Rapunzel's Revenge

Bibliography:

Hale, Shannon & Dean Hale. 2008. Ill. Nathan Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York: Bloomsbury. 
ISBN: 978-1-59990-070-4

Summary:

Growing up in a lavish, lush estate surrounded by a massive wall, Rapunzel, a precocious child cannot ignore the itch to see the world from the other side of the wall. What she finds changes her world forever, launching her on a quest to right wrongs and find the family she's always longed for.

Analysis:

Duo Shannon and Dean Hale team up with Nathan Hale (no relation) to create a new twist on Rapunzel's traditional tale, told through a graphic novel. Always a heroine, Rapunzel uses her know-how and her immediate resources to defeat her tree prison, wild boars, bandits, a harsh climate and the oppressive powers that be. Finding friends along the way, Rapunzell learns how strong she really is, building a family of her own along the way.

Nathan Hale's illustrations depict Rapunzel as she grows from a young girl to a confident, capable young woman. Nathan's interpretation combined with Shannon and Dean's witty dialogue creates an engaging tale of adventure, action and retribution told in an uproaringly funny way.

Reviews:

"With its can-do heroine, witty dialogue and romantic ending, this graphic novel has something for nearly everybody."-Publisher's Weekly, STARRED REVIEW (from www.squeetus.com)

"The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after."-School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW (from www.squeetus.com)

"Readers familiar with graphic novels will feel at home...Newbies may not realize how particularly well-matched the Hales' gutsy tale is to its format, but this introduction--with its high action quotient, immediate sensory thrills, and wisecracking heroes--should win many converts. With such a successful debut, one hopes to see more graphic novels from this trio."-Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW (from www.squeetus.com)
 

"A dash of typical fairy-tale romance, a strong sense of social justice and a spunky heroine make this a standout choice for younger teens."-Kirkus Reviews (from www.squeetus.com)
 

"Rich with humor and excitement, Rapunzel's Revenge is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers."-Booklist (from www.squeetus.com)

Awards:

An ALA 2009 Notable Children's Book

A YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel for Teens 

An Eisner Award nominee

A Cybil Award winner 

Connections:

• Browse Shannon Hale's official website www.squeetus.com for author comments, reviews and other titles
• Perform Reader's Theater script of Rapunzel's Revenge (from www.squeetus.com)
• Create own fractured traditional tales with alternate settings and mixed story lines; create graphics to accompany dialogue and plot publishing a graphic novel or picture book rendition to share with the class 

The Graveyard Book

Bibliography:

Gaiman, Neil. 2008. Ill. Dave McKean. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

ISBN: 978-0-06-053092-1

Summary:

Nobody Owens, born to a family tragically killed by a evil mysterious Jack-of-all-trades finds refuge and family in the town graveyard. Granted "Freedom of the Graveyard", Bod is raised and educated by the residents of the graveyard on a hill, always confined to it's boundaries until he breaks through into the outside world, leading the sinister Jack back to the graveyard in an effort to finish the job he once started, leaving Bod to fight for his life and his freedom.

Analysis:

Neil Gaiman's low fantasy ghost story stars Nobody Owens, Bod for short, an average boy growing up in an anything but average environment. Rescued from the clutches of death by dead graveyard residents, Bod is brought up and educated by ghosts, ghouls, a witch and a being that is neither living nor dead. Emmersed in a fantastical world, Bod's safety is a universal tale of adolescence, finding oneself and truly learning the value of family and friends.

Gaiman's vivid language puts the reader in the graveyard, letting them see "the abandoned funeral chapel, iron doors padlocked, ivy on the sides of the spire, a small tree growing out of the guttering at roof level" (pg. 12). Paired with Dave McKean's gray scale illustrations, the book engages the reader in Bod's adventures while also creating a darker tone that contrasts nicely with Bod's childish innocence and naviety.

Reviews:

“Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.” — Kirkus Reviews (Starred review) from www.mousecircus.com

“An utterly captivating tale…this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages. ” — Booklist (Starred Review) from www.mousecircus.com

“Gaiman writes with charm and humor, and again he has a real winner.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) (Starred Review) from www.mousecircus.com

Awards:

Newbery Medal

Carnegie Medal

Hugo Award

Locus Award

Connections:

• Compare Bod's tale with that of Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling's classic book set, The Jungle Book
• Read other works by Neil Gaiman: 
• Coraline (2003)
• M is for Magic (2007)
• Stardust (2001)
• Visit Gaiman's website www.mousecircus.com and browse videos, excerpts, games, etc.

Speak

Bibliography:

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. Speak. New York: Penguin Group.

ISBN: 0-14-240732-1 

Summary:

Melinda Sordino begins high school with a secret and a reputation as a tattle-tale. Without supportive family or friends, Melinda lives within herself, capturing moments and people within her mind until it all comes rushing out.

