Gonyea, Mark. A Book About Design: Complicated Doesn’t Make It Better. Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8050-7575-5
Description
This cheerful introduction to graphic design shows kids that our perception of size, shape and color has meaning. The book is divided into short chapters. Chapter 1, All or Nothing, shows that you can’t change one piece of an image without affecting all the others. Chapter 2, The Box, points out that lines in a box have meaning such as speed, direction, strength, and structure. Chapter 3, 1:3:9, introduces this ratio that is used to make some design elements appear more important and other less prominent. Other chapters focus on contrast, letters as shapes, color, balance, and space. The final chapter shows how more is not always better, and how simple can be best in graphic design.
Critical Evaluation
This book reads like a picture book for very young children, and it will be appreciated by early readers. But it also has appeal for older children and tweens. The graphic design principles treated in this book are described clearly with minimal language. The graphic illustrations are simple, spare, and very thoughtfully linked to the explanations given.
Annotations
Design means making choices about many visual attributes. It is important to remember that complicated doesn’t make it better. Simple visual expression of ideas is powerful.
Author
Mark Gonyea loved cartoons, video games, and monster movies as a child. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Art.
Genre
Non-fiction – visual arts
Curriculum Ties
Visual arts – graphic design
Booktalk Ideas
Not applicable.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 to 8 (age 8 to 14).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
The field of graphic design appeals to young readers today. They are significant consumers of graphic media via television, gaming, and online activities.
03 December 2009
A Book About Design
Alex Rider: The Gadgets
Description
This book is written as a top secret communication between Derek Smithers, a covert weapons specialist, and Alan Blunt, CE MI6 Special Operations officer. Mr. Smithers is the scientist responsible for creating the special equipment used by the 14-year-old spy named Alex Rider. Items a teen-age boy would typically carry, such as a CD player, yo-yo, or key ring, are disguises for covert weapons that Alex uses in his first five missions. Each of the items is presented with a schematic, a list of features and functions, and a description of the mission in which Alex used it. For example, the Stun-dart book conceals a canister of compressed carbon dioxide which propels a stun dart when the author’s name is pressed. The Cannondale Bad Boy Bike [1] has a built in smokescreen, oil dispenser, and two heat-seeking missiles designed to deter pursuers. The seat is an emergency ejection system. In total 21 weapons are detailed. Several lab reports from Smithers as well as a glossary of scientific and technical terms make the book even more intriguing.
Critical Evaluation
This book promises to reveal the “blueprints and complete technical data” for the spy gadgets Alex Rider uses in his first five adventures. The book lives up to this promise quite well. The blueprints are fun to look at. The description of each weapon is thorough. The commentary from Derek Smithers is funny and subtly sarcastic. This makes the book and the weapons interesting for Alex Rider fans.
Annotations
Derek Smithers, covert weapons specialist for MI6, details the weapons used by teen spy Alex Rider in his first five missions.
Author
Anthony Horowitz writes about murder, revenge, and the people who set things right. The Alex Rider series of books is very popular with young readers. Horowitz also writes for television. His work includes the Foyle’s War television series.
Genre
Fiction -- adventure
Curriculum Ties
Language Arts
Booktalk Ideas
This book would be a great way to introduce readers to the Alex Rider series through the weapons he uses.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 to 8 (age 9 to 14).
Challenge Issues and Defense
Some of the imagined weapons are deadly. They are imaginary, though.
Why is it here?
My son and his fifth grade friends read Alex Rider books. They think the weapons are very cool.
Amelia's Notebook
Plot
Nine-year-old Amelia writes in the notebook her mom gave her when her family moves. She is not happy about the move. Her big sister, Cleo, is happy about the move since the girls will no longer share a bedroom. Amelia misses her best friend, Nadia. She writes to Nadia to tell her about her new school. She has positive things to say about the teachers and says the kids are alright. A letter from Nadia arrives telling Amelia about the Young Author’s Faire. Emilia tries to write a story, too, but she thinks her work is not good enough, and she is distracted as she thinks about other things. She talks to Nadia on the phone regularly. They enjoy talking about Nadia’s birthday party. Amelia sent Nadia a Do-It-Yourself Experiment kit as a birthday present. Amelia meets a new friend. Her name is Leah. She likes to create art just like Amelia. Amelia recognizes that she is a good artist, too. She draws a picture of herself with Leah and Nadia. Then she is ready to write her story for the Young Author’s Faire. She writes a story about a girl who pretends the clouds are her pets, and they give her a birthday party. She is very happy. Amelia invites Leah to go to Space World with her on her birthday. She makes plans to visit Nadia over the summer.
Critical Evaluation
The journal style of this book captures the creativity and spirit of a nine-year-old girl. The doodles and mementos collected in the book show the reader what it is like to experience life as a child. Forget-me-not stamps, a drawing of a friendship necklace, and images of postcards sum up Amelia’s feelings for her friend. Gross details about Cleo, like which finger she uses to pick her nose, give insight into Amelia’s life with her sister. As Amelia fills her notebook with drawings and stories, she gives herself comfort. The reader may feel a similar sense of peace as they experience the changes in Amelia’s inner and outer worlds through the pages of this book.
Annotations
Amelia is unhappy that her family is moving and that her mother expects her to write about it in a notebook. The notebook becomes, however, the creative outlet for writing and drawing that Amelia needs at this transitional time in her life.
Author
Marissa Moss has been drawing, writing, and keeping a journal/notebook since she was a kid. She also writes a series of historical stories for children.
Genre
Fiction – journal writing
Curriculum Ties
Language arts
Health – emotional health during transitional experiences
Booktalk Ideas
Briefly discuss how keeping a journal can be a fun way to express feelings. Then display Amelia’s Notebook and read the first few pages.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 to 5 (age 8 to 11).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
I was intrigued by the cover which looks like a typical black and white composition notebook.
Assassin: The Lady Grace Mysteries, Book One
Finney, Patricia. Assassin: The Lady Grace Mysteries, Book One. Delacorte Press, 2004. ISBN 0-385-73151-5
Plot
The story is written in the form of a “daybooke,” or diary, of Lady Grace Cavendish, maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I. Grace is 13 years old. She enjoys the favor of the queen and gets away with things that other young ladies would not dare. At the beginning of the story, Grace attends the feast of St. Valentine. There she is courted by three suitors the queen has approved for her. Each man presents her with a gift, but she does not know which gift came from which suitor. She must decide which gift comes from the man she would like to marry. She chooses Sir Gerald, who she believes will be kind to her. Before the night is over, Sir Gerald is murdered. He is found in his chamber with the knife he presented to Grace sticking out of his back. Grace, along with her two friends, begins an investigation. Ellie, a laundry maid, and Masou, an acrobat, steal out in the night to view Sir Gerald’s corpse. Grace notices that his mouth is stained yellow. He was sick in his chamber earlier in the night. Grace is convinced Sir Gerald was poisoned in the same manner that her own mother was murdered. Since there is no blood coming from the knife wound in his back, Grace realizes that he was stabbed after he was already dead. The trio of young detectives decides nobody other than the Queen is above suspicion.
