Archive for History

Text Sets in the Elementary Classroom

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

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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Picture Books in the Classroom

March 28, 2013 · Filed under Biography, History, Intermediate (3-5), Math, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Science, Social Studies, Uncategorized · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Picture books are great for enhancing literacy in the elementary grades. They can be read aloud to a group, shared with an individual child, and paged through by the students themselves, taking in everything the pictures add to the text. These new picture books offer up another layer of opportunity: the content of each serves as a starting point for a lesson or unit on a particular area of study in the classroom.

Social Studies

3079449In The Price of Freedom: How One Town Stood Up to Slavery by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin, illustrated by Eric Velasquez, we learn about John Price, a runaway slave who ended up in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1856. Oberlin was a final stop along the Underground Railroad and was a community of people who felt strongly that slavery was wrong. Opponents of the Fugitive Slave Act, the townspeople rallied to free John Price after he was captured by a slave hunter, risking their lives to pull off a harrowing rescue. John Price vanished from town a few days later, perhaps crossing the border into Canada, but the townspeople who participated in the rescue were jailed for three months. Their determination and spirit would clash with those who wanted to perpetuate slavery, contributing to the hostile sentiments that led to the Civil War. (9780802721662. Gr. 2-4.)

You could use this book as a starting point for teaching about this historic time period, or you could use it in a discussion about injustice and about fighting for what you believe in. Ask students to think about something that is unfair or not right—their concerns could range from school bullies, polluted water, abandoned pets, and homelessness to global news stories about war and poverty. Help them to research issues they are concerned about and to explore ways in which they can make a difference. For ideas, try The Kid’s Guide to Service Projects or The Kid’s Guide to Social Action by Barbara A. Lewis or Cleaning Up the Earth by Precious McKenzie.

3079430Henry and the Cannons: An Extraordinary True Story of the American Revolution by Don Brown tells the story of Henry Knox, an obscure bookseller who was determined to transport much-needed cannons from Fort Ticonderoga in New York to General Washington’s troops outside Boston. After a grueling 50-day winter journey over 300 miles of rough terrain and ice-covered rivers and lakes, Knox and his men delivered 59 cannons to the revolutionary army. Quietly, Americans assembled a formidable looking fortress on a hill overlooking Boston, ultimately scaring the British into retreating. (9781596432666. Gr. 1-3.)

Determination works wonders, and underdogs often succeed by shooting for the moon and then going for it. Have students write down a goal they each have for the next week or month at school. It could be “reading my first chapter book,” “writing and illustrating my very own story,” “running a whole lap on the track,” or anything that a student would have to work hard to achieve. Challenge students to choose goals that are meaningful to them.

3099232The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, is the story of an Italian immigrant as he relates it to his great-granddaughter. His matchbox diary is a lovely old cigar box filled with small matchboxes, each of which holds a small object that has its own tale. From an olive pit and a macaroni noodle to a fish bone and typesetting letters, the objects come alive as the elderly book-and-antique dealer tells the small girl how he acquired and saved them. (9780763646011. Gr. 1-4.)

This unique way of keeping a diary is a great one for young children. Ask students to think about a small object that reminds them of a recent event—a ticket stub, a bead, a birthday candle, perhaps. Ask them to use their imaginations! Have students bring in their objects in small boxes and over the course of a few days (a few students per day), ask them to share their objects and tell the stories behind them. Encourage interested students to use their objects as a starting point for their own “matchbox diaries.”

Science

3073352Frog Song by Brenda Z. Guiberson, illustrated by Gennady Spirin, is a richly illustrated informational text about frogs from around the world. Fun fonts complement the beautiful paintings, highlighting frog noises such as “sloop-slooop,” “fwish,” and “chirp-chweet!” Interesting information that students will enjoy, especially about frog eggs, tadpoles, and babies, is offered in perfect amounts on each spread. The book ends with a field guide of the frogs, an environmental page titled “Frogs in Trouble,” a bibliography, and a list of websites. (9780805092547. Gr. PS-2.)

Help students explore some of the websites listed in the back of the book. Several of them have audio clips you can play for students to hear the frog sounds described in the book and others as well. You may also have students draw a picture of a frog (you could supply the outline from a website like Frog Life Cycle). You could also have them record a sound to go with their frog.

