Week 8: Newbery Winners of Today

Week 8: March 16-22

Newbery Winners of Today

http://bookworm4kids.com/Newbery.html

1.     2011 Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

2.     2010 When You Reach Me  by Rebecca Stead

3.     2009 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Dave McKean

Rationale:

This week and next I explore Newbery winners.  I remember vividly trying to read every Newbery nominee every year.  I also remember earning a special lunch with my librarian for all of the students who were able to complete this task.  The library at my school gives incentives for these books as well as other award winning books.   I chose to read the last 3 years winners for the modern books and for week 10 I chose to reread 3 books I remember loving as an elementary student.

The Tooth Fairy

The Tooth Fairy by Peter Collington reviewed by Publishers Weekly
Picture-book collectors and parents of preschoolers will surely want to find a space on their bookshelves for this splendid work. As in Collington's The Angel and the Soldier Boy and On Christmas Eve, exquisite, minutely detailed art relays a wordless story. When a girl loses a tooth at bedtime, she places it in a tiny "tooth box" that she slides under her pillow. Soon a tiny fairy wearing an ethereal white dress and a crown of roses flies from her home within the trunk of a tree to a trap door hidden in the forest floor. It leads to a cavernous mine, where-using a large furnace to melt the metal and a mold to shape it-she fashions a silver coin. At last the fairy enters the girl's room, retrieves the small box and exchanges the coin for the tooth. Readers of all ages will be delighted to learn exactly what this dedicated fairy does with the newly fetched tooth in the inventive, heartwarming conclusion. Somewhat out of sync with the elegant feel of the book, the final page contains a tooth box and coin to be cut out and assembled.

The Tooth Fairy has visited my home many times in the past year. This delightful story was looked at again and again by my girls. They even tried to fool our Tooth Fairy with tic-tacs to see if they could get coins. My oldest daughter was a bit confused by the piano keys though. She always thought the tooth fairy made her teeth into teeth for babies so they could be used again and again (I think that idea came from another book). I easily warded off the confusion though by reminding her there are several tooth fairies and they may all do the job differently. This book is a must for an elementary library, and will be especially loved by younger girls.

Sidewalk Circus

Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman & Kevin Hawkes reviewed by School Library Journal:
As posters advertising the world-renowned Garibaldi circus are put up along a busy city block, a girl waiting for a bus watches the circus of everyday life unfold. There is no actual text to the book, just the words of store signs, a scrolling theater marquee, and the show bills. What the girl imagines is revealed through the playful shadows of the people on the street and the corresponding circus flyers. For example, as a chef flips pancakes into the air in the café, the corresponding poster promises "Fantastic feats of juggling." As a young man delivers a side of beef, his shadow is that of the strongman, featured on the neighboring poster. Fleischman has the incredible gift of always finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. To communicate his vision so successfully in a virtually wordless book is an amazing feat, with as much credit due to the illustrator. Hawkes's richly colored acrylic paintings sustain interest and pacing throughout the book, changing perspective, giving readers close-ups and then views further back. Vignettes of the girl waiting on the bench convey her growing sense of wonder as she discovers the parallels with the everyday. Appropriately enough, as she leaves on the bus at the end of the book, her place is taken by a wide-eyed boy who seems destined to find new parallels of his own. This delightful book will fascinate children and help them to see their world with new eyes.–Robin L. Gibson, formerly at Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH

Some pages in this book worked well, they were easy to see and the kids picked up easily on the circus characters. Other pages were much harder to imagine and find the circus characterizations. Though considered a wordless book, the circus posters and marquee have hints as to what to look for from tight rope walkers to clowns. Overall the idea was good and my students enjoyed the pictures, but a lot had to be explained so they could understand. Though I must admit it was not one of my favorite books so far, it has rave reviews, so I would still add it to a library.

School

School by Emily Arnold McCully is a well loved book in our home. Being the youngest is hard, especially when your older siblings all get to go to school and you don't! My youngest tells the story again with a devilish smile as mouse sneaks out of her home and joins her siblings at school. Sylvie loves the idea that the little mouse can be a "big helper", as she says. McCully's ink and water color pictures are vibrant, yet soft as they show this adventure. This is a great book to get young children to tell a story in their own words and add details they see in the pictures. It is also a great book for helping children make inferences as to what they think is happening in the story from page to page.

The Red Book

This is a very short, yet extremely complex story. Each picture has the illusion of simplicity, but the details are astounding when you look closely. A girl finds a red book and when she opens it finds a picture of a boy on a beach. At the same time the boy on the beach find a red book and inside is the picture of the girl. As the story progresses, the girl flies to the island and meets the boy. Along the way she drops her book and his washes away; the books are discovered again and the story continues in the mind of the reader. The illustrations are simple enough to hold the interest of preschool children, but are complex enough to use with older or gifted students. It poses the question if this is really happening or if the readers of the red books are escaping into their imaginations. It was a clever and well thought out story.

