Archive for Social Studies

Telling Family Histories in Picture Books

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

Everyone has their favorite tales of family histories and traditions, and one of mine is about something that we always did before opening presents on Christmas Eve.

Like most kids, my sisters and I were very excited to open our presents.  We usually did it after dinner, and after the dishes were done, and after Dad finished his bath.  And then—we had to drive to town and look at the Christmas lights.  Our town of Baldwin, Wisconsin, wasn’t very big, but I swear we saw every light that was up.  The longer Dad drove, the more excited we would get.   And every year, just as we thought we had seen them all, Dad would say, “I don’t think we’ve been here yet!” and turn down another street.  My sisters and I would roll our eyes and groan inwardly.  I really don’t remember much of what I got for Christmas as a kid, but I do remember the anticipation!

Each of these picture books tells about a family’s history and can be used to inspire students to find out about the lives of their own parents and grandparents.

Red Kite, Blue KiteRed Kite, Blue Kite by Ji-Li Jiang. 9781423127536. 2013. Gr 1-3.

This book is inspired by the friend of the author, whose family lived in China during the Cultural Revolution.  A little boy and his father love to fly kites together in the city.  When his father is sent to a labor camp, the boy is sent to a nearby village to live with a farmer.  At first his father comes to visit every weekend, but one day he sadly says he will not be able to come for a while.  But—they can still “talk” to each other with their kites:  the boy will fly his red kite every morning, and his father will fly a blue kite every evening.  They will see the kites and know they are thinking of each other.  Bad times are ahead, and the father is sent farther away.  But the boy continues to fly both kites every day.  The themes of family, Chinese history, and world cultures make this a versatile picture book.

Building Our HouseBuilding Our House by Jonathan Bean. 9780374380236. 2013. Gr PK-2.

A little girl and her family leave their old home in the city to build a new house in the country.  While the parents are building the house from scratch—most of it by themselves—the family will be living in a small trailer onsite.  The little girl tells the story of the process as it starts with reading the blueprints, having experts hook up water and electricity, and setting up the foundation.   Readers will be fascinated by the trucks and tools used at the construction site.   The house slowly changes as the seasons pass—and the mom slowly changes, too!  By the time the baby is born, the house is ready.  The book is based on the real-life experience of the author’s parents, told from his older sister’s point of view.

3099232The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleischman. 9780763646011. 2013. Gr 1-4.

A young girl visits her great-grandfather for the first time, and to break the ice he asks her to pick anything in his room full of collections and he will tell her a story about it.  She brings to him a cigar box full of small matchboxes.  In each matchbox is a small item that the old man had saved from his childhood in Italy, his family’s immigration to the United States, and his life in America.  This was his diary, since no one in his family knew how to read and write.  On her way home, the five-year-old starts her own unwritten diary.  This book is great to use in talking about family histories and can inspire kids to start their own diaries—with or without words.

I tried to continue the Christmas light tradition when I became a mom, but my boys didn’t keep their groans and impatience to themselves.  Maybe when they’re older, they will tell me how much they appreciated it.  Maybe.

I’m not counting on it.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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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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Women’s History Month Marches Forward

March 14, 2013 · Filed under Biography, High School, Intermediate (3-5), Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Social Studies · Tagged , , , , ,

For good reason, March is Women’s History Month. One hundred years ago on March 3, 1913, more than 5,000 suffragists marched in Washington, D.C., underscoring what was called “a national policy of nagging” by those who disapproved of women’s rights. It wasn’t until 1920 that the 19th Amendment became law in the United States, finally allowing women the right to vote. Decades later, the Equal Rights Amendment made its way through the legislature, but it wasn’t ratified by all the states by the 1982 deadline and was never adopted.

More than 50 years before the women’s march on Washington, strong female leaders gathered for the Seneca Falls Convention. The abolitionist movement and the early rumblings of the women’s rights movement in many ways went hand in hand, and strong female voices made their voices heard as the Civil War  loomed. During the war itself, a number of determined young women got involved. Here are some of their stories:

3083852Lincoln and Grace: Why Abraham Lincoln Grew a Beard by Steve Metzger, illustrated by Ann Kronheimer, tells the story of Grace Bedell, a young girl whose admiration for Lincoln and disdain for slavery led her to send the soon-to-be-elected president a letter. Lincoln even responded and the two met briefly while he was on his way to Washington for his inauguration! (9780545484329. Gr 2-5.)