Math

3151769Millions, Billions, and Trillions: Understanding Big Numbers by David A. Adler, illustrated by Edward Miller is a fun look at what exactly these long strings of digits actually mean. Fun illustrations show concrete examples like the number of granules in a quarter cup of sugar or the amount of time it would take to count to a million. (9780823424030. Gr. 2-4.)

Play estimating and counting games with students. You can use a jar of jelly beans, a bowl of paper clips, a baggie full of Cheerios, a stack of books, a ten-by-ten square-foot area of dandelions, and whatever else you can come up with. First ask students to write down an estimate of how many objects there are, and then have them team up to count. Come back together as a class and discuss the activity. How well did they estimate the number of objects with each of the items? What strategies did they use to estimate? What strategies did they use to count (by tens, for example)?

Picture books often do more than tell a story. Have fun using them to teach, as well!

Blogger: Lori C. Lori

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A Dozen of Tracey’s Favorite 2012 Nonfiction

December 24, 2012 · Filed under High School, History, Intermediate (3-5), Language Arts, Mackin Picks, Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Science, Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s time for that most strenuous time of year.  No, not the holidays—but the making of the top 10 lists.  Let me confess:  I just can’t do it.  I don’t think I have ever been able to cut a list of books down to ten titles.  You’ll notice that this list is a dozen, and for the life of me I can’t pick two titles to remove.  All of these books (and those in the runner-up list below) are excellent titles for Common Core use, as well as just plain interesting to read.

IslandSnakes Forgive Me Wild Horse Scientists

Island : A Story of the GalapagosMackin Picks by Jason Chin.  9781596437166. 2012. Gr 1-4.

In Chin’s earlier books, a child is drawn into a habitat by opening a book on redwoods or coral reefs.  But as the reader of Island, I felt like I was that child, being drawn into and observing the life cycle of the Galapagos Islands.  Beautiful art and engaging text give a clear explanation of the evolution of the islands and their inhabitants.

Snakes by Nic Bishop.  9780545206389. 2012. Gr 1-4.

One has only to look at the cover of Snakes to see that award-winning photographer Nic Bishop has done it again.  I’d like to say that even people who do not care for snakes (hate them?) will be able to see the beauty of these marvelous creatures—however, I have a few sisters that will disagree with me.  But Mr. Bishop can capture the diversity and nature of snakes—and provide fascinating information in a conversational tone.  In an afterword, he tells about the difficulties of photographing snakes.

Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It : False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine.  9780061787263. 2012. Gr 2-5.

Each of these hilarious poems is patterned after William Carlos Williams’ poem, “This Is Just to Say,” and contains a false apology—one in which the person apologizing is not really sorry.  Read more in my post about using poetry as writing examples.

Wild Horse Scientists (Scientists in the Field) by Kathryn Frydenborg.  9780547518312. 2012. Gr 4-8.

This book, as do the rest of the Scientists in the Field series, is a work of narrative nonfiction that focuses on the work of scientists.  These scientists, Ron Keiper and Jay Kirkpatrick, are studying the wild horses on Assateague Island near Maryland.  The scientists keep records and have developed a birth control vaccine so that the population of horses does not get out of control and disturb the ecosystem of the island.  (Find out more about this excellent series in this post.)

Invincible MicrobeTemple GrandinIceberg, Right AheadBeyond Courage

Invincible Microbe : Tuberculosis and the Never-Ending Search for a CureMackin Picks  by Jim Murphy.  9780618535743. 2012. Gr 5-8.

This biography is about a killer that has caused the death of over a trillion people throughout history.  This serial killer is the germ that causes tuberculosis.  Invincible Microbe describes the symptoms and history of treatment of the disease, and I learned that TB can attack many parts of the body, not just the lungs.  Murphy also explains how the discovery of antibiotics almost led to a cure, but drug-resistant varieties have appeared.  A clearly written and fascinating true tale, with a frightening ending.

Temple Grandin : How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced AutismMackin Picks by Sy Montgomery.  9780547443157. 2012. Gr 6-8.

When Temple was young, no one realized that she had autism.  Her doctor recommended that she be institutionalized, and her father agreed.  Her mother, however, insisted that she go to school.  She grew up to make changes to the livestock industry that took account of the feelings of animals.  This book describes Temple’s childhood, her education, and friendships, as well as how she came to realize that her autism helps her to understand animals.  (Books written by Temple are now on my bedside table.)