Critical Evaluation
The heart of this story is the friendship between Grace, Ellie, and Masou. The three friends work together to solve the mystery of Sir Gerald’s murder. Because of their different stations within the court, they are each able to contribute to the investigation in particular ways. They each have access to different people and places within the Queen’s court. The story also gives the reader an interesting introduction to the manners and conventions of Elizabethan England. The book includes a helpful glossary of terms used in Elizabethan England and endnotes about poisons, apparel, and the history of the time.
Annotations
Lady Grace Cavendish, favored maid of honor to Queen Elizabeth I, has chosen her betrothed from three suitors. But when Sir Gerald is murdered the same night, Grace and her friends, Ellie and Masou, set out to find the killer.
Author
Patricia Finney is the author of other titles in the Lady Grace Mysteries series. She began writing early in life and published her first novel at age 18.
Genre
Fiction - mysteries
Curriculum Ties
Language Arts – mysteries
Social Sciences – English history
Booktalk Ideas
Introduce Lady Grace as a character. Describe her friends, Ellie, and Masou, and the different lives they lead in the court of Queen Elizabeth.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 (age 8) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
Murder is part of the story, but it takes place off stage.
Why is it here?
Lady Grace and her stories appeal to older tweens and young teens.
Charlotte's Web - DVD
Plot
A little girl named Fern decides that she will care for the runt of a litter of newborn pigs. She calls him Wilbur. When he grows too large to be a pet, he goes to live at the Zuckerman’s farm. Charlotte, a spider, lives in the barn on the farm. She and Wilbur become friends. When it becomes clear that Wilbur is being fattened up to be eaten, Charlotte decides to show everyone that Wilbur is too special to become bacon. She spells out “some pig” in her web. Wilbur becomes famous, and so he is entered in a fair. Charlotte goes, too, and while she is at the fair she produces her egg sac.
Critical Evaluation
This classic story has been made into a family and child-friendly film. Dakota Fanning is adorable as Fern. The computer animation used to give the animals the ability to talk and do other “human” things is great. It makes the movie fun to watch. More importantly, it gives kids and their families a reason to think about the importance of all living beings. Every living thing is “terrific” like Wilbur and deserves respect.
Annotations
Wilbur is saved from the smokehouse when a friendly spider named Charlotte tells the world that he is “some pig.”
Author
E. B. White wrote the book on which the movie is based. The book is an enduring classic which was published in 1952. He is also the author of Stuart Little.
Genre
Fiction – life on a farm
Curriculum Ties
Language arts – animals as characters
Booktalk Ideas
None.
Viewing Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 (age 8) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
Charlotte’s Web is one of my favorite stories. I liked the movie almost as much as the book.
Cool Careers for Girls in Sports
Pasternak, Ceel & Thornburg, Linda. Cool Careers for Girls in Sports. Impact Publications, 1999. ISBN 1-57023-107-9
Plot
Beginning with an encouraging message about broadening opportunities, this book of true stories and advice highlights women in sports careers. Professional basketball and golf players, a ski and snowboard instructor, an athletic director, and a sports psychologist are some of the women featured. An article about Robin Roberts' career in sports broadcasting is fun to read. It is especially nice to see her early start in sports broadcasting given her recent success as an anchor on Good Morning America. She attended the President Obama's first State Dinner on November 24, 2009. Go, Robin!
Critical Evaluation
While this book may appear out of date based on its 1999 publication, the advice given still makes sense. Girls who are interested in sports are encouraged to get involved when they are young and stay involved during high school and college. That is the best way for them to find out what they might like to do in a sports career as an adult. Girls are told, "Don't be afraid to ask people for guidance. They are not going to come to you. You have to ask." Career checklists are given for jobs so girls can compare their interests and abilities to the traits that are required for success in a sports career.
Annotations
Career opportunities in sports for girls are broadening as time goes on. Girls need to have a positive mindset and a passion for sports to succeed in these careers.
Author
Ceel Pasternak and Linda Thornburg have co-authored other books in this series. Two of their titles are Cool Careers for Girls in Food and Cool Careers for Girls in Law.
Genre
Non-fiction
Curriculum Ties
Physical education -- careers
Booktalk Ideas
Ask listeners to talk about the women in sports they know of. Ask them if they have considered a career in sports. Share highlights from Tammy Jackson's career as a professional basketball player given in the book.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 to 6 (age 9 - 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
Careers in sports for girls are cool!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Amulet Books, 2007. ISBN 978-0-8109-9313-6
Plot
Greg Heffley is given a journal by his mother. Emphatically proclaiming that it is not a diary, Greg records the events of his year in middle school. He writes and draws about his family, his friends, his school days, and the bullies he tries to avoid. He worries about who he will sit by in class. He is mystified by girls. Greg has always tried to be friends with the girls, but now they only seem to like Bryce Anderson, and he never really liked girls until now. Greg's friend Rowley is immature for middle school. He is still into knock-knock jokes and elementary school stuff, but Greg likes him anyway. Another neighbor boy, Fregley, is just scary in a weird and clueless way. Greg avoids him, but he keeps popping into Greg's life. Greg spends a lot of time trying to play video games while his dad tells him to go do something else. He is cast as a tree in the school play, The Wizard of Oz. Greg shuts down the play when he throws an apple at Dorothy and all the other trees join in. It all sounds like the kind of middle school life many kids dread and love at the same time.
Critical Evaluation
Greg is often clueless about the effect he has on the people around him. He doesn't worry about breaking Dorothy's glasses with an apple. He just keeps going, day after day, and maybe that is what life feels like for middle school kids. It helps that Greg creates silly situations all the time. When Rowley gives Greg a Big Wheel for Christmas, the boys have fun by throwing a football at each other as they take turn riding. Whoever knocks the other boy off the Big Wheel wins. This is the kind of thing many kids would do if they had the time and the Big Wheel.