Analysis:

Melinda's voice is heard through her thoughts and actions during her first year of high school in Laurie Halse Anderson's touching contemporary realistic fiction novel Speak. The protagonist, Melinda, is a likeable character battling internal and external forces for control of her own voice. Faced with common and uncommon occurences including the "climax of mating season...the Senior Prom" (pg. 176) and the place "where they film daily segments of Teenage Humiliation Rituals" (pg. 104) the cafeteria, Melinda finds herself amongst the masses, just like many students in schools feel around the world. Anderson's authentic language captures the character's es

sence and creates compeling scenes and natural dialogue (both internal and external). Set in any high school across the nation, the text is easily relatable with the central message of finding one's identity or one's voice amidst thousands of other voices. Anderson achieves perfection with Melinda's controversial story that will make the reader laugh, cry, scream, kick and smile all at the same time. 

Reviews:

"A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today’s headlines. At the end of the summer before she enters high school, Melinda attends a party at which two bad things happen to her. She gets drunk, and she is raped. Shocked and scared, she calls the police, who break up the party and send everyone home. She tells no one of her rape, and the other students, even her best friends, turn against her for ruining their good time. By the time school starts, she is completely alone, and utterly desolate. She withdraws more and more into herself, rarely talking, cutting classes, ignoring assignments, and becoming more estranged daily from the world around her. Few people penetrate her shell; one of them is Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, who works with her to help her express what she has so deeply repressed. When the unthinkable happens—the same upperclassman who raped her at the party attacks her again something within the new Melinda says no, and in repelling her attacker, she becomes whole again. The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget." - Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 1999

"Speaking out at the "wrong" time-calling 911 from a teen drinking party-has made Melinda a social outcast; now she barely speaks at all. A conversation with her father about their failed Thanksgiving dinner goes as follows: "Dad: 'It's supposed to be soup.' / Me: / Dad: 'It tasted a bit watery, so I kept adding thickener....'/ Me: ." While Melinda's smart and savvy interior narrative slowly reveals the searing pain of that 911 night, it also nails the high-school experience cold-from "The First Ten Lies They Tell You" (number eight: "Your schedule was created with your needs in mind") to cliques and clans and the worst and best in teachers. The book is structurally divided into four marking periods, over which Melinda's grades decline severely and she loses the only friend she has left, a perky new girl she doesn't even like. Melinda's nightmare discloses itself in bits throughout the story: a frightening encounter at school ("I see IT in the hallway....IT sees me. IT smiles and winks"), an artwork that speaks pain. Melinda aches to tell her story, and well after readers have deduced the sexual assault, we feel her choking on her untold secret. By springtime, while Melinda studies germination in Biology and Hawthorne's symbolism in English, and seeds are becoming "restless" underground, her nightmare pushes itself inexorably to the surface. When her ex-best-friend starts dating the "Beast," Melinda can no longer remain silent. A physical confrontation with her attacker is dramatically charged and not entirely in keeping with the tone of the rest of the novel, but is satisfying nonetheless, as Melinda wields a shard of broken glass and finds her voice at last to scream, "No!" Melinda's distinctive narrative employs imagery that is as unexpected as it is acute: "April is humid....A warm, moldy washcloth of a month." Though her character is her own and not entirely mute like the protagonist of John Marsden's So Much to Tell You, readers familiar with both books will be impelled to compare the two girls made silent by a tragic incident. The final words of Marsden's books are echoed in those of Speak, as Melinda prepares to share her experience with a father-figure art teacher: "Me: 'Let me tell you about it.'" An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last." - Horn Book (from www.barnesandnoble.com) 

Awards:

ALA Best Book for Young Adults

IRA Young Adult Choice

Michael L. Printz Honor Book (American Library Association)

Connections:

• Read Speak's Platinum Edition Bonus Material with author interview and commentary
• Write to Laurie Halse Anderson on her website www.writerlady.com with additional questions and comments
• View Speak movie and discuss differences/similarities between formats
• Write about Sophomore year at Melinda's high school from the perspective of a main character
• Discuss book themes and personal connections to story - include artistic response activity where students depict their thoughts/feelings about the book through any artistic medium (when presenting project, make sure to ask Why? they chose that medium)

Hattie Big Sky

Bibliography:

Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN: 0-385-73313-5

Summary:

Previously Hattie Here-and-There, bounced between family members without a home to call her own, Hattie Brooks gathers the courage to begin a life of her own out in the wilds of Montana. She braves harsh weather, disease, social instability and hard times pushing on because of her relentless attitude as well as a little help from her supportive neighbors. Fighting against the clock, Hattie bets it all on the farm, striving to become a homesteader while realizing the true meaning of family and home.

Analysis:

Written from a first-person point of view through letters, newsclippings and narrative, author Kirby Larson introduces readers to her own family's history during the first World War. Mixing factual events like her great-grandmother's honyocker adventure with fictional characters, Larson provides readers with an intriguing look into the homesteading days and the culture during a war-time era. 