Iceberg, Right Ahead! : The Tragedy of the Titanic by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson.  9780761367567. 2012. Gr 6-9.

McPherson’s excellent narrative account of the voyage and sinking of the Titanic goes back to her construction.  Personal accounts, photographs, and diagrams help the reader to understand and experience the disaster.  See more posts about the Titanic here and here and here.

Beyond Courage : The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the HolocaustMackin Picks by Doreen Rappaport.  9780763629762. 2012. Gr 7-12.

Many Holocaust books describe the plight of European Jews in the ghettos and in the concentration—those Jews who did not understand or would not believe what the Nazis planned to do.  Rappaport’s book looks at those Jews who understood and took matters into their own hands, describing their courageous efforts to help Jews and their acts of resistance, many of which ended in tragedy.  Some of these stories have never been told, but all should be heard.

MoonbirdFaces from the PastGlobal WeirdnessBehind the Beautiful Forevers

Moonbird : A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95Mackin Picks by Phillip Hoose.  9780374304683. 2012. Gr 7-10.

B95, or Moonbird as he is also known, is a red knot shorebird that was caught and banded in 1995.  Red knots migrate each year from the southernmost tip of South America to the Canadian arctic and back—a round trip of over 18,000 miles.  B95 is famous because he has survived the destruction of his kind (over 80 percent of the population has disappeared due to human interference in their immigration patterns) and is still flying at the estimated age of 19.  Scientists call him Moonbird because he is thought to have flown over 350,000 miles—about the distance from the Earth to the moon.  A fascinating book with clear text and colorful pictures, giving the inside story of this remarkable bird and the people who watch for him.

Faces from the Past : Forgotten People on North America by James M. Deem.  9780547370248. 2012. Gr 7-12.

The skeletons and skulls of people from long ago have been found in forgotten burial sites, and little was known about who they were.  But scientists, including forensic anthropologists and bioarchaeologists, have developed processes to discover the identities of these people.  They can find out about the way these people lived, diseases they might have suffered, and how they died.  The book covers five such examples, including how artists using clay have been able to reconstruct the skulls to give a face to these unknown people.

Global Weirdness : Severe Storms, Deadly Heat Waves, Relentless Drought, Rising Seas and the Weather of the Future.  9780307907301. 2012. Gr 10-Adult.

Climate Central, a nonprofit news organization, provides clear analysis and reports about climate science, and has been featured in many respected news sources.  In this book, they provide easy-to read answers to 60 questions about climate change in these areas:  What the Science Says, What’s Actually Happening, What’s Likely to Happen in the Future, and Can We Avoid the Risks of Climate Change.  The short chapters provide facts in plain language, avoiding hysteria and partisan bias.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers : Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai UndercityMackin Picks by Katherine Boo. 9781400067558. 2012. Gr 10-Adult.

Katherine Boo has written a heartfelt account of what life is like in the slums of Mumbai in India, where people live in cardboard shacks near rivers of raw sewage; where suicide is a fact of daily life; where the kind of medical care and human rights you get depends on how many rupees you can pay to the doctors and the police; where families survive by digging through the garbage and recycling what they find.  This book reads so much like a novel that I thought it was fiction; sadly, it is not.  Pair it with Andy Mulligan’s Trash.

Here are some other nonfiction titles that Mackin’s librarians are raving about, but I haven’t had time to read.  Are there any others that you would like to add?

Bomb : The Race to Build – and Steal – the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin.  9781596434875. 2012.  Gr 7-10.

King Peggy : An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village by Peggielene Bartels and Eleanor Herman. 9780385534321. 2012. Gr 11-Adult.

Superman Versus the Ku Klux Klan : The True Story of How the Iconic Superhero Battled the Men of Hate by Rick Bowers.  9781426309168. 2012. Gr 6-9.

Their Skeletons Speak : Kennewick Man and the Paleoamerican World by Sally M. Walker. 9780761374572. 2012. Gr 7-12.

We’ve Got a Job : The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March by Cynthia Levinson.  9781561456277. 2012. Gr 5-8.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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Common Core and the Language Arts Classroom

November 8, 2012 · Filed under Biography, High School, History, Memoir, Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lately, whenever the topic of the Common Core State Standards comes up in conversations with educators, I don’t typically see enthusiastic responses. Everyone knows about the standards and understands that they mean a shift in teaching. Most educators have heard that Common Core calls for a higher level of rigor and more nonfiction. Some are making the shift from novel units to thematic units, teaching texts in the context of other texts. But what lots of people don’t know is that the development of the standards has paralleled the unveiling of really awesome books. Here is just a taste.

