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Many picture books can be used to teach character education, and here are some recent books to teach having a positive attitude, courage, friendship, and self-esteem.

RainRain! by Linda Ashman, ill. by Christian Robinson. 9780547733951. 2013. Gr PK-2.

A grouchy old man and an enthusiastic young boy each make their way to the Rain or Shine café, passing along their moods as they go.  Everyone who meets up with the grumpy guy walks away with a scowl on their faces, whereas those who pass the joyful little boy end up smiling and cheerful.  But whose attitude will rub off on the other when they bump into each other in the café?  This Japanese proverb gives a hint: One who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.

The DarkThe Dark by Lemony Snicket, ill by Jon Klassen. 9780316187480. 2013. Gr PK-2.

Most kids—and adults!—are afraid of something, and Laszlo is no exception.  He is afraid of the dark that lives at his house—in the closet, behind the shower curtain, and mostly in the basement.  One night, Laszlo’s nightlight burns out, and the dark comes to visit him in his room.  The dark tells Laszlo to follow—into the hall, down the stairs, into the basement.  And in the far corner of the basement, the dark tells Laszlo to open the bottom drawer of an old dresser, where Laszlo finds….a new nightlight bulb.  This wonderful book about facing your fears is from the powerhouse talents of Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen.

Grumpy GoatGrumpy Goat by Brett Hellquist. 9780061139536. 2013. Gr PK-2.

Sunny Acres was the friendliest farm in the county—the animals were friends and loved to play together.  Then… Grumpy Goat arrived.  He didn’t want to be friends and chased away anyone who wanted to play.  Finally, after crashing his way through the fence, he wandered to the top of the hill and saw—a dandelion! As he admires the beauty of the flower, the other animals wander closer, and soon all are friends until…one day, Grumpy Goat notices his flower is white, not yellow, and when the wind blows, all the white puffs away.  Will Grumpy Goat become…grumpy again?  This lovely read-aloud shows that friends can help you through good times and bad.

When No One Is WatchingWhen No One Is Watching by Eileen Spinelli, ill. by David A. Johnson. 9780802853035. 2013. Gr K-2.

Shyness can be disabling, keeping a person from doing something he or she might normally like to do.  In Spinelli’s picture book, a little girl loves to dance and leap and spin…when she is alone, but when everyone’s watching, she hides.  She loves to cheer and dunk the ball through the hoop with a whoop…when she plays by herself.  When everyone’s watching, she only passes the ball to a teammate.  But she has a friend—a shy friend—and when they are together, they don’t care who’s watching at all.  This picture book treats a painful feeling with respect and compassion.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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