Hattie's innocence, determination and sweet demeanor create a likeable  character who incites readers to cheer for her. Reader's enjoy the easy comedy Larson writes into the story, laughing with Rooster Jim's description of Hattie's circular plowing as well as Hattie's attempts at cooking. Larson's language creates an extremely readable text that evokes reader's emotions; they laugh, cry, feel triumph, anger, pain, love and happiness right along with Hattie.


Reviews:

"What dreams would lead a 16-year-old to leave her safe home in Arlington, Iowa, and take a chance on a homestead claim in Montana? Hattie Brooks, an orphan, is tired of being shuttled between relatives, tired of being Hattie Here-and-There and the feeling of being the “one odd sock behind.” So when Uncle Chester leaves her his Montana homestead claim, she jumps at the chance for independence. It’s 1918, so this is homesteading in the days of Model Ts rather than covered wagons, a time of world war, Spanish influenza and anti-German sentiment turning nasty in small-town America. Hattie’s first-person narrative is a deft mix of her own accounts of managing her claim, letters to and from her friend Charlie, who is off at war, newspaper columns she writes and even a couple of recipes. Based on a bit of Larson’s family history, this is not so much a happily-ever-after story as a next-year-will-be-better tale, with Hattie’s new-found definition of home. This fine offering may well inspire readers to find out more about their own family histories." - Kirkus Reviews, 2006

"Larson relates a heartwarming yet poignant story about homesteading in early-20th-century Montana. Until the age of 16, orphan Hattie Brooks lived with whichever relative needed extra household help. Then she receives a letter telling her of an inheritance from her Uncle Chester, whom she had never met. Hattie is to receive his land claim, the house and its contents, one horse, and one cow. When she arrives from Iowa, she learns that she has 10 months to cultivate 40 acres and set 480 rods of fence, or lose the claim. While the story relates the hardships of frontier life and how Hattie "proved up" to the challenge, it also tells of World War I bigotry and discrimination toward German Americans. Hattie's sense of humor, determination, and optimism come through in her letters to her friend Charlie, who is serving in the military in France, and through letters to her Uncle Holt, which are published in his hometown newspaper. Larson's vivid descriptions of the harshness of the work and the extreme climates, and the strength that comes from true friendship, create a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered. Hattie's courage and fortitude are a tribute to them." - School Library Journal (from www.kirbylarson.com)

 "In this engaging historical novel set in 1918, 16-year-old orphan Hattie Brooks leaves Iowa and travels to a Montana homestead inherited from her uncle. In the beautiful but harsh setting, she has less than a year to fence and cultivate the land in order to keep it. Neighbors who welcome Hattie help heal the hurt she has suffered from years of feeling unwanted. Chapters open with short articles that Hattie writes for an Iowa newspaper or her lively letters to a friend and possible beau who is in the military in France. The authentic first-person narrative, full of hope and anxiety, effectively portrays Hattie's struggles as a young woman with limited options, a homesteader facing terrible odds, and a loyal citizen confused about the war and the local anti-German bias that endangers her new friends. Larson, whose great-grandmother homesteaded alone in Montana, read dozens of homesteaders' journals and based scenes in the book on real events. Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." - Booklist (from www.kirbylarson.com)

Awards:


2007 Newbery Honor Book
2006 Montana Book Award


Connections:

• Explore Hattie Big Sky website, listening to podcasts and reading blogs from author Kirby Larson
• Research honyockers and the homesteading movement of the early 1900s
• Group discussion of social attitudes during wartime, comparing past with the present (i.e. changing sauerkraut to "liberty cabbage" vs. french fries to "freedom fries"

Lily's Crossing

Bibliography:

Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1997. Lily's Crossing. New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN: 0-385-32142-2

Summary:

Lily Mollahan, a young girl gifted with a silver tongue looks forward to an exciting summer at her family's beach house in Rockaway on the Atlantic Ocean. The summer quickly turns dismal as World War II destroys Lily's plans, forcing her best friend to move away and her father to be shipped off overseas to help rebuild a war-torn country. Always fearing for her father's safety, Lily is distracted when Albert, a Hungarian refugee comes to visit "family". Their friendship blooms as they learn each other's secrets and as they learn more about themselves.

Analysis:

Lily is introduced as a "last-row, last-seat kid in school with terrible marks in everything" who "told lies every other minute" (pg. 18). The reader automatically finds Lily to be a real character, with a genuine imagination as well as genuine concerns and fears. Her family situation is relatable, being raised by a single parent with help from grandparents, trying to find her own voice.