One of the ways women contributed to the Civil War effort was in the field of medicine. Louisa May’s Battle: How the Civil War Led to Little Women by 3079431Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Carlyn Beccia, is the story of Louisa May Alcott’s involvement–first as a part of the Underground Railroad and later as a nurse at the Union Hotel in Washington, D.C. There to witness celebrations in the streets as the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, she was struck by typhoid fever a few weeks later and had to return home, where she went on to write one of the most famous books of all time.  (9780802796684. Gr 2-5.)

3073348Elizabeth Blackwell defied those who told her that women couldn’t be doctors. In Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman, we learn that Geneva Medical School let the students vote on whether or not to allow her to attend and that the boys, figuring it was a joke, voted yes! She went on to graduate at the top of her class in 1849 as well as to gain the respect of her peers and professors. Elizabeth was a key figure in training women as nurses during the Civil War. (9780805090482. Gr K-3.)

Mary Edwards Walker graduated from medical school in 1855. An outspoken campaigner for women, she was also known for shunning the uncomfortable 3115160clothing of the era in favor of…pants! Mary Walker Wears the Pants: The True Story of the Doctor, Reformer and Civil War Hero by Cheryl Harness, illustrated by Carlo Molinari, tells her story. A staunch opponent of slavery, Mary was determined to help during the war and volunteered doing whatever she could to help, treating wounded soldiers while repeatedly requesting to join the army as a surgeon. Finally in 1893, her role became official, and she would later earn a medal of honor for her service. (9780807549902. Gr K-3.)

Other new books of note:

30835683053209316326930735603073557Look Up! The Story of the First Woman Astronomer by Robert Burleigh, illustrated by Raúl Colón. (9781416958192. Gr K-2.)

Buffalo Bird Girl: A Hidatsa Story by S. D. Nelson. (9781419703553. Gr 2-5.)

Bad Girls: Sirens, Jezebels, Murderesses, Thieves & Other Female Villains by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Rebecca Guay. (9781580891851. Gr 5-8.)

Women of the Frontier: 16 Tales of Trailblazing Homesteaders, Entrepreneurs, and Rabble-Rousers by Brandon Marie Miller. (9781883052973. Gr 9-12.)

Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II by Cheryl Mullenbach. (9781569768082. Gr 9-12.)

LoriBlogger: Lori C.

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WWII Fiction and Nonfiction for Middle School

March 9, 2013 · Filed under Fiction, Historical, Mackin Picks, Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Novels, Reviews, Social Studies

Hero on a BicycleHero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes. April 2013. 9780763660376. Gr 6-8.

When I heard the Candlewick rep say, ” Hero is about a 13-year-old boy during World War II, living in Italy,” I wanted to read this book.  World War II is my favorite period of history. We meet Paolo Crivelli, his older sister Constanza, and their mother Rosemary living in the hills of Florence. It is 1944, and the Allied forces are trying to push the Nazis north of Florence to the Italian border. Paolo wants to be part of the war efforts, but is too young to enlist as a soldier and is bored staying home. So he daily plans his escape and rides his beloved bike through the darkened streets of Florence late at night.

One night on his way back home, he is stopped by some Partisans who want help from Paolo’s family. Rosemary agrees to hide Allied prisoners until they can be moved to safety. By hiding prisoners, she puts her whole family at risk of being shot. Paolo, Constanza, and Rosemary show their bravery and courage.

This story captured my attention from the first page. It is Shirley’s first novel, but she has known since she visited Florence at the end of World War II that she would someday write a story about this beautiful area. That someday has come—sixty years later. Her teenage characters seem very authentic, because she based them not only on her own memories as a teenager living in England during this war, but also on a family she met in Italy after the war.

Courage Has No ColorMackin PicksCourage Has No Color : The True Story of the Triple Nickels : America’s First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone. 2013. 9780763651176. Gr 5-8.

Courage Has No Color  is also a story about World War II, but it is based here in the U.S. Think about it, we had troops in Europe and the Pacific fighting Hitler’s injustices. But in the United States, men of black skin didn’t have the same rights as those with white skin. German and Italian prisoners of war, who had killed American soldiers, were allowed into the post exchange, but the black soldiers in uniforms were not allowed in. Black soldiers could not even sit at a table with the white soldiers to eat. They were treated as servants.

I had not heard of this group of paratroopers before, but I have gained much respect for them from this book. In the fall of 1943, first sergeant Walter Morris started a training program modeling that of the white paratroopers. Within a week his men began to act like soldiers. Sixteen African-American men made history on February 18, 1944, when they became paratroopers. The Triple Nickels were never sent to the war front, but were transferred to Pendleton Air Base in Oregon. At Pendleton, the Triple Nickels became smoke-jumpers, putting out fires started by bomb-laden balloons. These balloons had been floated by the Japanese on the jet stream to the west coast of the U.S.  I found this story as fascinating as the Red Tails story of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American group of pilots from World War II.