Annotations
Greg Heffley survives day after day of annoying family members, jerks at school, and goofy friends. He captures the funny side of life in his musings and funny drawings.
Author
Jeff Kinney began the Wimpy Kid stories as a series of comics on FunBrain.
Genre
Fiction – middle school life
Curriculum Ties
Language arts – journal writing
Visual arts – comic book art
Booktalk Ideas
Talk to the audience about keeping a journal or diary.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 - 6 (age 9 - 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
Greg's attitude and outlook on life can be sarcastic and negative at time. The things he does ought to be an example of what NOT to do for young readers.
Why is it here?
My son is in fifth grade. He won't go to school without one of the Wimpy Kid books in his backpack. He has copies of all five titles (some in hardcover and paperback) plus all of the do-it-yourself books.
Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies
Sobol, Donald. Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Two Spies. Delacorte Press, 1994. ISBN 0-553-48297-1
Plot
Encyclopedia Brown, also known as Leroy, lives in Idaville with his parents. His father, the chief of police, often asks Leroy to help him solve police cases. Encyclopedia is so smart that he solves every case he encounters. He also sets up his own detective agency in the garage during the summer. Kids in the neighborhood come to him for help when their things go missing. In this collection he helps retrieve missing fireflies and a stolen wallet.
Critical Evaluation
There are ten mysteries in this book. Each is only about five pages long. The solution to each mystery is printed at the back of the book. This is a nice format for kids. They have a chance to stop and think about the mystery and the clues then solve it themselves before turning to the solution at the back of the book. The short length of each story makes this title great for reluctant readers.
Annotations
Encyclopedia Brown keeps Idaville safe by cracking every case that comes his way. He even helps his father, the chief of police, stop criminals.
Author
Donald J. Sobol began writing Encyclopedia Brown stories in 1963 and has been publishing them regularly ever since.
Genre
Fiction - mystery
Curriculum Ties
Language Arts
Booktalk Ideas
Read an entire mystery aloud then pair up listeners and see who can solve the mystery.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 to 6 (age 8 to 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
Encyclopedia Brown is a classic detective character kids enjoy.
Fantasia 2000 - DVD
Levine, James, conductor. Fantasia 2000. Walt Disney Home Video, 2000. Rated G. 74 minutes. ISBN 0-7888-2117-2
Description
A gorgeous production of Disney animation and film making is built around eight classical music selections. Music is paired with images that may or may not tie to the literal musical themes. Beethoven's Symphony #5 is the accompaniment to a visual contest between light and dark, good and evil. Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue is used in the telling of a story about Depression-era New York. Here the allusions to New York and a "blue" period in history are clear. The piece by Saint-Saens shows what happens when a flamingo plays with a yo-yo. It's hilarious. Also included is The Sorcerer's Apprentice which is as much fun to watch now as it was years ago when it first appeared in the original Fantasia movie. Celebrities like Steve Martin, Bette Midler, and Penn and Teller introduce each segment.
Critical Evaluation
I love this movie. I showed it to a group of fourth grade students. They were so thoroughly engaged that when it was over they were shocked. They wanted to it to go on and on. They really got into the last piece, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. They were cheering and jumping out of their seats as the dramatic ending unfolded.
Annotations
Fantasia is Walt Disney's vision for music and animation. It shows us how music can tell a story, any story.
Composers
Beethoven -- Symphony #5
Respighi -- Pines of Rome
Gershwin -- Rhapsody in Blue
Shostakovich -- Piano Concerto # 2, Allegro, Opus 102
Saint-Saens -- Carnival of the Animals, Finale
Dukas -- The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Elgar -- Pomp and Circumstance
Stravinsky -- Firebird Suite
Genre
Fiction – classical music and animation
Curriculum Ties
Visual arts – animation
Performing arts – music appreciation
Booktalk Ideas
Not applicable.
Viewing Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 (age 8) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
The movie makes magic with animation and introduces kids to fabulously famous classical music.
Freddy the Detective
Brooks, Walter R. & Weise, Kurt (Illustrator). Freddy the Detective. The Overlook Press, 1998. ISBN 0-87951-809-X
Plot
Freddy the pig begins another in his series of adventures, but this time he stays close to home on Mr. Bean's very unusual farm. Freddy keeps a library of books, magazines, and newspapers in a corner of the pig pen which he refers to as his study. All the animals on this farm can talk. They do their best to take care of Everett and Ella, the Bean's adopted children. In this story, Everett's toy trains have disappeared. Mrs. Bean has searched the house and found no trace of them. Jinx the cat is first to notice this mystery. He alerts Alice and Emma, the white ducks, and the three begin searching the farm for Freddy to see what he thinks they should do. They look all around the property but do not find Freddy. After much searching, Alice is frightened when she notices someone hiding in the bushes. Jinx dives into the bushes to see who it could be. Freddy emerges and tells his friends that he has been shadowing them because he has decided to be a detective. He got the idea from a book he found in the barn called The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Jinx and Freddy begin a search for clues of the missing trains, starting with the children's bedroom in the farmhouse. They find green paint on the white windowsills which matches the green paint on the missing trains. Jinx finds a new rat-hole under the bed. The rats, who were banished from the house and the barn in an earlier story, have returned. Freddy and Jinx confront Simon, the leader of the rats. Simon informs the investigators that the rats are tired of living out in the cold. They have returned to the barn. The rats use the train as an armored vehicle for stealing grain from the feed-box in the barn. The thieving rats seem unstoppable, but Freddy and Jinx come up with a plan and take the train from the rats. The next day Freddy helps Mrs. Winnick, the rabbit, find her lost son, Egbert. Freddy is energized by this new mystery. He sets off in the direction Egbert was last seen. He walks down by the river and encounters a young rabbit. He sends the rabbit home without realizing it is Egbert. He continues his walk and comes upon an abandoned cabin which has been taken over the robbers known as Red and Looey. Freddy solves a series of barnyard crimes and mysteries. Each time the perpetrator is sent to jail in the barn. Jail turns out to be such a fun place that the animals begin to break rules just so they can be sent off to jail. The nearby town has been through a recent crime wave, and the sheriff enlists Freddy's help. The local detective, Mr. Boner, is amazed. Freddy has a plan. He dresses up as a detective and tricks Red and Looey into attempting a robbery at the farm. The sheriff arrests the robbers. Freddy has one final mystery to solve. Jinx has been accused of killing a crow. A court is convened in the barn. Freddy gathers evidence to prove that Jinx was framed by the rats. They framed Jinx in retaliation for his help in taking the train from them. Freddy is victorious in the courtroom and successful as a detective. But Freddy decides he is tired of detective work, so he and Jinx set off down the road in search of another adventure.