Author, Patricia Reilly Giff's writing style is easy to read and could easily be read aloud, leading listeners through Lily's adventures, as she learns how to deal with loss and her eyes are opened to other people's thoughts, reactions and feelings. The coming-of-age theme is timeless but finds a comfortable spot with Lily during her 1944 summer in Rockaway. Readers are drawn into Lily's lively, sometimes embarassing struggle with maturity through Patricia Reilly Giff's memories of her own summers at Rockaway Beach watching steam ships head out of port destined for Europe, for war.

Reviews:


"Details . . . are woven with great effect into a realistic story of ordinary people who must cope with events beyond their comprehension." --Starred, The Horn Book Magazine (from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/patriciareillygiff/books.htm)

"Set during World War II, this tenderly written story tells of the war's impact on two children, one an American and one a Hungarian refugee. Giff's well-drawn, believable characters and vivid prose style make this an excellent choice." --School Library Journal (from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/patriciareillygiff/books.htm)

Awards:

Newbery Honor Winner

ALA Notable Book

"Boston Globe-Horn Book" Honor Book

Connections:

• Research Rockaway Beach and the steam ships that took soldiers overseas; map/chart the journey
• Start a journal like Lily, describing your thoughts, feelings and events that happen in your life
• Group discussion about saying goodbye: how it feels, personal experiences and connections with the text

The Green Glass Sea

Bibliography:

Klages, Ellen. 2006. The Green Glass Sea. New York: Viking.
ISBN: 978-0-670-06134-1

Summary:

Dewey Kerrigan, a resilient and mechanically-minded eleven year old has lost much of her family, her mother left when she was very young and just recently her grandmother had a stroke so she is shipped off to reconnect with her father in a place that doesn't exist to outsiders. Struggling with always feeling like an outsider herself, Dewey enjoys spending time with and learning from her father until a tragic accident takes him away from her, leaving her feeling abandoned and struggling to fit into a family she was not made for. Dewey learns about life, love, family and "gadgets" amidst an internal and external world of turmoil.

Analysis:

Ellen Klages brings to life an alternate aspect of the mid-1940s; a young girl's perspective surrounding the development of "the gadget" that would bring the war to an end. Chronologically authentic, Klages mixes factual people and circumstances with fictitious characters to create an interesting account of life during a time of crisis on "the Hill" a secluded and secret government facility containing some of the most brilliant minds of the times. While many readers may struggle with understanding the full magnitude of the "gadget", they will connect with Dewey as she strives to deal with normal adolescent growing pains while being completely secluded in a limited population environment. Klages' vivid style of writing paints a clear picture of Dewey, who is "small for her age, thin and wiry, with dark unruly hair and big front teeth" (pg. 1). This type of imagery continues throughout the story, adding to it's appeal and leaving the readers questioning until the end what exactly is the green glass sea? The coke bottles that consistently make an appearance in the lives of the residents of the Hill? During a time of struggle, both inward and out, Klages provides readers with a message of love, hope and friendship that leaves readers wanting more.

Reviews:

"Klages makes an impressive debut with an ambitious, meticulously researched novel set during WWII. Writing from the points of view of two displaced children, she successfully recreates life at Los Alamos Camp, where scientists and mathematicians converge with their families to construct and test the first nuclear bomb. Eleven-year-old Dewey, the daughter of a math professor, is shunned by the other girls at the camp due to her passionate interest in mechanics and her fascination with the dump, which holds all sorts of mechanisms and tools she can use for her projects. Her classmate Suze is also often snubbed and has been nicknamed "Truck" by her classmates ("'cause she's kind of big and likes to push people around," explains one boy). The two outcasts reluctantly come together when Dewey's father is called away to Washington, D.C., and Dewey temporarily moves in with Suze's family. Although the girls do not get along at first (Suze draws a chalk line in her room to separate their personal spaces), they gradually learn to rely on each other for comfort, support and companionship. Details about the era-popular music, pastimes and products-add authenticity to the story as do brief appearances of some historic figures including Robert Oppenheimer....the author provides much insight into the controversies surrounding the making of the bomb and brings to life the tensions of war experienced by adults and children alike." - Publisher's Weekly, starred review (from http://ellenklages.com)

"Dewey, ten, embarks alone on a mysterious train trip from her grandmother's home in St. Louis to New Mexico, where she will rejoin her often-absent mathematician father. It's 1943, and Dewey's dad is working at Los Alamos -- "the Hill" -- with hundreds of other scientists and their families. Klages evokes both the big-sky landscape of the Southwest and a community where "everything is secret" with inviting ease and the right details, focusing particularly on the society of the children who live there. Dewey seems comfortable with her own oddness (she's small for her age, slightly lame, and loves inventing mechanical gizmos) and serves as something of an example to another girl, Suze, who has been trying desperately to fit in. Their burgeoning friendship sees them through bouts of taunting, their parents' ceaseless attention to "the gadget," personal tragedy, and of course the test detonation early on July 16, 1945, which the two girls watch from a mesa two hundred miles away: "Dewey could see the colors and patterns of blankets and shirts that had been indistinct grays a second before, as if it were instantly morning, as if the sun had risen in the south, just this once." Cameo appearances are made by such famous names as Richard Feynman (he helps Dewey build a radio) and Robert Oppenheimer, but the story, an intense but accessible page-turner, firmly belongs to the girls and their families; history and story are drawn together with confidence." - The Horn Book, starred review (from http://ellenklages.com)

