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  • Poetry captures our senses and invigorates the mind. Share the magic of poetry with readers of all ages by reading these poetry reviews with them!
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    Book Reviews for National Poetry Month

    by the CL/R SIG
     | Apr 21, 2014

    Poetry captures our senses. Poems can make readers laugh, ponder, and imagine.
    Even though National Poetry Month is in April, we encourage teachers to infuse poetry on a daily basis throughout the year. There are multiple benefits to sharing the richness of a poets’ inventive language, imagery, and rhymes with students of all ages. Poetry can spark a child’s creativity and launch a delightful exchange of words and images. It can also help us to understand our world, ourselves, and others. Poetry can be musical, insightful, pleasurable, and enlightening.

    Poetry fits naturally into a child’s innate inquisitiveness for language and amusement. It also supports interdisciplinary classroom connections. There are outstanding selections of poetry to read aloud and celebrate for every subject: math, reading, science, art, music, social studies, and more! As teachers develop text sets for their classroom library, they will want to find some outstanding poetry. Many outstanding interactive classroom resources can be found on ReadWriteThink.org’s National Poetry Month page.

    In this column, we highlight recently published poetry for grades K-12 that we hope you will read aloud to your students and integrate across your curriculum. We also include a review of a professional resource and share several digital tools.

    Enjoy, imagine, and celebrate the power of language! Happy Poetry Month!

     

    Grades K-3

    Graham, Joan. (2014). The poem that will not end: Fun with poetic forms and voices. Illus. by Kyrsten Brooker. Las Vegas, NV: Two Lions.The Poem that will not end

    The melodious rhythm and beat of poetry magnetically attracts the inner creativity of a young boy, Ryan O’Brian. He tries to go about his day as usual, but he is struck by the playfulness of language and experiments with different voices and poetic forms. On his way to school, he captures his excitement by writing a poem on his friend’s shirt. He tries to escape the circuitous rhyme, but not even his jazzy skateboard can “leave a trail of …rhyme” (14) behind. There are various examples of different poetic forms woven throughout this clever book perfect for budding writers.

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

     

    Janeczko, Paul. (2014). Firefly July: A year of very short poems. Illus. by Melissa Sweet. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.Firefly July

    An exquisite collection of carefully selected poems graces the beautifully designed pages of this charming anthology. The poems are arranged by seasons, with a detailed table of contents for easy reference. Each poem echoes the universality and images of the season. For example, Raymond Souster’s “Spring” will remind readers of nature’s gentle beauty: "Rain beats down / roots stretch up. / They'll meet / in a flower" (6). Overall, the short poems in this anthology capture the simplicity and splendor of the senses that will, when read aloud, captivate and excite readers. Melissa Sweet’s expressive illustrations add to the overall impact and sense of wonder in this must-have anthology for classroom libraries.

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

     

    Oliver, Lin. (2014). Little poems for tiny ears. Illus. by Tomie dePaola. New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books.Little Poems for Tiny Ears

    From first glance, this book has the look and feel of a classic lullaby collection. The very words of the title conjure connections to other beloved first books, such as Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (Fox, 2008) and Counting Kisses (Katz, 2001). The twenty-three poems in this collection are devoted to the familiar and commonplace in a baby or toddler’s world: the car seat, blankie, and body parts (toes, nose). The simplicity of the concepts behind these poems matches perfectly with the characteristically charming art of dePaola. The artist uses thick borders to create frames for each scene. These boxes are stylized with corner embellishments and coordinating colors. This consistent format creates a warmth and intimacy within the book.

    The children portrayed feature a range of skin tones and ethnic features such that children will see themselves reflected on these pages. Children and parents are invited to celebrate daily life through these playful first-person poems. The child’s perspective is captured in authentic descriptions of daddy’s beard (“it scratches when you rub it”), bath time (“rubber duckies, floating books/suds and bubbles, happy looks”) and dogs (“I wonder why they have wet noses”). As an added feature, the book’s jacket is designed as wrapping paper with a page of stickers included as well.

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University

     

    Wheeler, L. (2013). The pet project: Cute and cuddly vicious verses. Illus. by Zachariah Ohora. NY: Antheneum.The Pet Project

    Before turning the first page, readers are warned, “animals aren’t always charming,” thus setting the tone for this clever and interactive story in rhyme. The book functions on several levels as the narrator gathers data regarding “the best pet for me.” Portions of the text are located in her notebook where she documents her investigation and other elements of the scientific process (test subject, controlled environment, and naturalistic observation) appear throughout the book.