Critical Evaluation
This story is a fun farmyard adventure. Freddy is a comic hero who seems unaware of how amazing his exploits are. The talking animals are endearing and entertaining. They have misunderstandings, annoy each other, help one another, encounter problems, get into trouble, and find answers just like people do. The Freddy series of novels was written from 1927 to 1958. They have been popular ever since that time. Freddy has appeared in print as a magician, pilot, banker, cowboy, explorer, and many other roles. Some of the language in these books is old-fashioned. For example, the rats sing, "Oh, we are the gay young rats who laugh at the barnyard prigs." Even so, the story is an enchanting look into the simpler time and place that Freddy inhabits.
Annotations
The amusing and amazing Freddy the pig sets off to work as a detective. He solves all the mysteries he encounters, and he even wins a barnyard court case. He never falters in his optimistic view that he can succeed at whatever he tries to do.
Author
Walter R. Brook's work as an author of children's books has inspired adoration for generations. The 26 books in the Freddy series are his most popular. His short story about a talking horse, "Ed Takes the Pledge," was the inspiration for the television series Mr. Ed in the 1950s.
Genre
Fiction – talking animals
Curriculum Ties
Characterization and anthropomorphism – describe the physical appearance, actions, and personalities of the barnyard animals.
Solve a mystery – critical thinking, making predictions, and problem solving.
Booktalk Ideas
Describe Freddy and the things he likes to do such as exploring, reading books and magazines, solving mysteries, and helping his friends. Then ask listeners if they would like to meet someone like Freddy. Then show the book and reveal that he is a pig.
Reading Level/Interest Age
9-12
Challenge Issues and Defense
None
Why is it here?
The Freddy Series was recommended to me as a classic of children's literature. I read Freddy the Detective with my children (ages 8 and 10 years). They loved it.
From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Konigsburg, E. L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Scholastic, 2007. ISBN 978-0-545-04173-7
Plot
Claudia lives in Greenwhich, Connecticut with her parents and her three brothers. They live in comfort, but Claudia is not happy. She feels ignored and unappreciated, even unloved, at home. She decides to run away, but does not want to live on the run. She wants to live someplace beautiful and comfortable. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She needs money, and her second-youngest brother, Jamie, saves his. She convinces him to go with her, and they are off on a train to New York. At the museum, they learn to follow along at the edges of school groups and hid in the bathroom at closing time. They are intrigued by a beautiful statue of an angel which is thought to have been created by Michelangelo. Claudia decides to find out if this is true. The ensuing search uncovers the truth of the statue's origin and teaches Claudia about herself as well.
Critical Evaluation
The strength of this story lies in the strength of the children's devotion to one another. They manage to survive on their own in a place not intended to house children. They are resourceful and quick to find adventure as they learn about the Museum. They squabble about where to sleep and what to spend their money on, but throughout it is clear that Claudia and Jaime are in this together.
Annotations
Claudia decides to run away from home. She takes her brother, Jaime, along so he can pay for things as they begin an extended stay in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Author
E. L. Konigsburg is the author and illustrator of this title. She won a Newbery Medal in 1968 for this book and a Newbery Honor award for Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth in the same year.
Genre
Fiction -- adventure
Curriculum Ties
Language arts – adventure stories
Visual arts – museums and sculpture
Booktalk Ideas
Visit the Met's website to show the group images of the museum's exterior, halls, and galleries.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 to 6 (age 9 to 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
Children run away from home. Newbery medal winner.
Why is it here?
The next time I visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art I will definitely look for Claudia and Jaime.
Glam Girl
Kapp, Diana and Krieger, Liz. Glam Girl. Orange Avenue Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7641-2290-8
Plot
A very glam look at ways girls can have fun together. The book is divided into sections with activities about glam clothes and accessories, hair and make-up, scents and lotions, spa treatments, and projecting a glam image.
Critical Evaluation
The glam activities range from a clothing swap to hair highlights with lemon juice. Some of the activities are questionable for tweens. The "Heaven Scent" activity suggests making perfume from vodka and essential oils. The suggestion to "ask your parents first" seems like a joke. The book dares girls to wear something strapless or backless, wear a cami instead of a bra, and bare some belly button with a short shirt. While these suggestions may be acceptable in older teen territory, younger girls may see this as a message to dress beyond their age.
Annotations
This is a book of suggestions and activities for living a glam girl life.
Author
Diana Kapp and Liz Krieger are also the authors of Dare Girl, a girl's guide to truth-or-dare parties.
Genre
Non-fiction – how to dress like a tart.
Curriculum Ties
Not applicable.
Booktalk Ideas
Not applicable.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 – 6 (age 9 - 12) is the target audience.
Challenge Issues and Defense
Some of the activities are unsafe or suggest that young girls dress and act older than they are. Parents should read this book with their girls and then supervise their activities.
Why is it here?
A librarian suggested it to me as a source for fun activities for young girls.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Audio CD
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Listening Library, 1999. ISBN 0807281956
Plot
Baby Harry's parents are killed by Lord Voldemort, but Harry is mysteriously spared. He not only repelled the attack by the evil wizard, he also drove Voldemort into hiding. Because he is orphaned, he is placed in the care of the Dursleys, his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. They have a doted upon son named Dudley who gets everything he wants and has two bedrooms to hold all his things. Harry sleeps in a cupboard under the stairs. When Harry is old enough to go away to school, letters mysteriously arrive addressed to him and his cupboard. The Dursleys are worried enough about their own appearance as Harry's guardians to move him to Dudley's spare bedroom. Despite Uncle Vernon's best efforts to stop the letters, they keep arriving. Finally Uncle Vernon takes the family away to an isolated island. Even so, on the stroke of midnight on Harry's eleventh birthday, Hagrid arrives to take Harry off to school at Hogwarts. Harry learns of his wizarding heritage and his reputation during a shopping trip with Hagrid in Diagon Alley. Outfitted for school, Harry returns to the Dursley's briefly before his trip to Hogwarts. On the train he meets Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. They will all be sorted into the same house, Gryffindor, and become friends at school. Enemies are also on the horizon. Draco Malfoy, another student, makes clear his disapproval of Harry's fame. Professor Snape also appears to hate Harry. The strange Professor Quirrell teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts and seems ill at ease around Harry. Harry and his friends learn to play quidditch, fight a troll, elude Filch, and find out what the three-headed dog in the forbidden corridor is guarding. All the while, it becomes clearer to Harry that he is destined to do something important in his young life. All is in good fun, and we all know how it ends.