Middle School

The Giant and How He Humbugged America by Jim Murphy. 2012. 9780439691840. Gr 5-8.

The Giant and How He Humbugged America is a historical narrative about the discovery in 1869 of an over-sized petrified man and how it led to a series of scandalous claims and money-making scams. The engrossing story hooks the reader from the beginning. With chapter titles, photos and illustrations, primary documents, and detailed post-text material on other famous hoaxes, the author’s research, notes, and bibliography, this book supports the kind of reading that Common Core articulates. Complement this book with supporting titles such as these:

Duped!: True Stories of the World’s Best Swindlers by Andreas Schroeder.2011. 9781554513505. Gr 4-7.

The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum by Candace Fleming. 2009. 9780375945977. Gr 5-8.

Billy Creekmore by Tracey Porter. 2007. 9780060775704. Gr 5-7.

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 by Sally M. Walker. 2011. 9780805089455. Gr 5-8.

Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917 is a riveting account of a little-known event in Canadian history. Fascinating background information about Halifax, the French ship Mont-Blanc and her journey, and several families directly affected by the incident set up the chain of events leading to the explosion in Halifax Harbour. The rich text, photographs, maps, diagrams, primary documents, source notes, and bibliography support Common Core recommendations for text quality and rigor. Complement this book with supporting titles such as these:

Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson. 2012. 9780545116749. Gr 4-8.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance by Jennifer Armstrong. 1998. 9780375810497. Gr 7-12.

Shackleton’s Stowaway by Victoria McKernan. 2006. 9780440419846. Gr 6-9.

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle. 2011. 9780805092400. Gr 6-10.

Classics such as Theodore Taylor’s The Cay. 1969. 9780385079068. Gr 5-8.

The Brontë Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne by Catherine Reef.  2012. 9780547579665. Gr 6-8.

The Brontë Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne is a chapter-by-chapter account of the lives of England’s most famous literary sisters. This family biography introduces young readers to these celebrated authors of poetry and fiction. A section at the end of the book features the titles of their complete works, including letters, correspondence, and childhood writings. Complement this book with supporting titles such as Church, Countryside, City, and Victoria and Her Court—the titles in the Benchmark Books’ Life in Victorian England series by Virginia Schomp (2010-11, Gr 6-10), and classics such as Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg. 2012.  9780802798183. Gr 5-8.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous describes the deaths of 19 of history’s most famous personalities. Each entry features basic information about the person in question, along with detailed and intriguing information about his or her death and remains. Following the chapter is a spread with great related information that middle schoolers will find fascinating (i.e., Things to do with Old Mummies; Boneyard Words; The Guillotine) in short bullet points, timelines, graphs, lists, and charts. Complement this book with supporting titles such as these:

Death: Corpses, Cadavers, and Other Grave Matters by Elizabeth Murray. 2010. 9780761338512. Gr 6-9.

Defining Dulcie by Paul Acampora. 2008. 9780142411834. Gr 7-10.

Laugh with the Moon by Shana Burg. 2012. 9780385904698. Gr 6-8.

Good Night, Commander by Ahmad Akbarpour. 2010.  9780888999894. Gr 5-8.

High School

Earth Wars: The Battle for Global Resources by Geoff Hiscock. 2012. 9781118152881. Gr 11-Adult.

Earth Wars: The Battle for Global Resources argues that the scarcity of key resources—food, water, energy, and metals—will shape the future of the earth and society. Hiscock explores the problems and possible solutions that could arise as the powers with ownership of these resources face off against one another. The writing is clear and concise and is accompanied by maps, charts, notes, sidebars, quotes, and a bibliography. Complement this book with supporting titles such as these:

Earthgirl by Jennifer Cowan. 2010. 9780888998897. Gr 9-12.

47 Things You Can Do for the Environment by Lexi Petronis. 2012. 9780982732212. Gr 7-12.

The documentary Climate Refugees: The Human Face of Climate Change directed by Michael Nash. The Video Project. 2011. Gr 9-Adult.

Yellow Dirt: An American Story of a Poisoned Land and a People Betrayed by Judy Pasternak. 2011. 9781416594826. Gr 10-Adult.