    The heart of the book features poems about each animal she considers as a pet. Some pets are described briefly, “chances of getting a hippo: zippo.” Others, such as gerbils and bunnies are explored in more depth and the art adds to the descriptions, extending the humor and further showcasing the narrator’s observational skills. She worries her goldfish will overeat and the fish blows up to take over its bowl. She observes a snake and decides “never mind” after seeing it being fed. In the end, the narrator bemoans “inconclusive investigations” and “disappointments.” She ends the book without a pe,t but that anticlimax will send readers right back to the beginning of the book to hear about peeing guinea pigs, dogs in backpacks, and pooping cows all over again.

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University

     

    Grades 4-5

    Florian, D. (2014). Poem depot: Aisles of smiles. NY: Dial Books.Poem Depot Aisles of Smiles

    Many teachers rely on poetry anthologies to help incorporate poetry into the regular routine of their classrooms. In this collection, Florian departs from his thinner, more topical collections (Poetrees, 2010; Handspring, 2005) to offer a book dedicated to humor. The chapters are organized by types of jokes (tons of puns), kinds of laughs (hee-haws and great gaffaw), and forms of humor (willy-nilly sillies). The poems range in length and style, from simple rhyming verse about being buried in snow to longer poems about the power of a love potion. Readers will find plenty of examples of repetition and alliteration as well as a variety of forms including some shape poems and variations on diamante and haiku.

    Each poem is accompanied by a drawing, mostly characterized by thick lines done in pen-and-ink. Some of the sketch-like renderings are funny enough to get their own laughs while others require the interplay with the poem itself. For instance, a nose with feet and a carrot with a face will serve as motivation to read the poem and discover the connection. The book also features two very helpful indices, one of titles and one of first lines.

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University

     

    Lewis, J. Patrick & Florian, Douglas. (2014). Poem-mobiles: Crazy car poems. Illus. by Jeremy Holmes. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.Poem Mobiles

    The imaginative spirit of collaboration comes to life in this clever collection of free-verse poems. Readers will delight in listening to the clever word play about inventive modes of transportation, from an eel-ectric car to a dragonwagon. Imagine taking a ride in the supersonic ionic car, “the fastest land vehicle running by far” (35). The futuristic and lively illustrations add to the overall effect of these creative poems. It’s an excellent collection to read aloud and integrate during a unit about inventions. These fanciful modes of transportation will certainly ignite students’ creative writing.  

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

     

    Prelutsky, J. (2012). Stardines: Swim high across the sky and other poems. Illus. by Carin Berger. NY: Greenwillow Books.Stardines

    In this book, the art and poems are inextricably tied. Prelutsky’s imaginary creatures come to life both through his words and through Berger’s 3D-style renderings of the imagined creatures. The artist created miniature dioramas using a variety of materials from cut paper to found objects. These unique assemblages are then displayed in a framed encasement, or sit free floating on the page. The results are life-like such that you feel like you could reach in and touch the items. For the magpipes, who have a “tendency to drone/their voices are a nasal/cacophonic monotone,” the picture shows two birds with horns attached blowing out sheet music in ribbons. The curling scraps of paper sneak outside of the frame and jump off the page.

    The creativity of this collection is uniquely matched to the orderliness imbued in the illustrations. Careful page layout and formatting holds the collection together. Each page is numbered and each creature warrants its own double-paged spread. The “specimens” are tagged and labeled with proper spelling and pronunciation guides. This ingenious collection invites readers to experiment with the wordplay and engage in their own novel forms of imaginative investigations.

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University

     

    VanHecke, Susan. (2014). Under the freedom tree. Illus. by London Ladd. Watertown, MA: CharlesbridgeUnder the Freedom Tree

    This powerful book is based on true events that occurred during the Civil War near the Emancipation Oak, a historic tree that still stands in Hampton, Virginia. Told in staccato verse, VanHecke elucidates an important part of Civil War history. In 1861, three slaves, Frank, James, and Shepard, decided to escape by boat from Confederate Virginia to find freedom. They were soon joined by others and built a community known as “Slabtown” where they worked for the Union army and built two camps. At the center of the town, missionaries would teach slave children to read under a tall oak tree. 