People

People by Peter Spier was on a list as a wordless book when I was researching for this project, but in reality it is not a wordless book. I did like the traditional dress, foods, and other cultural aspects of the illustrations. The general message was that we are all different and that is what makes the world go round. As long as the children realize some of the pictures depict traditional culture, not always modern culture, I think it is good book to share. My girls have spent hours looking at the pictures, and enjoyed it greatly. Children would enjoy this book in a library and it sends a good message.

More, Fewer, Less

More, Fewer, Less by Tana Hoban review from School Library Journal:
Once again Hoban uses her remarkable eye to evoke the meaning of comparative words with her camera. Everyday objects and familiar animals are depicted-spoons, scissors, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and chickens. Although there is no text, the brilliant arrangement of the images suggests many questions with several possible answers. Beyond looking at what there is less and more of, questions of color, size, shape, texture, and distance also present themselves. The rich, full-color, full-page photographs are sharp and immediate. Each one appears within a bright, blue frame, adding to its appeal. A thought-provoking visual experience.
Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA

At first this book did not fair well in my classroom because one of my students with autism was disturbed that it had no words. I then "read" it with my own words and interpretations of "more, fewer, and less" and had one of my paraeducators do the same. Once he could see that you could tell the story again and again and there was no right way to do so, he loved the book. I did however find that my younger students with lower cognitive abilities had difficulty with this concept.

Home

Home by Jeannie Baker review from School Library Journal:
When baby Tracy is first brought to her new home, the view of the urban neighborhood as seen through her window is not a pleasant one. Billboards and graffiti are everywhere, garbage is strewn across the streets, and only a few meager plants are fighting their way through the cracks in the cement. Bit by bit, as Tracy grows, the area is slowly reclaimed, so that the final view through the window is clean, lush, and green, with birds nesting peacefully in new trees and vistas that reveal glimpses of the now-visible blue river. In each of the double-page views through the window, readers can note not just the physical changes, but also the people in the community actively engaged in affecting those changes and producing a true home. As she did in Window (Greenwillow, 1991), Baker uses natural materials to create detailed, arresting collages that tell a story in which words are superfluous. Children can pore over these pages again and again and make fresh discoveries with each perusal. Whether enjoyed independently or incorporated into units on the environment, communities, or artistic technique, this is a book to treasure.--Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Home by Jeannie Baker had a profound impact on me as I read it. My husband and I bought our first home near the Missouri Botanical Gardens. We spent 8 years rehabbing a 110+ year old home and the surrounding neighborhood. We stared a community garden on a vacant lot on our block. All 3 children were born while we lived there. We had hoped to stay, but as the illustrator in this book explains, that takes time and great effort and in the end we moved here, to St. Charles. This book brought some feeling of regret reminding me what we gave up, even though I know we made the right javascript:void(0)decision for our family. It would have been nice to see the fruitation of our effort years from now.

The Yellow Balloon

The Yellow Balloon by Charlotte Dematons is akin to Where's Waldo and I Spy, but is more sophisticated. In the illustrations it mixes present with past, as well as real and fictional. I enjoyed the story of the man on the flying carpet following the yellow balloon from page to page, but I was disturbed by some of the illustrations for a children's book. The page that to me was most disturbing was the one which depicted a nude beach. I did a double take, but sure enough, that's what it was. I also didn't care for the stereotypical characters such as the "Cowboys and Indians" page. The large amount of death and destruction was also disturbing. I would probably choose other books over this book when looking for books that use pictures to explore figure background in children.

Handsigns: A Sign Language Alphabet

Handsigns: A Sign Language Alphabet by Kathleen Fain Overall good book, just a few things that stand out to me.

Positive aspects:

• The illustrations are well done and appealing
• The hand sign for the alphabet is a nice idea.
• Most letters are easily identifiable animals.

Negatives:

• Some animals are not as easily identifiable (Jackrabbit, Lynx, Nautilus, Urchin, Vixen, Xensaur, Yak). You must flip to the back to identify the animals.
• Some sounds are not the best for teaching sound letter relationship. (Fl blend for flamingo and X makes the Z sound instead of having it in the middle or end of the word where a child in early literacy would see it.

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang is not a book I would choose again and again. I found the illustrations and the premise of the book creepy and strange. An older woman buys strawberries at the market. A strange blue goblin looking guy tries to follow her and steal them. She uses her grey dress to blend in with her surroundings and escape the stalker. Kids may enjoy trying to find the grey lady as she blends into different backgrounds. The illustrations are clever in the way the hide the woman as well as show how she escaped in each situation, but overall I really did not enjoy the book. Despite this I would probably have it in the library because somehow it was an award winner many times over. The book won a 1981 Caldecott Honor Book award, A 1980 Boston Globe-Horn Book honor book award for Illustration, A Children's Reviewer's Choice 1980 award, ALA Booklist award, a 1980 AIGA Children's Book Show Selection award.