Yellow Dirt: An American Story of a Poisoned Land and a People Betrayed explores a time in history when the U.S. government’s push for nuclear weapon capability led to brazen disregard for the Navajo people living and working where the uranium was mined. Knowing about the health risks related to uranium exposure, mining companies employed hundreds of Navajo workers, while the government failed to regulate the mines. Contaminated lands, along with high cancer and birth defect rates, were the result, but no effort was made to clean up the mess or compensate the Navajo Nation until decades later. The book begins with a handy list of “Principal Characters” and ends with an up-to-date afterword and includes photographs, primary source material, and detailed notes. Complement this book with supporting titles such as these:

Full Body Burden: Growing Up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats by Kristen Iversen. 2012. 9780307955630. Gr 10-Adult.

Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac. 2006. 9780803729216 Gr 7-12.

Native Universe: Voices of Indian America by Gerald McMaster. 2008. 9781426203350. Gr 9-Adult.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. 2009. 9780316013680. Gr 9-12.

Andrew Jenks: My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker. March 2013. 9780545417273. Gr 9-12.

Andrew Jenks: My Adventures as a Young Filmmaker is the autobiographical story of the man behind MTV’s World of Jenks—a documentary series in which he spends time with a variety different people as they pursue their lives and dreams. The visually engrossing book narrates Jenks’s early rise as a filmmaker (he is now 26). “I want to tell the stories of my generation. I want to be a filmmaker that is able to capture what my generation thinks, how they act, and what they ultimately stand for,” says Jenks. Complement this book with supporting titles such as these:

Making Film History: Rewrite, Reshoot, and Recut the World’s Greatest Films by Robert Gerst. 2012. 9781615931224. Gr 9-Adult.

The documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner. 2008. 9780767085977. Gr 7-Adult.

Reel Culture: 50 Classic Movies You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends) by Mimi O’Connor. 2009. 9780981973319. Gr 10-Adult.

Guestblogger: Lori C.

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Science Heroes

May 16, 2012 · Filed under Biography, History, Intermediate (3-5), Nonfiction, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Science · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, at least according to a recent Hot Topics list we created, but I can’t think of better heroes for kids than scientists.  Here are a few new titles that just may convince your students that science is a great adventure.

Rachel Carson, a pioneering environmentalist, took on the chemical industry in her book, Silent Spring.  She bravely spoke out against the damage that chemicals had been doing to our earth and animal life at a time when no one wanted to talk about it.  When Silent Spring was published in 1962, it became a national best-seller and sparked a public outcry as people realized for the first time what was happening as a result of the overuse of pesticides and other chemicals.  Laurie Lawlor and Laura Beingessner create an inspiring story in their picture book biography, Rachel Carson and Her Book that Changed the World.

Sylvia Earle was as interested in nature as Rachel Carson was, but her interest took her in a very particular place: underwater.  She discovered the wonders of the underwater world as a child when her family moved to coastal Florida, and she never stopped wanting to know more about sea life and do more for them.  In Life in the Ocean, Claire A. Nivola brings Earle’s love of the sea truly alive with striking illustrations next to inspiring text.

“When you next look out over the ocean, stop to think of the vast mountains, valleys, and plains below its surface.  Think of how it breathes and gives us life.  And think of all the wondrous creatures it holds in its waters—from whales, to busy, colorful coral reefs, to those living firework displays that light up the cold black waters of its mysterious depths.”

You won’t be able to see the ocean in the same way after reading this book.

In 1934, Ruth Harkness had never seen a panda bear.  She’d never been to China, and she’d certainly never been on an expedition into any kind of wilderness.  She was a fashion designer, who lived in New York City—hardly the sort of person you would expect to be an explorer.  Her husband was the explorer in the family, and he was the one on a mission to bring a panda back from China.  But when he died on the expedition, Ruth decided to continue the expedition herself.  Mrs. Harkness wasn’t a scientist, but by bringing the panda back from China, she made a significant contribution to zoology that shaped American attitudes toward wildlife.  Melissa Sweet’s illustrations create a strong sense of time and place that make Mrs. Harkness and the Panda great for history or social studies classrooms.

Once you have your students excited about science, don’t miss the chance to show them how they can be a part of it—right now!   Citizen Scientists has all the information and inspiration to get kids contributing to real scientific projects just by observing the natural world with their fresh perspectives and reporting their results.  This engaging book is a particularly great resource for classes studying butterflies, birds, or frogs, but nature lovers of all sorts will appreciate the opportunity to be part of something big.  With this book, we can all be science heroes!