    The last page illustrates a young boy surrounded by community members gathered beneath the mighty oak reciting Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The back matter includes further historical insights about these true events.

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

     

    Grades 6-8

    Grimes, N. (2013). Word with wings. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.Words with Wings

    This book is reminiscent of others that feature young writers finding thing way and sorting out their troubles through the written word. Grimes’ main character in Word with Wings is similar to her high school writers in Bronx Masquerade (2002) and also to such characters as Jack from Love that Dog (Creech, 2001) and Lonnie from Locomotion (Woodson, 2003). Gabby is struggling with her parent’s divorce and adjusting to a new school. Additionally, she has trouble controlling her tendency to daydream.

    Grimes’ poems allow readers to join Gabby in her daydream world while also experiencing the real-life story. The poems are mostly free verse with some variations on haiku. Some feature the use of shape and plenty offer figurative language: “I swallow words like honey/smile at their sweetness/ and say, ‘Yes!”/my favorite word/of all.” The book is short at only eighty-three pages. Its power lies in getting to know Gabby and meeting a teacher who finds a way to harness her creativity. Ultimately, this book is an homage to dreamers, to words, and to teachers.

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University

     

    Nagai, Mariko. (2014). Dust of Eden. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.Dust of Eden

    This poignant novel in verse sheds new light about life at U.S. Japanese-American internment camps. Poet, Mariko Nagai, introduces readers to thirteen-year-old Mina Masako Taga. Through first person poems and letters from Mina to several family members, readers will learn about the heartbreaking injustices of being forced to live at the internment camp.

    When news about the bombing of Pearl Harbor is announced, Mina internally grapples with her feelings and confusion about her identity: “I’m not Japanese, I want to yell. I’m an American, I scream in my head, but my mouth is stuffed with rocks; my body is a stone, like the statue of a little Buddha Grandpa prays to…” In August 1942, Mina and her family are forced to leave their house and sent to the Minidoka Relocation Center. The poetry, compelling and thoughtful, will help readers to better understand the displacement, indignities, and struggles faced by Mina and her family members. This accessible and important historic novel provides a glimpse into the past—ideal for the social studies and language arts classroom.

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

     

    Grades 9-12

    Hopkins, Lee Bennett. (2013). All the world’s a stage. Illus. by Guy Billout. Mankato, MN:     Creative Editions.All the Worlds A Stage

    This is an ideal partner text for any introduction to Shakespeare’s “All the World’s a Stage” soliloquy. Anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins ambitiously finds contemporary poetic voices to capture the essence of human existence as echoed in Shakespeare’s monologue. 

    In the classroom, teachers can invite students to discuss whether the stages are relevant to the lives of men and women today. They can create individual or group digital poetry anthologies. Students would self-select poems of personal significance and meaning. Using digital platforms (i.e. Glogster, Padlet, iMovie), students can add images, sound, and video to enhance their interpretation and response.

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

    Sones, S. (2013). To be perfectly honest: A novel based on an untrue story. NY: Simon & Schuster.To Be Perfectly Honest

    Readers familiar with Sones’ previous novels in verse will not be disappointed with this newest endeavor. As in One of those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies (2004) and What my Girlfriend doesn’t Know (2007), the author presents realistic fiction in prose-style free verse on topics of interest to young adult readers. In this case, the story goes beyond the typical concerns of dating and family dynamics to questions of honesty and infamy. This book features the reappearance of Colette from One of those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies. Fifteen-year old Colette and her brother Will are visiting their mom on the set of a movie for the summer. Readers learn immediately of Colette’s prowess as a liar and this unreliable narrator will keep them guessing throughout this fast-paced novel.

    The four hundred and eighty page volume can seem overwhelming, but the poems are each one to two pages long and feature quick transitions. The heart of the story surrounds a budding romance between Colette and Connor. As this love affair develops, readers realize that Colette may not be the only skilled liar in the relationship. Colette has to face the depth of her own deceitfulness as she realizes the damage of lies and secrecy that she has both caused and endured. To be Perfectly Honest has the feel of romance with a fair bit of mystery mixed in. 