Tanya Lee Stone asks, “What did it take to be a paratrooper in World War II? Specialized training, extreme physical fitness, courage, and—until the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (the Triple Nickels) was formed –white skin… What is courage? What is strength? Perhaps it is being ready to fight for your nation even when your nation isn’t ready to fight for you.”

Guestblogger : Kathy V.

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Series Review: Both Sides of the Story

February 11, 2013 · Filed under Middle School (6-8), Nonfiction, Reviews, Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , ,

Animal Rights by Patience Coster. 2012. 9781448871841. Gr. 5-8.

Arab-Israeli Conflict by Nicola Barber. 2012. 9781448871834. Gr. 5-8.

Cloning and Genetic Engineering by Nicola Barber. 2012. 9781448871872. Gr. 5-8.

Death Penalty by Nicola Barber. 2012. 9781448871858. Gr. 5-8.

Ethics of War by Patience Coster. 2012. 9781448871889. Gr. 5-8.

Euthanasia by Patience Coster. 2012. 9781448871865. Gr. 5-8.

As you probably noticed during the recent Presidential election, the United States is a very polarized country on many issues.  While I love a passionate, energetic debate as much as anyone else, it has gotten a bit ridiculous on the news channels; pundits are seen shouting over one another, expounding upon their opinion (of which they are certain is the only correct opinion). I worry that this is the contemporary model of discourse that our students have.

The Both Sides of the Story series seems to be an antidote to this, aiming to present arguments about controversial issues in an even, level-headed way that allows readers to think for themselves and form their own opinions.

Each volume begins with some background and history about the topic, laying the groundwork for the more detailed arguments that follow.  The books are full of information boxes, pictures, and illustrations that support the text nicely.  A feature that I particularly like is the information boxes that contain quotes by experts or contemporaries from opposing sides of the issue.  Here is an example of this from the Death Penalty title:

“The bumper sticker says ‘Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing is wrong?’ And I agree with that.” – Richard Hughes, drummer in rock band Keane 2010.

“It is by exacting the highest penalty for the taking of human life that we affirm the highest value of human life.” – Edward Koch, US politician, from his 1985 essay “Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life.

There is consistency between all of the titles in the series; no apparent bias exists on the topics, and careful language is used in the presentation of arguments.  For example, often you see the phrasing, “some people argue…” or “opponents of this believe…” or “many supporters dismiss…”.  This neutral language is essential in presenting both sides of the issue, allowing readers to consider both sides as they form their opinions.

I can see Both Sides of the Story being an excellent resource for educators who want to stage classroom debates on contemporary issues.  This series would also be an excellent starting point for researching a writing assignment on the topics covered.

And you never know, these books may play a role in the development of a new generation of cable news pundits.  But, please, if you have the chance, tell these future talking heads to talk a little quieter and not interrupt!

Ryan

Blogger: Ryan H.

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Social Problems in World Cultures

January 28, 2013 · Filed under Biography, High School, Mackin Picks, Nonfiction, Social Studies · Tagged , , ,

Social issues include such problems as poverty, gender issues, education, race, and crime.  Here are three adult cross-over titles that are appropriate—and interesting—for high school students.

King PeggyKing Peggy : An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village by Peggielene Bartels. 9780385534321. 2012. Gr 10-Adult.

Imagine you’re sitting at your desk one day, working as a secretary, never imagining that you are about to get a telephone call that will change your life.  No, you haven’t won the lottery.  You’ve just been declared king!

Peggielene Bartels was born in Ghana, and then came to the United States to study. After becoming a U.S. citizen, she began working as a secretary at the Ghanaian embassy.  After the death of her uncle, a village king, the council of elders decided that she should be his successor.  After much thought, she accepted…and has since travelled back and forth between Washington and Ghana.  This amazing woman has tackled traditions, poverty, illiteracy, and other problems to make many positive changes to her village of 7000 people…and to herself.  An excellent biography about a fascinating woman.

In My Father's CountryIn My Father’s Country : An Afghan Woman Defies Her Fate by Saima Wahab. 9780307884947. 2012. Gr 11-Adult.

Saima Wahab’s autobiography begins auspiciously: “I was welcomed into this world by gunshots.”  In Afghanistan, when a son is born, the father runs outside with a pistol and fires a few shots into the air.  Saima’s father had done so when his first child, a son, was born.  But he also did it after the birth of his daughter.  And he made Saima’s grandfather promise that his daughters would have a life different than the lives of other Afghan girls.  Her grandfather kept that promise.