Bibliography:

Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery by Loree Griffin Burns. February 2012. 9780805090628. Gr 3-6.

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola. March 2012. 9780374380687. Gr 2-5.

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda by Alicia Potter. March 2012. 9780375944482.  Gr K-3.

Rachel Carson and Her Book that Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor. February 2012. 9780823423705. Gr 2-5.

Blogger: Mindy R.

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Book Review : Plagues, Pox, and Pestilence

April 2, 2012 · Filed under History, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Reviews, Science · Tagged , , , ,

Plagues, Pox, and Pestilence by Richard Platt, illustrated by John Kelly. 2011. 9780753466872. Gr 4-7.

Come in and take a tour of the Pox Lab—if you dare!

This fascinating and humorous book describes the history of the world’s worst diseases and pandemics, including bubonic plague, leprosy, cholera, malaria, smallpox, influenza, tuberculosis, and more.  The Pox Lab is staffed by some very interesting scientists and teachers…in fact, they are the very same pests that have spread the germs that cause these diseases.  Meet Dr. Scratch (a flea) and Professor Ratticus (a rat, of course); their lab assistants are a mosquito and a tse-tse fly.   These germ and disease experts describe symptoms of each disease and popular treatments throughout history; for example, the color red was thought to cure smallpox, and bleeding was a popular treatment for many diseases—a treatment that often caused more harm than good.

Professor Ratticus and his cohorts explain how the search for cures for these dreadful diseases has spurred the advancement of science, leading to the invention of microscopes and X-rays, as well as antibiotics, vaccines, and other life-saving treatments.  Learning about the protists, bacteria, and viruses that cause disease has helped scientists figure out how to prevent many diseases.

In addition to germs that affect humans, the Pox Lab also studies those that infect crops and animals, and the effect that they have on people.  One such germ caused the blight on Ireland’s potato crop in the mid-1800s, which led to the death of a million people from starvation and typhus. And the improper processing of animals for food also causes widespread sickness even today.

This high-interest book is a fun—and funny—way to learn about some pretty difficult topics, with colorful illustrations detailing the complex ideas in germ theory, microbiology, global pandemics, and immunity.  And though the subject of pandemics is a serious one, the depiction of the scowling germs behind these horrible diseases helps to lighten the mood, while the text provides interesting and accurate information.

Blogger:  Tracey L.

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Book Review: Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska’s WWII Invasion

March 29, 2012 · Filed under History, Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Reviews, Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska’s WWII Invasion by Samantha Seiple.  2011. 9780545296540. Gr 6-9.

All of us know about the Pearl Harbor bombings, but did you know that on June 7th, 1942, the Japanese invaded Alaska and on June 10th, the US government denied it?  They wanted to avoid widespread panic that the Japanese were invading the United States. Due to this secrecy and security, one of the bloodiest battles of WWII has been forgotten.

In May of that year, US Naval Intelligence intercepted a ciphered message from General Yamamoto, outlining his plan to attack Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands in hopes to draw American forces away from Midway, and leaving it open for the Japanese to invade.  American Admiral Chester W. Nimitz made the difficult decision of sending the majority of the fleet to Midway, while dispatching a small fleet to the Aleutians Islands.  But the leader in charge of the small fleet never went to the Aleutian Islands, believing the invasion to be a hoax.  So while America was victorious at Midway, the Aleutians were left defenseless.

Readers will learn about the terrible raids at Attu, Atka, and Kiska, and how hundreds of Aleutians were forced onto ships and sent to Japan to POW camps. They will also learn about heroic individuals who survived the harsh treatments against all odds, individuals such as Charlie House, a weatherman posted by the Navy at Kiska. Charlie escaped when the Japanese invaded and survived seven weeks in the harsh Alaskan wilderness, but surrendered to avoid starvation and was sent to the Japanese prison camps.

I thought this book was fantastic.  I never learned about the Aleutian Invasion, and so this book came as a complete surprise to me.  I started asking my family and friends about it, and most of them had no idea either.