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University


    Alexander, K. (2014). The crossover: A basketball novel. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.The Crossover

    Josh Bell and his twin brother, Jordan (JB) are star basketball players. Their mom is the principal at their school. Their parents have been fighting and their father is struggling with unemployment and an unspoken medical condition. This novel in verse is told from the perspective of Josh, who may be losing his brother to a love interest and losing ground on the court (he loses a bet, has to cut off his dreadlocks, and he gets suspended from the team).

    Many sports-based books miss the mark on literary quality or lack wide appeal; Alexander avoids those pitfalls with this heartfelt story in verse that features free verse and hip-hop style poems. Many of the poems lend themselves to oral performance, especially several that capture dialogue (ideal for two voices) and the vocabulary poems which explore definitions in depth. Perhaps the best poems feature the on-the-court action. The Crossover is a unique multicultural offering because of its portrayal of an African-American middle class family with a focus on the tween years.

    -Lesley Colabucci, Millersville University

     

    Professional Resource:

    Vardell, Sylvia & Wong, Janet. (2014). The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science: Poems for    the School Year (K-5). Princeton, NJ: Pomelo Books.The Poetry Friday Anthology for Science

    This impressive anthology of over 200 original, unpublished poems for grades K-5 celebrates the creative collaboration and work of over 75 popular children’s poets. The list of featured poets includes J. Patrick Lewis, Marilyn Singer, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, X.J. Kennedy, Douglas Florian, Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Janet Wong, Margarita Engle, and many more.

    As a way to celebrate poetry and bring the ingenious idea of the Poetry Friday blog into the classroom, Vardell and Wong have again provided an outstanding resource for classroom teachers. Similar in format to the Poetry Friday Anthology Common Core edition for K-5 and 6-8 respectively, their latest volume focuses on poetry to connect science, reading, and language arts. This resource provides excellent background information about the educational values and benefits of linking poetry and science. It features an informative rationale, tips for reading poetry aloud, and interdisciplinary teaching suggestions.

    The featured poems can be woven across the literacy and science curriculum to address state and national standards. As teachers implement the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and find ways to promote literacy across content areas, this anthology will serve as an invaluable tool to meet their students’ diverse needs and interests. In addition to the teacher’s edition, the editors compiled corresponding grade level student editions for classroom use.

    Dr. Vardell, Janet Wong, and several outstanding children’s poets will present a symposium entitled, How is a Poet Like a Scientist? Maximizing Teachable Moments in Both Reading and Science at IRA14 on Sunday, May 11, 2014 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

    There will be a number of poetry related sessions at the International Reading Association Conference, including The Poetry Olio on Saturday, May 10, 2014 from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. with America’s Children’s Poet Laureate, Kenn Nesbitt, and many other featured poets. Check out other sessions at the conference website.

    -Mary Napoli, Penn State Harrisburg

     

    Poetry Related Blogs, Resources, and Awards:

    Poetry for Children
    Poetry Tag Time
    Lee Bennett Hopkins Award
    IRA Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award
    Poetry Foundation: Children’s Poet Laureate
    No Water River

    These reviews and resources are submitted by members of the International Reading Association’s Children’s Literature and Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online.

    CL/R SIG will host a special session entitled Children's Literature: The Perfect Teachable Moment on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. The session celebrates award-winning children's and young adult books and authors. Author Nancy Bo Flood is the keynote session speaker. Her work encompasses more than a dozen books. Her recent historical fiction "Warriors in the Crossfire" is set in Saipan during WWII, and was selected on the 2011 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list. The NBGS list represents selections and authors from all genres K-12, with a focus on understanding of and appreciation for the world's full range of diverse cultures, ethnic, and racial groups. The session will also include presentation of the 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list by members of the selection committee. Visit http://www.iraconference.org to learn more about IRA 2014 or to register. 
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  • This set of book reviews about library stories and library lovers will open your mind and show how libraries can change lives.
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    • Book Reviews

    Book Reviews for Library Lovers

    by the CL/R SIG
     | Apr 14, 2014

    Lives Change bubble Lives Change @ Your Library
    You Belong @ Your Library
    Communities Matter @ Your Library
    Create Your Own Story @ Your Library
    Worlds Connect @ Your Library
    Something for Everyone @ Your Library
    Come Together @ Your Library

    These are themes from recent years’ celebrations of National Library Week and School Library Month in schools and libraries across the country. The American Library Association explains the week’s significance, “Libraries and librarians have a powerful and positive impact on the lives of Americans on a daily basis. Their stories are key to communicating the value of libraries. National Library Week is the perfect opportunity to encourage your community to tell the story of how the library has changed their life.”