Chalk

Chalk by Bill Thomson From School Library Journal
This stunningly illustrated wordless picture book tells the story of three children who find a bag of magical chalk at the playground on a rainy day. Their drawings come to life, which seems great when a drawing of the sun stops the rain, but is scary when a dinosaur stalks them. A drawing of a rain cloud inside a play tube brings the rain back and dissolves the frightening creature. This imaginative story is the perfect showcase for Thomson's extraordinary pictures. Though they look like photos or computer-generated images, each one is actually composed using traditional techniques with acrylics and colored pencils. The artist's clever use of light, perspective, and expression, along with the protagonists' neat solution to their dilemma, creates a completely satisfying experience. Thomson is a master at visual storytelling.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

This book has been checked out again and again from our library by my girls. My youngest loves the colorful pictures and is amazed that they come to life. My oldest shakes her head every time she comes to the boy, usually saying, "Why do boys do that?" This book was also well loved in my classroom, especially by the boys who seemed to wish they could create a monstrous beast. I was amazed by the expressions in the children's faces. It seemed almost as if I was looking at a photograph. I could see needing multiple copies of this book in an elementary library.

Week 7: Wordless Books

Week 7: March 9-15
Wordless Picture Books

1. Chalk by Bill Thomson Il. Marshall Cavendish.
2. The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang
3. Handsigns: A Sign Language Alphabet by Kathleen Fain
4. The Yellow Balloon by Charlotte Dematons
5. Home by Jeannie Baker
6. Middle Passage: White Ships, Black Cargo by Tom Feelings
7. More, Fewer, Less by Tana Hoban
8. People by Peter Spier
9. The Red Book by Barbara Lehman
10. School by Emily Arnold McCully
11. Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes
12. The Tooth Fairy by Peter Collington.

Rationale:
This category was chosen after the introduction of The Arrival at our first class. I find the endless opportunities to retell a story and see things in a different way fascinating. I also love that students with reading disabilities can still “read” these books in a way that does not intimidate them and isolate them from peers, but includes them in conversations and learning.

Daniel’s Story by Daniel Carpenter-Gold

From School Library Journal
Daniel, 14 in 1941, describes first his family's sense of belonging in Germany and their refusal to flee their country despite the initial instances of anti-Semitism they experience. By the time the family is ready to acknowledge the seriousness of their situation, no country is willing to accept them. They are first deported from Frankfurt to the Lodz ghetto in Poland; from Lodz they are sent to Auschwitz, and finally, Daniel and his father are marched to Buchenwald. They are the only two members of the family who survive, and are liberated by the Americans. Daniel tells his story through the "pictures" he has; at first real photographs, and then the images in his head. He is a courageous, sensitive, heroic individual who personalizes the events of the Holocaust. His voice rings true; he is portrayed as an extraordinary youth, but these were times that demanded an exceptional response to increase the likelihood of survival.

I enjoyed the audio book version of Daniel’s Story by Daniel Carpenter-Gold told by Carol Matas. The father in the book was a character that stands out the most to me. Daniel is 14, brave, strong, intelligent, but can be impulsive. You can see his demeanor change from a typical teenage boy to a bitter teenager with a want for revenge. His father in contrast is never impulsive and always forgiving. As others are selling belongings such as boots to gain food, his father is rationing, a move that will save the family later in the story. When others have nothing he is able to get a radio so he knows what to expect and can plan for the next strategic move. Even after the liberation, he is able to keep his son from gaining revenge and killing a Nazi. It is through the father's quiet strength and Daniel's words the reader sees how much pain the family has endured.

The Grand Mosque of Paris

The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Saved Jews During the Holocaust
by Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland DeSaix

From School Library Journal
The authors of Hidden on the Mountain: Stories of Children Sheltered from the Nazis in Le Chambon (Holiday House, 2007) return to France to uncover a little-known story. While they admit that "many of the details are destined to remain forever uncertain, with few facts proven to a historian's satisfaction," Ruelle and DeSaix feel strongly that the bits and pieces of information that they were able to unearth provide convincing evidence that the Muslims of the Grand Mosque of Paris saved Jewish lives. While the format and appearance of this title are similar to other picture books of rescue and resistance during the Holocaust, such as Carmen Agra Deedy's The Yellow Star (Peachtree, 2000) and Ken Mochizuki's Passage to Freedom (Lee & Low, 1997), the text provides more of a descriptive history of events than a retelling of a story. The oil-paint spreads are luminous and beautiful, but they belie the tone of the writing and the presentation of facts. Regardless, this well-researched book belongs on the shelves of most libraries.

This book was an inspiring and relatively unknown story. The illustrations are in cool colors that reflect the seriousness of the times. What I love most is that is shows what a gentle, caring, and peaceful group the Muslim community really is. It seems that the Muslim religion is seen in such a negative light from Muslim extremist that dominate the news. This book would be an excellent addition to any upper elementary lessons on World War II and the Holocaust.