Critical Evaluation
The author has created a simply marvelous and complete reality for Harry and his friends to inhabit. The reader can slip easily into pure delight and wonder as they wend their way into Harry's life and world. The narrator, Jim Dale, pulls out all the acting stops to create all the characters in the book with just his voice.
Annotations
Young Harry Potter learns of his past and his destiny as he goes away to school at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is put to the test when he faces Voldemort for the second time in his young life.
Author
J. K. Rowling has written a series of seven novels about Harry Potter.
Genre
Fiction -- fantasy
Curriculum Ties
Language Arts
Booktalk Ideas
Discuss the beginning of Harry's story and ask listeners to contribute their favorite details without revealing the ending of the book.
Listening Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 (age 8) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
There has been religious controversy over the use of magic portrayed in a positive light.
Why is it here?
Jim Dale is awesome to hear read this book.
Head Hunters – Audio CD
Hancock, Herbie. Head Hunters. Columbia Jazz, 1997. Music number CK 65123.
Description
When this album was released in 1973, Herbie Hancock showed the world that jazz, funk, rock and roll, as well as other musical influences could work together. Hancock wanted to create something new and different. He did this through the four tracks on this album: Chameleon, Watermelon Man, Sly, and Vein Melter. This recording was made with a small group of musicians (Bennie Maupin, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, and Bill Summers). The instruments used were traditional (electric piano, saxophone, bass clarinet, alto flute) and non-traditional (marimbula, congas, shekere, and beer bottle).
Critical Evaluation
This recording is considered one of the original sources of the material from which hip-hop music grew.
Annotations
Herbie Hancock's belief that jazz and other musical influences could create something new becomes reality on this album.
Author
Herbie Hancock grew up playing classical piano. In high school he formed his own jazz ensemble. In 1963, he began playing with Miles Davis.
Genre
Music -- jazz
Curriculum Ties
Music – jazz, musical history, music appreciation
Booktalk Ideas
Not applicable.
Listening Level/Interest Age
Grade 5 and up (age 10 and up).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
When I listen to this album I hear things that remind me of other musical artists and genres. I think it would be an ear-opening experience for tweens as well.
Henry Huggins – Audio CD
Cleary, Beverly. Henry Huggins. Harper Children's Audio, 2001. ISBN 978-0694525256
Plot
Henry Huggins is a typical 1950s third-grader. One day he goes to the drugstore for an ice cream cone. There he meets a stray dog. The dog is hungry and thin, so Henry offers him his ice cream cone. They bond instantly. Henry takes his new dog, Ribsy, home by bus and police car. Henry has other adventures as he fills his house with jars of guppies that multiply prodigiously. He goes into business selling earthworms to raise money for a new football. Ribsy enters a dog show and wins "most unusual" dog. Eventually Ribsy's old owner arrives on the scene. Will Ribsy choose Henry or his old life?
Critical Evaluation
This book is good, fun reading for boys and girls. Henry lives in a time when children rode buses alone, boys had paper routes, and neighborhoods were filled with playing children. The audio CD edition is read by Neil Patrick Harris. He does an amazing job as he captures the voices and personalities of all the characters in the book. The story is introduced by the author. This book is the first in a series of books about Henry.
Annotations
Henry Huggins finds a new dog, Ribsy, and has many adventures. He learns to be responsible for his dog, his guppies, and his paper route.
Author
Beverly Cleary won many awards for the children's books she wrote. She began the Henry Huggins series when worked at a library and could not find enough books for young boys to read.
Genre
Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Language Arts
Booktalk Ideas
Read aloud the passage of the book in which Henry meets Ribsy. Share the illustrations with the group. Then discuss lost and found pets with the group.
Listening Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 -6 (age 8 – 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
none
Why is it here?
Henry Huggins is a classic introduction to a wonderful series and a wonderful author for young tweens.
High School Musical 2-Disc Special Edition Soundtrack – Audio CD
High School Musical Cast. High School Musical Special Edition Soundtrack. Walt Disney Records, 2006. Music Number D000061512
Description
This collection of songs comes from the High School Musical movie soundtrack. The first disc includes music from the movie and can be used in a personal computer to access a bonus music video of Get'cha Head in the Game performed by B5. The second disc has eight instrumental tracks for karaoke.
Critical Evaluation
The music is polished and well-written which is typical for Disney products. The singers sound youthful because they are young. They capture the feeling of going to high school with an exceptionally talented group of performers. I had to listen to the song Get'cha Head in the Game several times to figure out what the percussive squeaking sound could be. It is the sound of sneakers squeaking on a basketball court.
Annotations
Songs from the High School Musical movie soundtrack capture the feeling of attending high school Disney-style.
Author
Not applicable.
Genre
Music – movie soundtracks
Curriculum Ties
None.
Booktalk Ideas
Not applicable.
Listening Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 (age 8) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
Kids and tweens love to sing along.
How to Eat Fried Worms - DVD
Mark Johnson, Producer. How to Eat Fried Worms. New Line Cinema and Walden Media, 2006. Rated PG. 84 minutes. ISBN 0-7806-5620-2
Plot
Fifth-grader Billy is the new kid at school. He misses his old friends, and his first day of class is tough. A sweet girl named Erin, who apologizes for being so tall, helps him find his classroom. He stows his lunch box in a cubby in the hallway before going into class. When he gets to the lunch room, he sits alone. He opens his thermos to find that it is full of worms, courtesy of mean Joe and his gang. They taunt him, so Billy flings a worm at Joe and hits him in the face. Joe is visibly frightened. Billy brags about eating worms all the time, so the next day the gang calls him "worm boy." Joe and the gang follow Billy home from school and taunt him. Billy tells them he doesn't care if they call him worm boy because he eats them all the time. Joe bets Billy that he must eat 10 worms on Saturday or come to school on Monday with worms in his pants. On Friday night Billy begins packing to run away from home, but once outside he realizes he has nowhere to go. He goes back to bed. On Saturday, he faces up to the challenge and eats a worm. But he has nine more worms to eat, and things get crazy as the day continues.