    To join in, you can simply use this template and ask students to take a “selfie” holding the completed speech bubble. Have them describe how libraries are important to them and post these in your classrooms during National Library Week.

    We hope that these reviews offer a way for teachers and educators to learn about new titles that will enhance their classrooms and provide a wide variety of choices for young readers. For extra web resources to help you celebrate libraries and librarians, you can look at ReadWriteThink, the National Library Week page by ALA, and the School Library Month page by ALA.

     

    Grades K-2

    Capucilli, Alyssa Satin. (2014).  Biscuit loves the library. Illus. by Pat Schories. New York: HarperCollins.

    Biscuit Loves the LibraryFrom the My First I Can Read series, the beloved Biscuit is back. Modeled after the author’s own dog, this playful yellow puppy is enjoying Read to Your Pet Day at the library. He plays with the story-time puppets, he listens to records, and he visits with all his friends for a most enjoyable day. Before the day is over the librarian helps Biscuit discover the activity that he delights in the most. This beginning reader is a great way to promote the wonders and offerings of the library. Young readers will also enjoy “Happy Easter, Biscuit!” Visit the author’s website for more on the World of Biscuit and her other wonderful stories or download this maze from the publisher’s website. Biscuit even has his own Facebook page!

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Greene, Rhonda Gowler. (2013). No pirates allowed! Said Library Lou.  Illus. by Brian Ajhar. Sleeping Bear Press.

    No Pirates Allowed Said Library LouBig Pirate Pete and his parrot burst into the library and demand to know where the treasure is hidden! Though the other library patrons cower at this outburst, brave Library Lou faces the burly pirate and in no uncertain terms lets him know that she will be happy to help him AFTER he takes a shower and comes back with clean clothes (ugh! Smelly underwear!) Pirate Pete returns and Lou begins to show him that reading is more than “X marks the spot” and the real treasure in the library is on the shelves of books containing stories of all kinds. Told in rhymed text and combining pirates, treasure, and good books, this is a must for National Library Week. Teachers will find an extensive Common Core aligned teacher’s guide, book trailer, and a reader’s theater script at the author’s website.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Johnson, Angela. (2013).  Lottie Paris and the best place.  Illus. by Scott M. Fischer. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

    Lottie Paris and the Best PlaceFrom multiple-award winning author Angela Johnson, her return character Lottie Paris has discovered that the library is “the best place in the world.” Her father takes her to the library, where Lottie reads all the books about space, even though sometimes it is a little difficult to follow all the library’s rules, like being quiet. Carl has also discovered that the library is the “best place in the world” as his sister regularly brings him there to read about dinosaurs. He, too, has a little trouble with the rules like not blowing bubbles and keeping food away from the books. When Lottie and Carl meet in the children’s reading room, they become instant friends. Mixed-media illustrations that sometimes go right off the page bring vibrancy to the story and the friendship.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    King, M.G. (2013). Librarian on the roof; a true story.  Illus. by Stephen Gilpin. AV2 by Weigl.

    Librarian on the RoofThe roof of the oldest public library in Texas was where librarian RoseAleta Laurell spent a week in October (2010) in an effort to get sponsors for an unusual fundraiser. She was trying to raise money to spend on improvements in the children’s room and to purchase computers and Internet access for this rural community in Lockhart, Texas. Facing storms, the brave librarian was able to raise almost twice the amount of money, over $39,000, she had targeted as her original goal as the community banded together for the project. Cartoon-style illustrations present the larger than life action of this true tale at the Dr. Eugene Clark Library. Use this 4-minute video from NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates in Lockhart, Texas, to see the TV report of this remarkable librarian. Read more about the backstory and find other printables and resources at the author’s website (reprinted from the original Albert Whitman, 2010, publication).