The narrative of this work is also well executed and many readers will probably forget that they are reading nonfiction.  Seiple weaves personal stories with historical facts to create an engaging tale of hardship and courage.  She also drops clues and foreshadows things to come that will keep readers turning the pages until they get to the end of the story.  I highly recommend this book if you’re looking to read about WWII, and want to read about events closer to home.

***This is your last chance to enter our first anniversary contest!  We’ve had three winners already, and tomorrow we will be picking our fourth winner AND our grand winner.***

Lindsey L.

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GIRL SCOUTS: Happy 100th Birthday!

March 17, 2012 · Filed under Biography, High School, History, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low was inspired to found an organization for girls modeled on the Boy Scouts of America, which began in 1910 (both groups trace their origins to Lord Baden Powell’s Scouting organizations in Great Britain). One hundred years and millions of members later, the Girl Scouts are still going strong.  To all of those readers who have ever earned a badge, shared a campfire, or sold a box of cookies, here is a selection of books published in honor of Girl Scouting’s centenary.

Girl Scouts: a Celebration of 100 Trailblazing Years, by Betty Christiansen. 2011. 9781584799429.  (9-Adult)

This book is a valentine to anyone who has ever been part of the unique sisterhood of Girl Scouts.  The author combed the organization’s archives for photographs, letters, and documents to illustrate scouting history.  Many of the images have never been published before.  The book is organized by decade, showing how the organization has grown and changed over the past century.

Tough Cookies:  Leadership Lesson from 100 Years of the Girl Scouts, by Kathy Cloninger. 9781118000045. 2011. (10-Adult)

Girl Scouts has always been about tapping the leadership potential of girls.  This book tells how this 100-year-old organization has transformed itself for a new century and and new girl culture while retaining its core mission to develop girls with courage, confidence, and character.

On My Honor:  Real Life Lessons from America’s First Girl Scout, by Shannon Kleiber. 9781402267932. 2012. (10-Adult)

When Juliette Gordon Low was widowed in her fifties, she did not know what to do with her life.  She longed to make a difference and to work for the betterment of society.  Inspired by the scouting organizations founded in Great Britain by Lord Baden-Powell, and following the lead of the recently formed Boy Scouts of America, Low launched an organization just for girls.  She wanted to give girls the foundations of friendship, character, and leadership that would help them live meaningful lives.  This inspirational book brings “Daisy” Low’s timeless advice to a new audience.

The following three books are all biographies of Juliette Gordon Low, aimed at different age groups. There is something for everyone here.

Here Come the Girl Scouts:  the Amazing All-True Story of Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low and Her Great Adventure, by Shana Corey. 9780545342780. 2012. (K-2)

First Girl Scout:  the Life of Juliette Gordon Low, by Ginger Wadsworth. 9780547243948. 2012. (4-7)

Juliette Gordon Low: the Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts, by Stacy A. Cordery. 9780670023301. 2012. (10-Adult)

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Guestblogger: Ann G.

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Commemorating the Titanic: 100 Years Later

March 8, 2012 · Filed under History, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Primary (K-2) · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

We’ve already mentioned several Titanic books in this blog (see Kristin’s post on the 99th anniversary of the Titanic disaster and my review of The Watch That Ends the Night).  But so many more books have come out to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking that we had to add another post on the topic.

Escaping Titanic : A Young Girl’s True Story of Survival by Marybeth Lorbiecki, illustrated by Kory S. Heinzen. 2012. Gr 1-3.

Ruth Becker was a young girl, traveling on the Titanic with her mother and two younger siblings.  After the ship hit the iceberg, they went up on the deck, and because it was very cold, Ruth’s mother sent her back down to the cabin to get some blankets, thinking they had plenty of time.  Ruth returned to the deck in time to see crew members force her siblings and mother into a lifeboat; she watched as it was lowered to the sea—leaving her alone on the sinking ship.  This picture book about a real girl is gripping, and the illustrations—especially the one showing a bird’s-eye view of the ship as it sank—are riveting.

T Is for Titanic : A Titanic Alphabet by Debbie & Michael Shoulders, illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen. 2011. Gr 1-5.

Like all of the alphabet books from Sleeping Bear Press, T Is for Titanic : A Titanic Alphabet can be used at different levels.  In larger font, the alphabet poem can be read to younger elementary children, while older students can discover much more information from the side panels on each page.  I really liked all the facts that go beyond what you usually see in a children’s book.  For example, I learned only recently (in an adult book) that three dogs on the Titanic survived; T Is for Titanic told me that they were two Pomeranians and a Pekinese.