Critical Evaluation
The movie is targeted at kids around Billy's age. The child actors look like they are elementary school age kids. They slowly form friendships in a way that feels real. Billy's family is sweet and caring. His little brother, Woody, is annoying as expected. The school he attends looks realistic, while his teacher is cartoonish and goofy. The principle, Mr. Burdock, seriously rules the school. He is not a caricature. The bully, Joe, is frightening, but he is humanized somewhat when we see his older brother bully him at home. The fifth-grader at my house loves this movie.
Annotations
Billy, the new kid at school, brags that he eats worms all the time when Joe, the bully, puts worms in his thermos. Billy and Joe make a worm-eating bet, and the boys know that their reputations are on the line.
Author
Thomas Rockwell wrote the novel on which the movie is based.
Genre
Fiction
Curriculum Ties
Language arts
Booktalk Ideas
Discuss the pros and cons of making bets with friends.
Viewing Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 (age 9) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
The movie is based on a classic story about the emotional and social stress of being a fifth-grader.
Luna: a novel
Peters, Julie Ann. Luna: a novel. Little, Brown and Company, 2004. ISBN 0-316-73369-5
Plot
Regan and Liam are sister and brother. This story is about both of them. In the past, Regan has helped Liam keep his feminine identity secret. She allows him to spend time in her bedroom at night so he can secretly try on dresses, wear a long wig, and apply makeup. Regan loves her brother. She realizes that she has always known he is different. Their mother is largely absent from her children's lives. She is caught up in her business as a wedding planner. Their father sees that his son is different but ignores this knowledge and encourages him to play sports. Regan struggles to keep up in school and have a social life despite being exhausted as Liam awakens her again and again during the night. Later, Regan is Liam's support as he practices appearing in public as a woman. He decides to tell his family and friends, notably a childhood friend, Aly, that he is a girl. He wants to become Luna full-time. Luna presents herself to Aly, and is pained by her rejection, and so is Regan, but Luna continues on the path toward coming out. On her eighteenth birthday Luna appears at the family breakfast table and tells her family that she is planning to have sex reassignment surgery. Her mother checks out. She ignores this change in her child's appearance as if she always knew it would happen, which she did. Her father is angry. He tells Luna that she is sick. Regan helps Luna in the final scenes of the story.
Critical Evaluation
The most affecting part of this story is the way in which the author communicates the tension between brother Liam and sister Regan as well as the tension between Liam and Luna. The difficulties of high school life are highlighted as Regan struggles to fit in and feel accepted at school. She worries about grades and friends in a heartbreaking way. On top of this she is concerned for her Liam/Luna and for herself as she struggles to be supportive to her sibling. Luna's struggle to come out and present herself in public is realistically portrayed in terms that older tween and teen readers can understand.
Annotations
Regan struggles to find her way through high school, homework, friends, and family troubles. All the while she is the de facto supporter and confidante of her brother, Liam, a transsexual who is coming out during his senior year of high school.
Author
Julie Ann Peters is the author of numerous titles for young adults and children. Her writing treats gender and queer issues with frankness and respect. Other books written by this author are Keeping You a Secret and Define "Normal" which is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Her work is notable for its candid and relatable views into young people's inner struggles, family situations, and school lives.
Genre (see link under LIBR264 Group favorites)
Fiction -- Transgender
Curriculum Ties
English language arts – character study
Social Sciences – discrimination and acceptance of minorities
Booktalk Ideas
Discuss life in high school and the things that make it fun, challenging, and unforgettable. Relate the participants' responses to specifics from Regan's experience.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 6 (age 12) and up. Although the book is classified as Young Adult at my library, younger patrons are reading it.
Challenge Issues and Defense
Frank depiction of transgender experience. Children defy parents. Occasional foul language.
National Book Award finalist and American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults.
Why is it here?
I talked with a sixth-grade student about the book after seeing her read it at school and wanted to know more.
Magic Tree House 3: Mummies in the Morning
Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic Tree House 3: Mummies in the Morning. Random House, Inc., 1993. ISBN 0-679-82424-3
Plot
Jack and Annie climb into the mysterious magic tree house for another adventure. The tree house is filled with books. Each time they visit the tree house, they choose a book which magically transports them to another place and time. In this adventure the children choose a book about ancient Egypt. They remember to bring the book about their home town of Frog Creek, Pennsylvania so they can return home when it is time. A black cat appears in the tree house window just as the children are magically whisked off to Egypt. The cat is still with them when they arrive at a pyramid, then leads them inside. The ghost Hutepi, Queen of the Nile, appears and asks the children to help her find her Book of the Dead so that she can go on to the Next Life. Hieroglyphs lead them to the Book of the Dead, but the ghost queen disappears. The children find her mummy and place her book and scepter next to her. But now the children are lost in the pyramid. The black cat leads them out just in time to see Hutepi's ghostly funeral entourage leaving the pyramid. The children return to Frog Creek and find an "M" on the floor of the tree house.
Critical Evaluation
This story is a fast read, and the action is fun to follow. Kids learn about ancient Egypt as Jack reads his book about it and writes notes in his notebook. Hieroglyphs are included and explained within the text so the reader can follow the clues along with Jack and Annie. This makes the reading experience immersive and engaging.
Annotations
Jack and Annie are off to Egypt when they enter the magic tree house and open a book to an illustration of a pyramid and a funeral procession. They help a mummy queen find her lost Book of the Dead.
Author
Mary Pope Osborne has written dozens of well-loved magic tree house stories starring Jack and Annie. Companion non-fiction research guides have been published by the author as well.
Genre
Fiction - history
Curriculum Ties
Language arts
Social Studies – ancient Egypt
Science – desiccation (mummification)
Booktalk Ideas
Open with, "If you could open a book and magically transport to another time and place, where would you like to go? In Mummies in the Morning, Jack and Annie read a book about Egypt then go there." Then read aloud from the first chapter.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 2 (age 7) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
Here is something for the youngest tweens to love and for slightly older tweens to look back on to remember their first chapter books.
Magic Tree House 4: Pirates Past Noon
Osborne, Mary Pope. Magic Tree House 4: Pirates Past Noon. Random House, Inc., 1993. ISBN 0-679-82425-1
Plot
On a rainy day, Jack and Annie climb into the mysterious magic tree house for another adventure. The tree house belongs to the mysterious "M" and is filled with books. Each time they visit the tree house, they choose a book which magically transports them to another place and time. Once they arrive at their adventure's destination, they must search for something that they have been sent there to bring back. In this adventure the children choose a book with a picture of a sunny beach, a palm tree, and a green parrot. Just then a green parrot appears outside the tree house window, and they are magically transported to the Caribbean. Cap'n Bones and his pirate crew force Jack and Annie to lead the way to Captain Kidd's treasure. Jack finds a gold medallion and the children manage to escape back to the tree house and Frog Creek. There the parrot who accompanied them on their adventure reveals herself to be the mysterious "M," or Morgan Le Fay. She is a librarian, and she travels through time to collect books.