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Morrison, Toni. (2014). Please, Louise. Illus. by Shadra Strickland. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

    Please, LouiseTogether with her son Slade, Pulitzer-Prize winning author Toni Morrison was inspired to write this story as she recalled her experiences working in a library as a young girl. Donned in a bright yellow raincoat and umbrella, a young girl embarks on a slightly scary journey to the library. When she arrives, she discovers that she truly has found “shelter from the storm.” Written in rhymed couplets and illustrated with delicate watercolor and gouache illustrations, Louise finds that the library shelves open up a myriad of doors, stories, and ideas that she curiously delves into. As the day ends and she is stretched out on the floor of the library, she prepares for the walk home. Sunshine and a few seemingly scary scenarios from the earlier dark and gloomy morning walk are now far away as she finds her fears were unfounded. Told through the reflective voice of the author, this tribute to reading and literacy beautifully unfolds. Illustrator Shadra Strickland has created a video to share the launch of the book and also to announce the contest she sponsored for people to write in and share their favorite library moment—something teachers might like to try!

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Parish, Herman. (2013).  Amelia Bedelia’s first library card. New York: Greenwillow Books.

    Amelia Bedelia First Library CardHerman Parish, nephew of the original author Peggy Parish, has continued the much loved Amelia Bedelia books, this time taking young readers on a trip to the library. Parish has presented Amelia as a young girl who is with her elementary class as they tour the library and learn about the book stacks, though not haystacks or pancake stacks. Amelia checks out a book on weather and later, woe is me, forgets and leaves the book outside when a thunderstorm pops up. The book is ruined. Amelia and her mother take the soggy remains and present them to the librarian who accepts their apology and their offer to pay for the book in addition to the apology cupcake Amelia has made. Students and teachers might enjoy an interview with Herman Parish at Reading Rockets. For more about Amelia Bedelia and classroom resources for these books, visit the publisher’s website.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Pinborough, Jan. (2013). Miss Moore thought otherwise; how Anne Carroll Moore created libraries for children. Illus by Debby Atwell. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.  

    Miss Moore Thought OtherwiseGrowing up in the 1870s in Limerick, Maine, Anne Carroll Moore was the youngest child of seven older brothers. It was a time when children were not allowed to visit libraries or check out books, and girls were not encouraged to become readers. This strong-willed young woman decided to go to New York where she got a job as a librarian at the New York Public Library. In 1911, she created the Central Children’s Room in this new building designed especially for children. Window seats, bright light, artwork, and the pleasure of checking out much-loved books created the atmosphere to encourage children to enjoy the pleasure of reading. From these early years through her retirement, Miss Moore traveled the United States advocating for the creation of children’s privileges and designated areas in libraries just for children. For more information on the life and efforts of this library pioneer, visit the book’s own website. A YouTube video is a great introduction to the book and Miss Moore, using archival photographs of the era. In addition, The Classroom Bookshelf Blog offers many teaching ideas for using the book, especially as National Library Week and School Library Month are upon us. 


    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Grades 3-5

    Grabenstein, Chris. (2013).  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s library. New York: Random House.

    Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's LibraryAlexandriaville has a new public library designed by the rather eccentric game designer Luigi Lemoncello. Class clown Kyle Keeley has entered his essay into the contest to spend an all night lock-in on the evening of the opening day of the library. Kyle and the other 11 winners discover that another challenge awaits them during their overnight stay. “Find your way out of the library using only what’s in the library.” Each kid has some skills to bring to the challenge and the fun begins as they race through the library finding clues and answers for their escape. References to well-known book titles, puns, clues from the Dewey Decimal system, reality show setting similarities, and video game technology make this book a laugh-filled yet intriguing library adventure.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Kerrin, Jessica Scott. (2013). The spotted dog last seen. Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press.

    The Spotted Dog Last SeenDerek Knowles-Collier is working on his school-assigned community service project. Derek and his friends have volunteered to work in their local cemetery, and they are actually learning a great deal from the gravestones and epitaphs. On rainy days they meet in the library and hear about the cemetery from older members of the community. Looking at some mystery books one rainy library day, Derek and his friends discover secret codes written in the margins of several books. The code leads them to a hidden time capsule. A side story involves recurring nightmares that Derek has about his best friend, Dennis, who was hit by a car and killed when rushing after a ball kicked by Derek. Working in the cemetery is scary for Derek, but also allows him to confront his fears. The author weaves between humor and sorrow that middle school readers can understand. A secret code at the end invites a challenge for readers! At the publisher’s website, teachers will find a live action video that can be used as in introduction to the book. In addition, the publisher has created a teacher guide to the novel.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Grades 6-8

    Bodden, Valerie. (2013). Navigating the library. Illus. by Elwood H. Smith. Mankato, MN: Creative Education.