Potatoes, Potatoes

Potatoes, Potatoes by Anita Lobel is a charming story of two brothers, bored with everyday life, who leave to join an army to the east and army to the west. They fight each other's armies until all men are tired, wounded, and hungry. They then appreciate the nostalgia of the home, which they originally ran away from. It is a story told time and time again, yet send a message of peace, hope, family, and love. Even a soldier need his mom.

Lucy’s Cave

This is a book I would put in the library for teachers to use with a unit on the Civil War, but would not encourage children to check it out for pleasure reading. As the review below states, it is a book that could be used when teaching about Vicksburg and how that impacted the community. It is from the point of view of a child who's family is part of the Confederate Army. This point of view is less common in literature than are books portraying the winning Union Army. I like he cover pages with print from "The Daily Citizen" showing obituaries and current news from a vantage point of a Confederate backer. I also like the Author's note explaining in the end the artifact from history this story was fashioned from and the explanation of the oil paintings used and how they were period for that era.


Review by Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children of of Lucy's Cave by Karen B. Winnick.
During the Civil War, Vicksburg, Mississippi came under attack by Union army gunboats from the Mississippi River. The siege lasted forty-seven days, during which many families and their slaves fled to the hills around the city and took refuge in a series of caves and tunnels. This book is based on the published remembrances of Lucy McRae, who experienced the Vicksburg siege and the cave shelter as an eleven-year old child. Told from a child’s point of view, the fearful sounds and vibrations of shell explosions help Lucy to accept the necessity of living in this dark and damp enclosure. She has more trouble accepting the gestures of friendship from annoying Liddy Lord until a bad accident shows her the importance of friends and community.
With its carefully-researched text and oil paintings in the style of Civil War era artists, Lucy’s Cave is historical fiction for kids at its finest. The book also embraces important lessons in economics related to scarcity and needs. Families who may have lived prosperously before were now eating lumpy cornmeal gruel for dinner, sleeping on wooden planks with pieces of carpet, hauling buckets of water for subsistence and buckets of human waste for disposal, cooking on a communal fire, kneading bread made from animal feed, and living endless days in a dimly lit cavern. Lucy’s Cave makes a valuable addition to any collection of children’s books with substantive content intertwined with an appealing story.

Purple Heart

Product Description taken from amazon.com

When Private Matt Duffy wakes up in an army hospital in Iraq, he's honored with a Purple Heart. But he doesn't feel like a hero.

There's a memory that haunts him: an image of a young Iraqi boy as a bullet hits his chest. Matt can't shake the feeling that he was somehow involved in his death. But because of a head injury he sustained just moments after the boy was shot, Matt can't quite put all the pieces together.

Eventually Matt is sent back into combat with his squad—Justin, Wolf, and Charlene—the soldiers who have become his family during his time in Iraq. He just wants to go back to being the soldier he once was. But he sees potential threats everywhere and lives in fear of not being able to pull the trigger when the time comes. In combat there is no black-and-white, and Matt soon discovers that the notion of who is guilty is very complicated indeed.

National Book Award Finalist Patricia McCormick has written a visceral and compelling portrait of life in a war zone, where loyalty is valued above all, and death is terrifyingly commonplace.


Purple Heart was also a book on the war in Iraq like Sunrise Over Fallujah, but I enjoyed this book much more than I did Sunrise Over Fallujah. The storyline was easier for me to read and become involved in, because it seems to have more emotion involved. It also seems as if there is more self discovery in this book as compared to Sunrise Over Fallujah. The overall story was interesting, easy to connect with, and suspenseful as you see the real story unfold. It managed to show how a soldier in Iraq would fell through such events without making it too graphic for the younger reader. This would be a great book to have in a High School library, especially for use in support groups for children of injured soldiers to give them insights into TBI.

Sunrise Over Fallujah

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers Review from Amazon.com:
Robin's parents aspire for him to go to college, but following September 11, he feels compelled to join the Army instead. By early 2003, Robin has completed Basic Training and is deployed to Iraq where he becomes part of a Civil Affairs Unit charged with building the trust of the Iraqi people to minimize fighting. Civil Affairs soldiers are often put into deadly situations to test the waters, and Robin finds that the people in his unit, who nickname him "Birdy," are the only ones he can trust. Robin quickly learns that the situation in Iraq will not be resolved easily and that much of what is happening there will never make the news. Facing the horrors of war, Robin tries to remain hopeful and comforting in his letters to his family, never showing his fear or the danger he actually faces. The story of teenagers going to war today is an important one, and it is not told often enough. Myers writes an important book to have in any collection to recognize that many teens will choose to join the military instead of, or before, going on to college. Robin is only eighteen, and it is difficult to watch his innocence erased as war leaves its mark on him, but it is the reality for many young men and women. This fine book could be included with a unit on current events and is a good choice for boys.