"The characters are exceptionally well drawn, and the compelling, unusual setting makes a great tie-in for history classes." - Booklist (from http://ellenklages.com)

Awards: 

2007 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
2007 Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature
2007 New Mexico State Book Award (YA)

Connections: 

• Utilizing information from the author's note, map a time line of Los Alamos' development of the Atomic Bomb
• Research how the Atomic Bomb was used and write a response from one of the character's perspectives
• Science extension-research exactly how glass was created from sand
• Group discussion about the effects of war from Dewey's era compared to today's generation; How have things changed? How are they the same?
• Read sequel by Ellen Klages, White Sands, Red Menace (ISBN: 978-067-006235-5)

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

Bibliography:

Deem, James M. 2008. Bodies for the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
ISBN: 978-0-618-80045-2

Summary:

James Deem presents his tribute to people who have been recovered from melting glaciers as well as the glaciers themselves in Bodies from the Ice. His discussion begins with the discovery of the oldest human found preserved by ice, named Otzi. Deem continues his exploration by discussing the conditions glaciers create that both mummify, destroy and uncover past human causalities. Including multiple glacial sites and discoveries, the reader is taken on a journey through time and geography to discover the majesty and destructive nature of glaciers, but also their importance to our ecosystem.

Analysis:

Bodies from the Ice presents information about glaciers in photo essay format, categorized geographically. Author James Deem begins the quest with the discovery of Otzi the Iceman who was accidentally found by recreational mountaineers in the Otztal Alps. Readers hear detailed accounts of discovery, excavation, and archeological findings from multiple glacial sites around the world, discovering interesting facts about the past, present and future of glaciers. Deem pairs multiple high-interest photographs with informative captions, explaining and expanding upon the text. Photographs, captions, and small text additions are placed appropriately beside the text body, adding to reader interest instead of cluttering the pages and detracting from the reading experience. Multiple informational resources reside at the end of the book, including "Glaciers to Visit", "Suggested Websites" and "Illustration Credits" as well as a bibliography that verifies the accuracy of Deem's statements. He also incorporates an alphabetical index that includes text and photograph references to aid the reader with specific searches. Deem's style of writing is both informative and interesting, promoting active reading: "During Earth's many ice ages, glaciers stretched well beyond the polar regions into areas that are now more temperate or tropical. Even deserts such as the Sahara were covered by ice at various times." Readers are touched by James Deem's memorial text, learning about the past from the icy corpses, hearing about the present conservation efforts for glaciers, and speculating on the future impact of glacial melting, leaving readers with a thirst to know more.


Reviews:


"Clearly identified lithographs, paintings and archival photos help readers see how much has changed in these high altitudes, while maps make clear the locations of particular discoveries. Photos of skulls, mummified bodies and artifacts will fascinate readers. An intriguing read, complementing the author’s highly commended Bodies from the Bog (1998) and Bodies from the Ash (2005), with a bonus environmental message...." - Kirkus Reviews, Oct. 15, 2008 (from www.jamesmdeem.com)

"With its extensive bibliography, suggested Web sites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource. Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences." - School Library Journal, Dec. 2008 (from www.jamesmdeem.com) 

"Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about." - Booklist, Dec. 1, 2008 (from www.jamesmdeem.com)
 

2009 Robert F. Sibert Informational Award Honor Book - awarded by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association

2011 Prairie Pasque Award Winner

Connections:

• Other text by James Deem:
• Bodies from the Bog. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998
• Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005
• Glacier Research - www.jamesmdeem.com/page.glacier.htm
• Make a creative representation of a glacier (model, mural or collage) including type of glacier, parts of glacier and possibly artifacts in glacier
• Create a "Did you know?" bulletin board or poster with information/facts about glaciers (including information about past, present and future)
• Create conservation handout for school families about how they can help conservation efforts against glacial melting

Seymour Simon's Book of Trains

Bibliography:

Simon, Seymour. 2002. Seymour Simon's Book of Trains. Singapore, Harper Collins Publishers.
ISBN: 0-06-028475-7

Summary:

Seymour Simon takes readers on a trip to explore many different kinds of trains and their uses. Starting with a brief history of trains, readers learn about the different types of trains and train cars, their purposes and how they impact people's lives. Through the use of clear, up-close photographs, readers see the importance of trains and how they effect all people.