    Navigating the LibraryThe research process is the focus of this book with special emphasis on information literacy. Using a cartoon-like format, the author guides readers in selecting and narrowing a research topic and then finding and evaluating resources to dig into the topic. Pathways to books and online databases are suggested. This narrative guide takes a step-by-step approach to active research. Found in the back of the book are extensive bibliographies and online resources for further study.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Boucher, Francoize. (2014). The book that will make you love books. New York: Walker Books for Young Readers/Bloomsbury.

    The book that will make you love booksWith cartoon-style illustrations and lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, the author discusses why books and reading are important. Reading is not only useful, but it is also fun. From looking smart to going places you’ve never been, this laugh out-loud book offers all kinds of rationales for why books are so fun. And perhaps the best rationale: you never lose the remote control! This offers great daily read aloud fun during National Library Week or any literacy celebration.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant


    Downey, Jen Swann. (2014). The ninja librarians: the accidental keyhand. Naperville, IL: Sourcebook, Jabberwocky.

    The Ninja LibrariansWho doesn't admire a warrior librarian especially during National Library Week? Middle School readers will enjoy this action-packed adventure as Dorrie and her brother Marcus fall through a hole in the back of a closet in their local library and plummet into a time portal and into Petrarch's Library. This is the training ground for apprentices to become ninja librarians, or Lybrarians. Their task is to save famous writers from all over the world and in many historical settings from dangers that lurk that could prevent their world renown tales from being read and admired by people throughout time. Socrates, Cyrano de Bergerac, Casanova and other library-loving writers and librarians through the ages make appearances. Fantasy, history and adventure come together for a very exciting tale that emphasizes the importance of free speech. Read an interview with this debut author at the Reading Nook Reviews blog or read more about the author at her website. Teachers might like to introduce the book with this book trailer or put a link on your classroom webpage. 

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Grades 9-12

    Bennett, Alan. (2012). The library book. London: Profile Books, Ltd.

    The Library BookThis collection of fiction and nonfiction short stories, memoirs, and excerpts from books comes to readers from the United Kingdom. The author has compiled the thoughts of 23 authors and their reflections on libraries and how libraries have been important to them. Some of these essays will be perfect for teachers who are looking for short text pieces in time to celebrate National Library Week or School Library Month. Reading how these authors discovered their love of libraries and love of books might prove to be inspirational for some teens. One fact that readers are sure to notice is how libraries have changed in recent years now offering so much to so many.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Schwab, Victoria. (2013). The archived.  New York: Hyperion.

    The ArchivedThe supernatural, fantasy fiction, and the library. This combination of terms sets the scene for the first book in the Archived series. The Archive is a cross between a mausoleum and a library where dead bodies are kept on shelves and called Histories. Occasionally, one will wake up and try to find its way to the outside world.
    The Keepers are in the Archive to prevent this very thing from happening. Each body has a story to tell and it is only the Librarians who can interpret the pictures on the bodies. MacKenzie Bishop was introduced to the labyrinthine Archive by her father several years earlier. He is gone now and it is Mac’s responsibility to take up the job as a Keeper, ensuring the private sleep of the Histories is not disturbed. But something is happening and someone is purposefully altering Histories and erasing important parts of the past. In constant danger and uncertainty, the future of the Archive and the loss of what Histories maintain is threatened.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Schwab, Victoria. (2014). The unbound; an archived novel.  New York: Hyperion.

    The Unbound an archived novelThis is the second book in the Archived series. Narrowly escaping with her life in Book #1, Keeper MacKenzie Bishop is starting her junior year in high school at Hyde. Her psychic gifts and training as a Keeper have helped her stay alive, but things are changing and she has become a suspect as people begin to vanish. With the possibility of losing everything, including her life, Mac feels she must find out who is responsible for all that is missing and perhaps gone forever. She feels certain that something in the Archive has gone terribly wrong as the violent Histories continue to escape. This fantasy thriller will appeal to sci-fi/fantasy readers who love psychological other worlds.