I had an extremely hard time making it through this book. The glossary of terms and acronyms was the first clue; For somebody in the armed forces this may have been easier to overcome than for myself. I also had a hard time connecting to the characters. They seemed have a VERY brief background of where they were from and if they were male of female. They never really developed past that and the lack of definition in the character made it difficult for me to keep connected and remember who each character was. The most reveling parts were the letters where you could actually see who Robin really was and how he was feeling. The letters saved the book and made it possible to finish. I would include this in a high school library because I think males would enjoy it more than I did and I don't think my personal preference should keep it out when it has so many good reviews.

The Book Thief

From School Library Journal:
Zusak has created a work that deserves the attention of sophisticated teen and adult readers. Death himself narrates the World War II-era story of Liesel Meminger from the time she is taken, at age nine, to live in Molching, Germany, with a foster family in a working-class neighborhood of tough kids, acid-tongued mothers, and loving fathers who earn their living by the work of their hands. The child arrives having just stolen her first book–although she has not yet learned how to read–and her foster father uses it, The Gravediggers Handbook, to lull her to sleep when shes roused by regular nightmares about her younger brothers death. Across the ensuing years of the late 1930s and into the 1940s, Liesel collects more stolen books as well as a peculiar set of friends: the boy Rudy, the Jewish refugee Max, the mayors reclusive wife (who has a whole library from which she allows Liesel to steal), and especially her foster parents. Zusak not only creates a mesmerizing and original story but also writes with poetic syntax, causing readers to deliberate over phrases and lines, even as the action impels them forward. Death is not a sentimental storyteller, but he does attend to an array of satisfying details, giving Liesels story all the nuances of chance, folly, and fulfilled expectation that it deserves. An extraordinary narrative.


I listened to this book as an audiobook and was NOT disappointed. Allan Corduner, the reader, has a voice exactly as I would imagine death would have if death could have a voice. His voice almost sends chills down your spine and keeps you lingering on every last word. Though the book was over 14 hours long, it seemed as if it moved quickly and I couldn't stop listening. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would include this book and the audio version in a library at the high school level.

Week 6: War

Week 6: March 2-8
War

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Saved Jews During the Holocaust by Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland DeSaix
3. Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
4. Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers tidbit
5. Daniel’s Story by Daniel Carpenter-Gold told by Carol Matas
6. Lucy’s Cave by Karen B. Winnick
7. Potatoes, Potatoes by Anita Lobel

Rationale:
I chose this category because my brother is a medic in the Army and has served 2 tours in Iraq. My father, stepfather, and uncles also served in the military during times of war. My mother in contrast has always been very anti-war and anti-gun, as am I. It has always been a sharp contrast, and I wanted to read about the many wars this world has seen and see how they impact the lives of others. Of all categories, I worry the most about completing this one so I set it for my 2 week spring break in hopes that I can get all of the books finished in time. I just couldn’t decide which book to eliminate; after all I had already narrowed the list from 20 to 9!

Russell the Sheep

When the girls "can't sleep" we tell them to count Russell...

From School Library Journal:
Russell can't sleep. While the other sheep are dozing off, he ponders the problem of insomnia. Is he too hot or too cold? Perhaps a better place would help. When nothing works, he tries counting things. He starts with his feet, and then moves on to the stars ("six hundred million billion and ten")–twice. Finally, the quintessential cliché comes to him, and he counts sheep. Russell nods off just as the new day dawns and the others awaken. Scotton makes a captivating debut with this comical tale. He illustrates it with a witty, engaging, and fluffy character bathed in calming blue hues. With his wide-eyed, startled expression; froggy sidekick; and animated, blue-and-white-striped nightcap, Russell will win the hearts of readers, who will want to look at the pictures over and over to catch all the clever detail.–Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL

We love Russell and his quirky solutions to his insomnia. The pages all have unique arrangements of both text and graphics. You just want to reach inside the drawings and pet Russell so he can go to sleep. Once again, a must have for an elementary library.

The Napping House

The Napping House by Audery Wood Illustrations by Don Wood is an amazing team effort of husband and wife. The Illustrations are what first drew me to this book. They start with blues and grays and "cool tones". As the bed becomes piled high with sleeping Granny, child, dog, cat, mouse and flea, the warm colors begin to flood the room. Finally the wakeful flea causes chaos until it is "the napping house where no one now is sleeping". The illustrations are paired with humorous, repetitive text which builds on each page to engage and enthrall a young child. The Napping House is yet another must have in an elementary library.

Amazing Grace

3 girls, lots of dress ups, a willing audience, and unlimited imagination create a perfect recipe to fall in love with the beloved Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffmann and illustrated by Caroline Binch. The following review from School Library Journal shows just why.