Analysis:

Seymour Simon's Book of Trains presents accurate information about the types and functions of trains in photo essay format. The vivid photographs draw reader's interest and support the informational text. Simon begins with an explanation of the birth of trains and continues locomotive exploration by visiting many different types of trains as well as the specific types of train cars and their usage. Each page introduces readers to a new topic and is accompanied by a descriptive photograph that easily stems conversation and further inquiry. Simon's readable text makes difficult details more concrete and meaningful for readers, like when he describes boxcars as looking "like giant shoe boxes on wheels." This informative text can be read aloud or it can be used as a reference source for young children interested in learning more about locomotive transportation. Seymour Simon is a respected name in the non-fiction text field and his presentation of trains is no disappointment. Having been quoted as saying, "Photographs I use in my books have to be accurate, informative, and highly dramatic.", he once again achieves success with the brilliant marriage of photography and informative train text (Vardell, 2008, pg. 250).

Reviews:

"Young trainiacs rejoice! The inimitable author of Seymour Simon's Book of Trucks (2000) offers a companion volume featuring the same sort of huge, bright, sharply focused color photos paired to succinct descriptive and historical commentary. Sandwiched between an attention-grabbing gallery of locomotive headshots and elevated closing views of a pair of crowded rail yards lit by a low sun, the author introduces rolling stock, past and present-from quaint cog railways to state-of-the-art bullet trains, plus an array of freight and tank cars. Simon continues to irritate lazy readers by refusing to caption his pictures; instead, he alludes to them in the accompanying text, adding anecdotes, detail, and background information in typically calm, orderly prose. Detail-lovers might wish to know just which trains they are seeing, and a bibliography or list of Web sites at the end would not have been amiss-but big machinery has never looked better." - Kirkus Reviews (from www.seymoursimon.com)

"Trains and individual freight cars are displayed in glorious full color in this oversized book. Simon offers information on different types of these machines from the earliest steam locomotives to France's TGV, which can reach speeds of 300 miles per hour. The section on freight trains delves into each car from boxcars to the now-obsolete caboose. The sharp pictures cover half of each spread. One small complaint is that while the TGV and Japan's bullet trains are mentioned, they are not pictured. But never mind. Even preschoolers will be drawn in by the large, abundant photographs. Another winner from a popular author." - School Library Journal, Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI (from www.seymoursimon.com)

Connections:

•  Research author Seymour Simon:
• www.seymoursimon.com
• http://support.weta.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=40401.0&dlv_id=44184 (interview with author)
• Create an audiobook or informative poster based on train information
• Find an outside expert or authority who works for the train industry to come speak to students about the train industry

Quotation Source:

Vardell, Sylvia M. 2008. Children's Literature In Action: A Librarian's Guide. Westport, CT: Library's Unlimited.

What To Do About Alice?

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. Ill. Edwin Fotheringham. What To Do About Alice? New York: Scholastic Press.
ISBN: 978-0-439-92231-9

Summary:

Alice Lee Roosevelt, daughter of former president of the United States of America, Theodore Roosevelt created scandal, acted as a diplomat, lived life to the fullest and drove her father crazy.  Author Barbara Kerley presents Alice as a precocious child that loves life who grows up to be a vivacious woman who never stops worrying her father.  Kerley's text depicts the life of Alice Roosevelt in an infromative, engaging way of showing how she won the hearts of men, women and children alike with her lively attitude towards life and how she became an American icon and political champion.

Analysis:

Barbara Kerley presents the vibrant life of Alice Roosevelt in a vibrant picture book biography.  Kerley's tale follows Alice from childhood until adulthood, highlighting her lively personality as she "ate up the world", her love of adventure, "she joined an all-boys club" and her humanitatian works, her "presences was accepted as a great compliment" all over the world.  This narrative tale lends itself to oral reading and includes quotes from primary sources as well as an "Author's Note" section that includes additional information about Alice's life as well as a quote reference section.  Paired with the text are the engaging illustrations that remind readers of the early 1900's cartoonists with bold color schemes and simple outlines.  The illustrations brilliantly capture the text language by depicting Alice's habit of "eating up the world" with the world as a giant cookie with bites taken out of it.  Barbara Kerley's text and Edwin Fotheringham's illustrations create an engaging tale of Alice Roosevelt's life that intrigues readers with it's gayety and honesty.