Story of the Titanic by DK, illustrated by Steve Noon. 2012. Gr 5-8.

A DK classic is again in print!  The cut-away illustrations show the Titanic at different points of her short life—as she’s being built, as her passengers embark, during her short voyage, and of course after she hits the iceberg and settles lower and lower into the water.  My kids loved this type of “see-inside” book.  With the ongoing fascination with the Titanic and the upcoming anniversary, this book will not stay on your shelves very long.

Iceberg, Right Ahead! : The Tragedy of the Titanic by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson. 2011. Gr 6-9.

Iceberg, Right Ahead! provides an exceptional narrative account of the Titanic’s voyage and sinking, beginning with her construction and including a description of transatlantic travel.  McPherson incorporates personal accounts into her narrative, and provides additional information through sidebars, photographs, and diagrams.  This beautiful, fascinating book presents the latest findings of modern science, discusses mistakes that led to the disaster, and debates salvaging laws pertaining to shipwrecks.

Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg. 2011. Gr 4-8.

Titanic Sinks! tells the story of the Titanic through newspaper clippings from the fictitious Modern Times, which has gathered all of its articles regarding the Titanic and published them in a magazine.  The book’s larger size and pages that look like newsprint help to solidify this approach. The format is interesting, and though the Modern Times is made-up, the facts are not.  Denenberg’s research was vigorous, and the way that he incorporated it into the articles and interviews and other formats is very effective.  And while most nonfiction books about the Titanic pad their illustrations with pictures taken in her sister ship, Olympic, Denenberg used only photos of the Titanic.

Contest reminder!  Tomorrow we will be announcing the winner of our first week’s contest.  Click here to read all about the contest and to see how to enter.

Tracey L.

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Women’s History Month

March 5, 2012 · Filed under Biography, History, Intermediate (3-5), Nonfiction, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Science · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

What do Amelia Earhart, Sandra Day O’Connor and Dr. Sally K. Ride all have in common? They were all women that made a difference in women’s history. Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman justice, appointed by President Reagan. Sally K. Ride was the first American woman to be sent into space. All impressive women that are talked about and well-known. I decided to focus this post on women who haven’t been featured as often (especially in picture books), but are equally important to women’s history. I hope you enjoy and find out something new about women that have paved the way for the rest of us! Happy Women’s History Month!

Marching with Aunt Susan: Susan B. Anthony and the Fight for Women’s Suffrage by Claire Rudolf Murphy. Illustrated by Stacey Schuett. 2011. (K-3)

This amazing picture book focuses on an important moment in the life of ten-year-old Bessie Keith Pond. In 1896, Susan B. Anthony visited Berkeley, California, to encourage women to work for a state referendum that would give them the right to vote. When Bessie complains about not being allowed to do things that boys can, Anthony responds, “Women’s votes can help change the world.”  In turn, this motivates Bessie to join Anthony at the rally to see what the future might be like. Endnotes are included, with factual information about the real Bessie, Susan B. Anthony, and the suffrage movement.

Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter. 2011. (PS-2)

This read-aloud picture book about the world’s authority on chimpanzees is a majestic introduction for young animal lovers. The story opens with five-year-old Jane sitting in a chicken coop, pondering where eggs come from. From there we follow Jane’s life chronologically through her years in the African forests, to her worldwide movement to save these primates that face extinction. The poetic quality of the text and the childlike illustrations will be sure to fascinate children and adults alike. A wonderful addition to any biography or science unit!

Here Come the Girl Scouts!: The Amazing All-True Story of Juliette ‘Daisy’ Gordon Low and her Great Adventure by Shana Corey. Illustrated by Hadley Hooper. 2012. (K-2)

March 12th will be the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, and what better way to celebrate than by reading aloud this essential picture book! Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low was an adventurous little girl who later started the Girl Scouts. She really believed that girls could do anything, and her belief eventually spread around the world. The simplified biographical descriptions and vintage illustrations will entertain all who read it! I especially enjoyed the Girl Scout values that were incorporated onto each page, since it added another wonderful element to the story. A great book that incorporates breaking barriers and setting new standards!

 

And don’t forget to check out our one-year anniversary contest.  We will be choosing our first winner next Friday, March 9. To enter, just let us know what you like about our blog—or what you think we could do better.  We enjoy hearing from you!

Kristin J.

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