Grace loves stories, whether she hears them, reads them, or makes them up. Possessed with a marvelous imagination as well as a strong flair for the dramatic, she acts the stories out, always giving herself the most exciting parts. Thus, it is natural when her teacher announces a classroom production of Peter Pan , that Grace wants to play the lead. One classmate says she can't because she's a girl and another says she can't because she's black. When a saddened Grace relates the days events to her mother and grandmother, they tell her she can be anything she wants to, if she puts her mind to it. Inspired by her family's support, her own indomitable spirit, and an excursion to a weekend ballet starring a lovely Trinidadian dancer, Grace shines during her audition, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind as to who will play Peter Pan. Gorgeous watercolor illustrations portraying a determined, talented child and her warm family enhance an excellent text and positive message of self-affirmation. Grace is an amazing girl and this is an amazing book. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library

Are You Grumpy Santa?

Are You Grumpy Santa? by brothers Greg and Evan Spiridellis officially needs to be replaced with a second copy because it has been so well loved. I can almost recite the book from memory.

Santa is having a BAD day. He was woken early, took a cold shower, lost his reindeer in the snow, got stuck in a chimney, and fell from a chandelier among other things. Finally he has had enough and "is at the point of full despair" when he sees a plate of cookies with a sweet note that "makes the grumpies disappear". The simple rhymes make the book a fantastic read aloud for the believer crowd. The pictures are just okay and Mrs. Clause is very strange looking, but the story more than makes up where the illustrations are lacking. The bright colors still keep interest of the kids. Though it has had low reviews in the School Library Journal, it should still be a must for an elementary library, and I am sure it will be buying replacement copies also.

Giggle, Giggle Quack

Who doesn't love the clever, quiet instigator Duck. In Giggle, Giggle Quack, Doreen Cronin brings back Farmer Brown's animals as they try to take comfort on the farm to a whole new level form bubble baths to watching the Sound of Moosic. As in all of her books set on Brown's Farm, Duck gets what he wants and brings the other animals along for the ride. This clever book is a great sequel to Click, Clack, Moo and a must have in an elementary library.

Pirates Don’t Change Diapers

Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long and David Shannon is only allowed to be read by my husband. His pirate impression is strikingly realistic; You would think he was fresh off the ship! The girls loved "How I Became a Pirate", but I think loved this one even more because it puts the pirates in a situation that makes them seem not so scary, and really quite entertaining. The girls laughed to the very last page, though my husband antics may have aided in the laughter. This book is a must for the elementary library.

The summary from Publishers Weekly says it well:
Plucky young Jeremy Jacob is reunited with Captain Braid Beard and his crew of daft, dentally challenged buccaneers in a follow-up to the bestselling How I Became a Pirate. This time, Jeremy clearly has the upper hand: he won't let the pirates dig up the treasure they buried in his backyard at the end of the previous book until they help him placate his cranky baby sister, Bonney Anne (pirate aficionados will note that her name is a nod to real-life female pirate Anne Bonny). The story unfolds rather predictably—but just as entertainingly as the original: the pirates turn out to be washouts as nannies, jokes fly about dirty diapers and strained spinach, and, of course, "the wee lass" Bonney Anne ends up being the key to recovering the treasure. But Long's piratical dialogue still delivers a juicy read-aloud: what reader of any age won't relish the opportunity to say "Aargh!" or declare "Rock on!" as the crew does in unison when Braid Beard orders them to rock Bonney Anne to sleep? And Shannon's voluptuously colorful and comic paintings runneth over with comic mayhem, sly details (somehow, the pirates manage to find a pirate show on Jeremy's TV) and no end of goofy expressions.

Ballet Sisters

Ballet Sisters by Jan Ormerod is another book that is loved in my home because one of the characters has the same name as my youngest, Sylvie.  Sylvia is the youngest in the book and these simple stories capture the relationship between an older and younger sister.  Sylvie's older sister likes to be the boss.  If she is the princess, Sylvie must bow.  If she is a fairy queen she wants Sylvia to be an elf.  Sylvie cries.  

In the second story older sister gets to go to dance class.  Sylvie is too little, but tries to follow sister's lead.  Sister's hair is perfect, Sylvie tries to cut hers so it is perfect.  Mom has to fix it.  Sylvie cries.  Luckily big sisters can also help, and not just be the boss, and Sylvie ends up with braids just like her sister.  This book is easy to read for even a young reader and any younger sister will relate to Ballet Sisters.

The Gardener

The Gardner, written by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small, was an accidental find from a garage sale that quickly became a household favorite on the first page with the name Lydia.  My middle child's name is Lydia and she is "small, but strong" just like the Lydia in the book.  She instantly identified with Lydia's ability to make friends and interest in gardening and flowers.  This book would be a must for the school library.

The book is a series of letters written during from a young girl, Lydia Grace Finch, starting in August 1935 and ending in July 1936.  They begin as letters to her Uncle Jim explaining that she needs to come "help" hm at his bakery during The Depression, while her father looks for a job.  Her letters continue to her Mama, Papa, and Grandma as the story unfolds.  Lydia's optimism, love for flowers, and determination to bring a smile to grim Uncle Jim's face, will bring tears to your eyes.  The ink and water color drawings bring the story to life and show the true heartache this family felt through the trials and tribulations of the year.  You can't help but to fall in love with such a sweet girl like Lydia Grace.