Reviews:


Robert F. Sibert Informational Award-Honor Book

"Kerley’s text plays straight man to the punch line of Edwin Fotheringham’s mischievous artwork. The first spread slyly sums up the relationship between Alice and her father, showing Roosevelt from the waist down, tapping his foot with exasperation, Alice already out of reach, only one foot in the frame." - New York Times Sunday Book Review, Sherie Posesorski, January 9, 2009

"Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was....  Kerley's text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line....  The large format gives Fotheringham, in his debut, plenty of room for spectacular art." - Booklist, starred review (from www.barbarakerley.com)

"Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp  her style, dives fully clothed into a ship's swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father's trusted advisers.... Fascinating." - School Library Review, starred review (from www.barbarakerley.com)

"It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt." - Publishers Weekly, starred review (from www.barbarakerley.com)

"What to do about Alice?  Enjoy!" - Horn Book, starred review (from www.barbarakerley.com)

"Superb." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review (from www.barbarakerley.com)

 Connections:

• Teacher's Guide for What To Do About Alice? from author Barbara Kerley's website: http://www.barbarakerley.com/TRAlice.html
• Alice's Travels - Alice traveled all over the world; map out Alice's travels and extend Alice's story by writing tales from each place Alice visited (in Alice's voice, the voice of a reporter, or even from her father's voice)
• Study other children of past presidents and create journals in their voices describing life at the White House

My Man Blue

Bibliography:

Grimes, Nikki. 1999. Ill. Jerome Lagarrigue. My Man Blue. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

ISBN: 0-8037-2326-1

Summary:

Damon finds himself in a new neighborhood, protective of his mom because he's the man of the house when Blue strolls into his life.  Respecting Damon's space, and coping with his own loss, Blue befriends Damon, providing him with a role model and a confidante.  Damon and Blue play basketball together, cruise the street, throw some jabs and discuss life's ups and downs, cultivating a friendship that will last a lifetime.

Analysis:

Nikki Grimes's book My Man Blue tells a tale of unexpected friendship and love through poetic verses.  Readers are introduced to Blue as a man with leathery skin "like indigo ink" who is essentially a "gentle-giant" (pg. 1).  Grimes's descriptive language, as just illustrated creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind.  Paired beautifully with the imagery, Grimes utilizes a smooth rhythm of text incorporating some alternating rhyme patterns as well as some free verse selections.  Possibly the most outstanding aspect of Damon and Blue's tale is the emotions that Grimes's words draw out.  Readers feel Damon's awe, pride and love for Blue as he describes Blue's hands as "strong stories" that he tells him "sometimes when I let him hold mine" (pg. 17).  In addition, Damon's description of his knees knocking from fear and Blue's consequent counseling give both Damon and the reader hope for a brighter future.

Supplementing Grimes's beautiful language are the bold colors and textural brush strokes of Jerome Lagarrigue.  Lagarrigue's combination of dark and light colors add depth and character to the pictures, bringing the poems to life.  My Man Blue combines vivid words with genuine pictures that evoke feelings of love, loss, security and friendship from readers creating a lasting impression long after the reader closes the book.

Reviews: 

"It is a story of a boy who is old for his age, but not callous—and perhaps saved from callousness by Blue. Lagarrigue’s illustrations are brooding gardens of color that hold the forces of disorder and menace at bay, while Damon’s cool earnestness—as well as his courage and independence—brighten each page."- Kirkus' Revies, 1999

Awards:

100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Book Links Lasting Connection Book
Bank Street College Children's Book of the Year
Society of School Librarians International Honor Book

Connections:

• Author study - examine Nikki Grimes books and website www.nikkigrimes.com 
• Create a poem or group of poems about someone close to you
• 10 years later - write a letter either as Blue or Damon describing who you are today and what your friendship meant to you

The Tree That Time Built

Bibliography:

Hoberman, Mary Ann & Linda Winston. 2009. The Tree That Time Built: a celebration of nature, science, and imagination. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 978--1-4022-2517-8

Summary:

The Tree That Time Built is an anthology of poems dedicated to all things about the world around us.  It includes over 100 poems from over 75 international poets, and has an accompanying audio CD that features readings of 44 poems, including many poets reading their own work.  The authors describe The Tree That Time Built as the "family tree of all life on earth" and this collection takes the reader on a journey through nature, time and space (pg. xi).

Analysis:

This rich anthology presents itself in a very appealing, understandable manner.  The collection includes a variety of types of poems on various subjects within the global nature/science theme.  The poems include shape poems, rhyming poems, haiku poetry and many other types.  At the bottom of almost every page there is a description about the poetry, something that could very easily be used as a conversation-starter.  The poems are divided into thematic categories with a specific instruction into each category revealing information about the section and the umbrella topic.  For example, the section titled "Think Like a Tree" begins with a description of how essential plant life is to our global ecosystem, how "plants and animals are perfect breathing partners" (pg. 49).  These introductions aide the reader in understanding why the poems were selected and how they all fit together.  The anthology also includes a reference section where the reader can easily find information about the authors, a glossary of terms and an index of authors and poem titles.

The audio CD that accompanies the book is an exceptional addition to the anthology.  It provides the reader with an interesting alternative to the sometimes seemingly daunting task of reading poetry.  Even the most reluctant readers can engage a selection of poetry by hearing it read, many times by the authors themselves.  This format takes the burden of phrasing and rhythm off the reader and gives them a perspective that can later be translated into poetry readings.  The audio CD also can be used as a tool to whet the appetite of many readers, providing a multi-media experience that highlights the rich collection of works within the anthology's pages.