When Saima was 15, an uncle living in America brought her to America, where she learned to speak English—and learned to stand up for herself.  She began to work as in interpreter for a defense contractor in Afghanistan—one of a few female interpreters that were native speakers of the Pashtun language.  But she was frustrated with how little the American soldiers knew about Afghan culture—especially what was acceptable in regard to the women—and how their ignorance exacerbated their relationships with the Afghan population.  Her goal became to educate the soldiers.  A meaningful look at communication issues between cultures.

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

Next to the Mumbai International Airport and near its luxury hotels lies Annawadi, one of the city’s slums, a neighborhood of families whose situation is so dire that I almost had to stop reading about them.  Entire families live in one-room cardboard shacks with tin roofs.  During the rainy season, sewage-filled water runs down the street.  Some survive by sorting through garbage and selling it to recyclers.  Some eat scrub grass, rats, and frogs. Drug abuse, corruption, and disease run rampant throughout the slum.

Author Katherine Boo is not a native of India, but in 2001 she married an Indian citizen.  A journalist, she became interested in how the country’s global development had affected the lives of women.  She started spending time in Annawadi, just listening and taping and writing, and the residents slowly began to accept her presence there.  Katherine’s book is written so much like a story that, halfway through, I actually had to check to make sure that it really was nonfiction.  An excellent choice for students in Honors and AP classes and IB schools, and for those interested in current issues in other countries.

TraceyBlogger : Tracey L.

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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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Rescue Me! : Shelter Dogs

July 9, 2012 · Filed under Intermediate (3-5), Nonfiction, Picture Books, Primary (K-2), Social Studies · Tagged , , , , , , , ,

We are definitely dog people and have almost always had two of them at a time.  Though we have had purebreds (got them free from a friend), most of our dogs (and other pets) have been rescue animals.

We found Aayla, a three-year-old Lab-husky mix, at a local shelter.  She had been rescued from a puppy mill, along with her nine puppies.  She thinks she is a lap dog, climbs our chain link fence, and will eat anything that is in her reach—including a roll of toilet paper.  Here I have just scolded her for trying to eat my sandwich, and she is too ashamed to look me in the eye.

Lucy, a four-month-old border collie-spaniel cross, had been rescued with two of her siblings; they had been tagged with gang symbols and abandoned at a garbage dump.  We found out about her on Petfinders.com and adopted her from a local rescue group.   She is definitely the boss of the two, rearranges the couch cushions until they are just right, and naps on the couch with her feet in the air and her head hanging off the side.  In the picture, my younger son Nathan is sleeping on the couch after getting his impacted wisdom teeth removed—and Lucy took care of him all that day.

The books below are great books for other young dog lovers, whether they already have a canine companion of their own or their families are contemplating getting one.  The first title is about dogs in general, but the others focus on shelter dogs.

It’s a Dog’s Life : How Man’s Best Friend Sees, Hears, and Smells the World by Susan E. Goodman (ill. by David Slonim). 9781596434486. 2012. Gr 1-4

Just what do all those sounds and sniffs and looks from your dog mean?  Well, let’s get the answers straight from the horse’s—I mean, dog’s—mouth.  The dogs in this picture book are delighted to tell you all about themselves—why there are so many different kinds of dogs, what it means when they wag their tails, what they can see and smell, and why they have to pee so many times on their walks.  A “Woof/English Dictionary” is included, as well as some information from a human’s point of view, and the illustrations and speech bubbles are very entertaining.

Stay : The True Story of Ten Dogs by Michaela Muntean. 9780545234979. Gr 1-4

Luciano was a circus juggler and acrobat from a long line of circus performers.  But when he fell off the high wire, his days of doing stunts were over. Luciano didn’t want to leave the circus; in fact, he had a great idea for a new kind of act—but he would need some partners.  And since this would be a second chance for him, he wanted to give his partners a second chance as well.  So Luciano found dogs that everyone else had given up on.  He watched them closely to find out what they already liked to do, and he trained them to do those actions in his circus act.  Most of all, he loves them.  This heart-warming tale would be a great read-aloud, though kids will want to pore over the colorful photographs of Luciano and his Pound Puppies.

No Shelter Here : Making the World a Kinder Place for Dogs by Rob Laidlaw. 9780986949555. 2012. Gr 4-6

Rob Laidlaw, long-time animal advocate and international champion of dogs, provides information about the challenges dogs face around the world.  With examples from Canada, Japan, India, and several other countries in addition to the United States, he exposes the plight of these abandoned and often abused animals.  Urging readers to get involved, he relates the stories of children and young people around the globe who saw a problem and became Dog Champions.  Kids have created documentaries, raised money, and helped to make lawmakers aware of dog abuse.  This book is great for reluctant readers, dog lovers, or kids who need to do a service project.

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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