Sunrise, Sunset

This book was an anniversary gift for my 5th wedding anniversary. My husband and I walked down the aisle to this song. I have sung it as a lullaby since my first child was born. It is much the same as Puff the Magic Dragon in the sentimental value. My children love this book.

Though I love it too, I do think the people are a little bit odd looking. Their head seem a bit out of proportion to their bodies. It is really a matter of personal preference for the art, but I have many illustrators I enjoy more. The story is sweet, and as a mother I can barely make it through the book without crying and imagining my own 3 girls growing up. Singing the song always brings back good memories. This book almost seems like it is more for parents than children, but will be remembered by the children and hopefully, sung for generations to come.

Hush Little Alien

It's papa's turn to keep the little darling happy. In Hush Little Alien by Daniel Kirk if the milk has no cream, don't worry, papa's gonna get a laser beam. If that laser makes things melt, well you get the idea.... This is a cute bedtime story that again can be sung, this time to the tune of Hush, Little Baby. I love the bright pictures that seem to pop off the page. I also love the clever interpretation of the words so that the Milky Way is actually a bunch of baby bottles in the illustrations. This book is yet another must have for young children.

Puff the Magic Dragon

This book was given to us as a gift at our baby shower. The CD that came with it was listened to again and again to calm my kiddos as babies. Every night before bed I sing this as one of the lullaby songs. It isn't surprising that the girls chose this to be on the list of their favorite books. The words are familiar as is the tune of the song. The pictures are whimsical, magical, and have great detail. The expressions on the character's faces, even the body language, can be seen in the artwork. This is a fantastic book for younger kids who love to sing and rhyme.

Knuffle Bunny Series

The Knuffle Bunny Series by Mo Willems is FANTASTIC!

In the original Knuffle Bunny book Trixie and daddy go to the Laundr-O-Mat and Knuffle Bunny gets lost in the wash. Trixie tries to tell dad and he doesn't understand what she is saying because she is a baby. When they get home mom knows right away what is wrong and they go to retrieve the bunny.

In the second book, Knuffle Bunny, Too, Trixie is about 4 or 5 and taking Knuffle Bunny to school. When she gets there Sonja has the same bunny. They get mixed up and in the middle of the night an exchange is made.

In the final book, Knuffle Bunny Free the family goes to visit Trixie's grandparents. The bunny is left on the plane and nothing seems to take its place. On the way back home they are on the same plane and the Knuffle bunny shows up in the seat pocket. Another child is crying on the flight and Trixie decides she is too old for Knuffle Bunny and gives it to the child. The end made both my husband and I cry as the dad states his hopes and dreams for Trixie.

This series is such a sweet story that children relate to while adults can laugh at the humor dispersed throughout the pictures and text. The artwork is original with black and white photos of the actual places with imposed drawings of the characters. The sweetest part of the books is that they are written by Mo for his daughter. As a parent you can actually see yourself doing the things the parents are doing in the book. This book should be part of every library and is definitely part of our personal family library.

On a side note- The first book is on Scholastic's Bookflix and my students and children love to watch the online version.

Week 5: Bedtime Favorites for the Hines Girls

Week 5: February 23-March 1

My Family’s bedtime favorites J

Cecelia ( 7), Lydia (4), and Sylvia (3)

1.     Knuffle Bunny Series by Mo Willems

2.     Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow & Lenny Lipton Illustrated by Eric Puybaret

3.     Hush Little Alien by Daniel Kirk

4.     Sunrise, Sunset Words by Sheldon Harnick, Music by Jerry Bock, Illustrated by Ian Schoenherr

5.     The Gardener by Sarah Stewart Illustrated by David Small

6.     Ballet Sisters by Jan Ormerod

7.     Pirates Don’t Change Diapers by Melinda Long and David Shannon

8.     Giggle, Giggle Quack by Doreen Cronin

9.     Are You Grumpy Santa? by Greg and Evan Spiridellis

10.  Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman and Caroline Binch

11.  The Napping House by Audery Wood Illustrations by Don Wood

12.  Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton

Rationale:

I really have no rationale except- they love them and chose them to be on my list.

Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne

Last year my oldest daughter came home talking about the "Jack and Annie" books. At conferences I asked her teacher about it and she said for read aloud she had been reading the series The Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne. I started to read them at home with my girls and download them from the library for long car rides. I really like them as a series and they have sparked more research from my 7 year old when she wants more information. When we went to go diamond digging she kept a journal like Jack with her findings. I read Good Morning, Gorillas to "My Boys" and they really enjoyed it. They went to the library and chose more to read. Next up Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve...