Reviews:

"The poets here yield a lively mix of forms, voices and moods, with Pulitzer Prize winners Robert Frost and Mary Oliver sharing space with children's poets Douglas Florian, Constance Levy and the incomparable Valerie Worth…This anthology is perfect for dipping or diving into, for reading aloud and for celebrating the quirks and glories of everything from William Blake's "World in a grain of sand" to Wislawa Szymborska's lighthearted whale." - Mary Quattlebaum, Washington Post (found on Barnes & Noble website)

"When I read a poetry book that dazzles me, I have to share it with you right away. The Tree That Time Built is an excellent example of poetry meeting science and logic meeting language. This 200-page book may become your reading and language arts teachers' favorite tool for teaching figurative language, poetry, scientific observation, and thinking skills." - School Library Journal Mobile (found on maryannhoberman.com)

"Collaborators Hoberman and Winston show how the wondering of science is similar to the wonderment of poetry. . . This beautifully rendered book includes a CD with 44 poems, some read by the poets themselves. . . 'children of all ages' will delight in listening to the poems being recited." - NPR's Susan Stamberg (found on maryannhoberman.com)

Connections:

•  Categorize the different types of poetry, use anthologies as resources during a poetry unit:
• This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from Around the World - Naomi Shihab Nye
• The 20th Century Children's Poetry Treasury - Jack Prelutsky
• Utilize poetry during a science unit as a source of information or interpretation
• Create a classroom anthology of poetry and accompanying audio CD for the classroom library

What My Mother Doesn't Know

Bibliography:

Sones, Sonya. 2001. What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York: Simon & Schuster.
ISBN: 0-689-84114-0

Summary:

Sophie is almost fifteen and discovering what love really means.  She struggles with family issues involving a basically absent mother and father who don't provide the support she needs.  Dealing with the sometimes overwhelming and definitely confusing complexities of high school pressure, Sophie relies on her two best friends for guidance and support, while juggling her hormones and love life.  After her first couple, or few (but who's counting) first loves, it takes an unexpected masked-man to teach her the true meaning of love.

Analysis:

Sonya Sones's novel in verse reveals the life of a rather normal teenage girl dealing with hormones, peer pressure, family issues and boy trouble, all told in a very descriptive realistic tone.  Sophie, the heroine, is brought to life in Sones's free verse texts, told chronologically in journal-like form.  Readers come to love the sweet achingly-human character of Sophie who sees herself as "the Mount Everest of teenage girls" but also "full of possibilities" (pgs. 37, 130).  Sones's vivid language builds Sophie's voice that readers can hear as they observe and participate in her adventures.  Readers hear Sophie as she debates and struggles with her feelings for her Christmas vacation friend, "I mean I do like him, but I don't like him" (pg. 191).  Even the verse titles capture Sophie's essence, such as "Oh, Man" and "How Could I Have Forgotten" (pgs. 191, 145).  Sophie's struggles and triumphs create lasting emotions with the reader who feels the pain, joy and lustful feelings Sones's words emote.  Sophie's verses in What My Mother Doesn't Know tell her tale of teenage angst, love, loss and more love, giving readers a very relate-able precious glimpse into their own past, present or future.

Reviews:

Junior Library Guild selection

"Romantic and sexy, with a happy ending that leaves Sophie together with Mr. Right, Sones (Stop Pretending: What Happened when My Big Sister Went Crazy, 1999) has crafted a verse experience that will leave teenage readers sighing with recognition and satisfaction." - Kirkus Reviews 9/15/01

American Library Association - one of the Top 100 Most Banned Books of the Decade (2000-2010), Best Book for Young Adults (2002)

	“...Sones (Stop Pretending) poignantly captures the tingle and heartache of being young and boy-crazy ... With its separate free verse poems woven into a fluid and coherent narrative with a satisfying ending, Sophie’s honest and earthy story feels destined to captivate a young female audience, avid and reluctant readers alike.”- Publishers Weekly (found on www.sonyasones.com)

“... Sones is a bright, perceptive writer who digs deeply into her protagonist’s soul ... Sones’s poems are glimpses through a peephole many teens may be peering through for the first time, unaware that others are seeing virtually the same new, scary, unfamiliar things ... Sones’s book makes these often-difficult years a little more livable by making them real, normal, and OK.” - School Library Journal (found on www.sonyasones.com)
 
Connections:

• Personal journaling in free verse
• Study other novels in verse:
• Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy - Sonya Sones
• By the River - Stephen Herrick
• Out of the Dust - Karen Hesse
• Literacy extension - write about what happened to Sophie after slinking into the cafeteria