Critical Evaluation
This story is a fast read, and the action is fun to follow. Kids learn about pirates times and the history of the Caribbean. The treasure map is included in the story. The reader can interpret the map along with Jack and Annie. This makes the reading experience immersive and engaging.
Annotations
Jack and Annie are off to the Caribbean when they enter the magic tree house and open a book to an illustration of a beautiful beach. They are forced to help pirates find treasure, but they find a gold medallion which belongs to "M."
Author
Mary Pope Osborne has written dozens of well-loved magic tree house stories starring Jack and Annie. Companion non-fiction research guides have been published by the author as well.
Genre
Fiction - history
Curriculum Ties
Language arts
Booktalk Ideas
Open with, "If you could open a book and magically transport to another time and place, where would you like to go? In Pirates Past Noon, Jack and Annie open a book about pirates then meet some." Then read aloud from the first chapter.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 2 (age 7) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
Here is something for the youngest tweens to love and for slightly older tweens to look back on to remember their first chapter books.
Make It Awesome!
On Networks. Make It Awesome! 2009. Via http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/make-it-awesome
Plot
This is (hopefully) a series of do-it-yourself videos aimed at older kids. The first two episodes show a boy, a girl, and an adult man completing a simple project which they then add on to. That's how they make it awesome. In the first video the trio makes big blocks of ice. They talk about the properties of ice. For example, ice is less dense than water. Then they use the big blocks of ice to make a remote control boat and a soda holder. In the second video, the group builds periscopes out of mirrors, duct tape, and cardboard. Then they make their periscopes awesome by adding camouflage and flashlights.
Critical Evaluation
These videos are short and fun. The scenes are shot indoors and outdoors which adds variety and interest. The projects are clearly demonstrated while thorough explanations are given. The cast makes jokes and plays around with their projects in ways that inspire creativity.
Annotations
Video clips of kids and a supervising adult making projects at home inspire creativity.
Author
On Networks Make It Awesome.
Genre
Video – do it yourself
Curriculum Ties
Science – properties of water, reflective properties of mirrors
Booktalk Ideas
None.
Viewing Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 to 6 (age 8 to 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
I hope this series will be expanded in the future.
My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill
Regnaud, Jean & Bravo, Emile (Illustrator). My mommy is in America and she met Buffalo Bill. Ponent Mon s.l., 2007. ISBN 978-84-96427-85-3
Plot
Jean is entering the first grade at a new school. He is very nervous when his new teacher asks him to tell the class about himself and his family. He does not know what to say about his mother. He has not seen her for a long time. He blurts out that she is a secretary. He is petrified with anxiety. Jean goes home from school. He introduces Yvette, his nanny, and his little brother, Paul, who goes to Kindergarten at another school. His father returns home late from work as a harried factory manager. The group discusses Jean's first day of school. Jean looks thoughtful. Yvette asks him if he wants to say something. He says, "No," as he wonders, "Where's my mommy?" He plays with his neighbor, Michele Meunier, who is two years older than Jean. She will only play with him when she is bored. One day she tells Jean she has a big secret to tell him. She has a postcard sent to Jean by his mother. She reads it to him after he promises not to tell anyone about it. Jean goes to play with Alain, a friend from school, at his house. Jean is intrigued by Alain's pretty mother and his father. He has a big, black beard and sits in a wheelchair. Alain tells Jean he is adopted and asks him about his own mother. Jean says he can't remember her anymore. Jean visits his paternal grandparents on school holiday, survives the difficulties of first grade, visits elderly neighbors, enjoys a visit from his maternal grandmother, and meets the school psychologist. Throughout these adventures, his uncertainty about his mother hovers over him. More postcards mysteriously fall into Michele's hands. At Christmas, Jean and Paul manage to take a picture of Father Christmas' foot next to their Christmas tree. Jean shows Michele the photo. Michele and Jean fight when she tells him there is no Father Christmas. Then she tells him that she has written the postcards because his mother is dead. Jean is heartbroken. He tells himself that his mommy is like Father Christmas. He is too old to believe in her any longer. When Jean returns to school after the winter break, he has a new teacher and new, less unhappy outlook on life
Critical Evaluation
I feel this story is simple and sweet without overt sentimentality. Jean's story tells the reader about the way children, meaning all of us, experience the world, family, friendship, love, secrets, cruelty, and loss. The story is told gently, through a series of vignettes that are typical of a child's life. Through these scenes, the story shows the reader how John finds his way from personal crisis to a centered life and clearer sense of self. The clean style of the illustrations and the simple storytelling will appeal to tweens and teens.
Annotations
First-grader Jean begins the new school year with the question of his mother's whereabouts hanging over him. He is intrigued when his neighbor, Michele, begins to share with him postcards she has received from his missing mother. As he learns the truth about his mother, he moves from confusion and sadness to a more clear understanding of his life and contentment.
Author and Illustrator
Jean Regnaud drew from his childhood experience of losing his mother in writing this story. He didn't know anything about his own mother, so he invented her. Emile Bravo has illustrated other French language comic series. Among his other works are the series Aleksis Strogonov, also in collaboration with Regnaud, and the Jules series, which has been described as "Tin Tin for the 21st Century."
Genre
Fiction – Realism and humor
Curriculum Ties
English Language Arts – make and confirm predictions about the story using personal knowledge and the ideas presented in the text, illustrations, and foreshadowing clues.
Booktalk Ideas
Introduce Jean, his school situation, and his family to the audience by showing illustrations from the book. Tell the beginning of the story in his voice. Ask the audience what they think might have happened to Jean's mother.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 (age 8) and up will find this book appealing, but the story's underlying themes of death and reconciliation are better suited to Grade 5 (age 10) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
Absent parent, death, adoption, racism, Father Christmas (Santa Claus).
Younger children who select this book may be surprised, puzzled, or even frightened by some of what they read, especially the idea of a missing parent. It would be appropriate to recommend that readers discuss these issues with a parent or other trusted adult.
Why is it here?
I walked through my public library and saw this book on display with other graphic novels. The title and the cover drew me in. When I flipped it open I was instantly captivated by the style of the illustrations and the tone of the text. I am a fan of other French language comic series such as Tin Tin and Asterix, so this book was an easy choice for me.
NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society
Buckley, Michael. NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society. Amulet Books, 2009. ISBN 978-0-8109-4324-7
Plot
In the first NERDS book, Michael Buckley moves away from fairy tale magic but keeps the appeal to tween readers high with James Bond-style science, gadgetry, and super sleuthing. The nerdy heroes of his new book turn their quirks to their advantage. Jackson, the sometime coolest kid at Nathan Hale Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia is shocked to learn that he has 64 teeth instead of the usual 28. He also needs braces and headgear which turn out to be so magnetic that Jackson ends up with metal objects stuck to his face all the time. His headgear keeps him from wearing a helmet, so he is kicked off the peewee football team. Jackson goes from king of the school to nerd status almost overnight. Fortunately, Jackson discovers the NERDS secret laboratory under his school There he learns that his orthodontic appliances can transform into whatever tool he needs, such as a boat, a rocket, a motorcycle, to aid his work as the super-spy code-named Braceface. These objects humorously remain attached to Jackson's face while he uses them. Jackson becomes a true NERD when he joins up with the rest of the six-member spy team. Agent Brand is the adult head of the NERDS. His assistant is Miss Holiday. She is the school librarian and the NERDS information specialist. Team NERDS travels the globe and works together to save the world. .
Critical Evaluation
This is a super-sleuth meets elementary school mix-up that kids will enjoy. The main character in the story is a boy. This is a departure for the author of The Sisters Grimm series of novels. There is lots of gadgetry and cool stuff. There is also a lot of tension in the story. Jackson must keep his spy work secret from his family. His brother and his dad give him a hard time for hanging out with nerds. In the end, Jackson is happy being true to himself and true to his friends. The book is packaged like a spy case file with security measures and global coordinates throughout. This makes increases the coolness factor of NERDS.
Annotations
A cool kid is transformed into a NERD super-spy when his new braces make him an outcast at school. He realizes he has important work to do and good friends to support him in his new life.
Author
Michael Buckley was a NERD as a kid. His code-name was Beanpole. Today he is happy to serve as the scribe for the Sisters Grimm and the documentation specialist for NERDS.
Genre
Fiction - adventure
Curriculum Ties
Language arts
Social Sciences – geography, using longitude and latitude coordinates
Booktalk Ideas
Ask kids if they ever feel like they are a nerd, then read the first few pages of chapter 1.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 4 to 6 (ages 9 to 12).
Challenge Issues and Defense
None.
Why is it here?
This book will appeal to boy (and girls). The message of finding strength in weakness is clear but understated.
Past Perfect, Present Tense
Peck, Richard. Past Perfect, Present Tense. Dial Books, 2004. ISBN 0-8037-2998-7
Plot
This is a collection of short stories. There is not a plot to the whole book, but there is a plan. In the Introduction, the author begins by explaining that the short story is about change just like any other work of fiction. The character or characters in the story have an epiphany, or a breakthrough of understanding. In the short story, this often comes at the end, sometimes even in the very last sentence. This leaves the reader to play out the meaning of the epiphany in their own mind. The author describes how his work as a middle school teacher prepared him to write for a young audience. He describes the phone call from an editor of a magazine for teenagers who challenged him to write his first short story in under one thousand words and in under 36 hours. The result was "Priscilla and the Wimps." In this story a gang rules a middle school until the very tall Priscilla dispatches their leader within minutes. The ending is chilling, both literally and figuratively. The rest of the book is divided into sections called The Past, The Supernatural, and The Present. Each section has a brief introduction followed by four short stories. A story set in the past, "Shotgun Cheatham's Last Night Above Ground," is comic and memorable. It introduces the reader to the character Grandma Dowdel. This short story was the beginning of the novel A Long Way from Home for which the author won the John Newbery Silver medal in 1999. The book ends with an essay titled "How to Write a Short Story" and a list of "Five Helpful Hints."
Critical Evaluation
The author gives his reader a very thorough understanding of his work. He points out the questions which inform his work as a writer: What if I were the character in this story? What would I do? His short stories show how strong character development makes the characters and stories memorable. He explains how he targets his stories for young people. He asks and answers this question: When will I start taking charge of my life? And he reminds the young reader/author that all stories begin with asking the question, "What if?"
Annotations
Short stories are easy to read but very difficult to write. Richard Peck describes his own journey as a short story writer and explains the motivations for the stories he writes. The book contains thirteen short stories.
Author
Richard Peck is the author of more than thirty books. He is the first children's writer to receive a National Humanities Medal.
Genre
Fiction – short stories
Curriculum Ties
Language arts – narrative writing
Booktalk Ideas
Read Pecks's challenge (in the final essay) to think about what you saw today that would make a good short story.
Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 6 (age 12) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
There are scenes of implied violence and supernatural themes in some of the stories. The short story format leaves much of the challenge issues to the imagination of the reader.
Why is it here?
I wanted to read and review a collection of short stories for young readers.
Planet Earth - DVD
BBC Video. Planet Earth. Warner Home Video, 2007. Rated G. 550 minutes. ISBN 1-4198-4936-0
Description
An all-encompassing video and audio journey around our planet is narrated by Sigourney Weaver. The video is amazingly captured using cameras, technology, and techniques previously unavailable. There are five DVDs in the set. They are: (1) Pole to Pole, Mountains, Deep Ocean; (2) Deserts, Ice Worlds, Shallow Seas; (3) Great Plains, Jungles, Fresh Water; (4) Seasonal Forests, Caves; and Planet Earth: the Future. Favorites of tweens I watched these with are the mating dances of New Guinea's bird of paradise, Russian Amur leopards hunting, and bats flying in and out of their caves.
Critical Evaluation
This presentation does not hold back. The images are sometimes disturbing, showing life as it happens. Birth, death, injury, and sickness are here. More often, though, the commentary and film are entertaining and convince the viewer of the beauty our planet holds.
Annotations
Planet Earth captures images of the natural world that few people have ever seen before and most people will never see any other way.
Author
Various.
Genre
Non-fiction – natural world
Curriculum Ties
Science – animals, plants, land features
Social Sciences – geography
Booktalk Ideas
Not applicable.
Viewing Level/Interest Age
Grade 3 (age 8) and up.
Challenge Issues and Defense
Some scenes of natural violence may be frightening, especially to very young children. The material presented is appropriate for children age 8 and up.
Why is it here?
Five hundred and fifty minutes of awesome views from around our planet are not to be missed.