How to Train Your Dragon

I have not read How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell to "My Boys" yet, but did listen to the audiobook with my husband on a long car drive. It was interesting to have the 2 altering points of view. My husband now wants to see the movie because he liked the book so much. He liked the story and thought the bodily function jokes the entire book were fabulous. I think he was reliving his youth. I on the other hand had to re-listen to many parts. The story did not hold my attention. I had enough of the bodily functions in the first chapter. I may have to put this in the listening center so I don't have to endure it again during read aloud.

Hardy Boys: Under Cover Brothers

The Hardy Boys: Under Cover Brothers book #12 Trouble in Paradise was the next choice of the fifth grade boys.  This book is another I would never choose for myself (obviously), but I must admit I wanted to read more than the 15 minutes a day this time too!  It was full of adventure and being trapped.  They were trapped in a burning tower, trapped on an island, trapped out at sea being chased by sharks, and trapped under the sea with weights locked on ankles!  They managed to escape every time AND of course caught the bad guys.  This would be a good series to have in the library to encourage boys to read!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

I have a group of fifth grade boys with Intellectual Disabilities that really wanted to read this book before the movie comes out on March 25th. I read it aloud for 15 min a day and without fail everyday they begged to read it more.

As a thirty something woman with 3 daughters I had a difficult time relating to the book. "My boys" however loved the book and were rolling on the ground. I also had a male student observer from Lindenwood who was laughing along with them. In one way it was a difficult read aloud because the pictures were so small so if I read it aloud again I would have a lit set. On the other hand it was a good one to read aloud with my group though because I could help explain the pictures and have built in comprehension checks often.

Week 4: What My Fifth Grade Boys Read

Week 4: February 16-22

What My Fifth Grade Boys Read

1.     Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

2.     How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

3.     Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne

4.     The Hardy Boys

Rationale:

I am a girl, I have 3 daughters, and I like girly books.  In stark contrast with my home life, I teach almost all boys.  They have different interests and different needs than girls.  Though I may know American Girl, Junie B Jones, and The Jewel Fairies, I do not have a lot of background in boy’s books.  This is a list of books three of my students (all 5^th grade boys) said they would like for me to read aloud.  They were excited to get to choose.  Though the books are all in one week’s theme, I will be reading them over a period of time aloud in class.  I hope it will help my gentlemen with special needs fit in a little more easily with their same age peers.

Friends with Disabilities Series

The Friends with Disabilities Series by Amanda Doering Tourville and illustrated by Kristin Sorra, includes My Friend Has ADHD, My Friend Has Down Syndrome, My Friend Has Dyslexia, and My Friend Has Autism. All of the books have the same format. They start with a short story about 2 friends (one who has a disability and one who doesn't) told from the point of view of the child without a disability. The story includes many of the common characteristics of the disability and what that looks like in their friendship. Then on each page is a "Did you know?" box with facts relating to the characteristic just discussed. In the end of the book, there is a expository text about the disability, a glossary of terms associated with the disability, and a section for further resources (books, internet sites, etc.).

I have used these books to go into a classroom at the beginning of the school year and inform the students of a classmate they may have. I found it opens communication so my students can be integrated into the classroom more easily and the typically developing peers have a base knowledge of how to act and what to do. They are very basic books and are certainly written for a specific purpose, but I think they are a good introduction to disabilities for younger students.

The Story of My Life

This autobiography of Helen Keller's life in undeniably remarkable in many ways.  The obstacles she overcomes to achieve greatness are miraculous.  Her story is interesting to listen to, especially with her feelings and memories being first hand.  The book overall was a bit too flowery though.  At times, it was hard to remember what was just read due to the overly descriptive passages.  This would be a good book to use if you already had background on Helen Keller and were looking for different points of view.  I would include this in a library, but would probably recommend it sparingly.

Andy and His Yellow Frisbee

Mary Thompson writes this book as only a person with a close experience with autism can.  She tells the story of Andy at recess spinning his yellow frisbee and tuning out the world around him.  Sarah, a new girl in school sees him everyday and doesn't understand why he doesn't play with others.  One day she brings her pink frisbee to school to try to share with Andy.  Rosie, Andy's older sister, sees this from across the school yard and becomes worried that Andy will be upset.

This book is a fantastic way to present a story without beating the topic to death.  It shows a compassion through the actions of the children.  Rosie has a deep love for her brother and wants to protect him.  Sarah wants to understand him and not just ignore him.  I loved this book and will use it when presenting to the general education classrooms at the beginning of the year.  I wish it showed them interacting at a later date, but it show the hope Rosie has that they will learn to play together.  I can use that to open up conversations on how to become involved with the student in the class I am speaking to.

Animlas Helping with Special Needs

Animals Helping with Special Needs by Clare Oliver is a great book to introduce assistance animals with a non-fiction text. The well laid out Table of Contents includes 13 topics involving support pets. The topics each have a 2 page spread with information about training, use, and real stories of people using support. There are stories from dogs and horses, to dolphins and monkeys. The end includes a glossary of terms, useful resources, and index. The book kept interest of my students first through 5th grade. The pictures were a bit out of date, but the students did not seem to notice.