    -Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Other great books that pay tribute to libraries and librarians from earlier years and around the world:

    “Biblioburro; a true tale from Colombia” -Jeanette Winter
    “Book Fiesta” -Pat Mora
    “Dewey, the Library Cat”-Vicki Myron
    “Down Cut Shin Creek; the packhorse librarians of Kentucky”-Kathi Appelt
    “Goin’ Someplace Special” -at McKissack
    “Hands Around the Library”-Susan Roth and Karen Abouraya
    “The Librarian of Basra” -Jeanette Winter
    “The Library Card” -Jerry Spinelli
    “The Library Dragon;” and “The Return of the Library Dragon”-Carmen Agra Deedy
    “My Librarian is a Camel” -Margriet Ruurs
    “Please Bury Me in the Library” -J. Patrick Lewis
    “Richard Wright and the Library Card” - William Miller
    “Tomas and the library lady” -Pat Mora
    "Wild About Books” -Judy Sierra

    Additional Resources:

    The Reading Rockets website offers an excellent list of books about Libraries and Librarians.

    Check out: The Declaration for the Right to School Libraries.

    Digital Literacy celebrates National Library Week.

    Lesson plan ideas for National Library Week from Education World.

    More ideas from The Busy Librarian blog.

    For Pinterest fans, check out these library activities.

    These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online. 

    The CL/R SIG is accepting submissions to the fall 2014 edition of their journal, The Dragon Lode, through April 15, 2014. There is an open theme, and they invite manuscripts that explore contemporary issues and questions, genre study, literary theory, and research related to children's literature and reading. Manuscripts should be no longer than 20 double-spaced, typed pages. Use APA (6th edition) formatting. Author's name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address should be on a separate cover page. Photos and illustrations should be sent as a separate jpeg file. Any reference to the author that would enable the reviewer to know the author's identity should not appear in the manuscript. Submit all manuscripts to: Dr. Ruth McKoy Lowery, Co-editor.

    CL/R SIG will host a special session entitled Children's Literature: The Perfect Teachable Moment on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. The session celebrates award-winning children's and young adult books and authors. Author Nancy Bo Flood is the keynote session speaker. Her work encompasses more than a dozen books. Her recent historical fiction "Warriors in the Crossfire" is set in Saipan during WWII, and was selected on the 2011 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list. The NBGS list represents selections and authors from all genres K-12, with a focus on understanding of and appreciation for the world's full range of diverse cultures, ethnic, and racial groups. The session will also include presentation of the 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list by members of the selection committee. Visit http://www.iraconference.org to learn more about IRA 2014 or to register. 

     

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  • For many attendees, one of the delights of the International Reading Association Annual Conference is the chance to hear authors of children’s and young adult literature discuss their books and tell the stories behind the characters, themes, and settings found in those books.
    • Reading Lists
    • Blog Posts
    • Book Reviews

    Books by Authors You'll See at IRA14

    by the CL/R SIG
     | Apr 07, 2014

    For many attendees, one of the delights of the International Reading Association Annual Conference is the chance to hear authors of children’s and young adult literature discuss their books and tell the stories behind the characters, themes, and settings found in those books.

    There is nothing quite as inspiring as listening to a beloved author ruminate about the inspiration for a book, share his/her creative process, or even tell anecdotes about the writing process. For bibliophiles, these author sightings are enough to keep us energized until the next year’s conference. In this week’s book review column, members of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group highlight a few of the books written by authors who will appear at Conference.

     

    Grades K-3

    Robinson, Sharon. (2014). Under the same sun. New York, NY: Scholastic.

    Under the Same Sun | Reading Today OnlineTo celebrate an important milestone—her eighty-fifth birthday—a grandmother and her daughter travel to Tanzania to see their family. The author describes the eager anticipation and preparation of the adults and children who can’t wait to be reunited with the American branch of their family. As is the case for many families, storytelling and eating are a large part of the celebration. But this reunion has a somber note as well when the family visits the site of a slave-trading outpost and ponders the exquisite loss of a family separated and torn from its geographic and cultural roots.

    Young readers will appreciate this gentle introduction to the diaspora and the different choices made by members of the family in modern times. The acrylic illustrations show this lively family enjoying the time it has together. The inclusion of photographs of the actual Robinson family in the back matter adds to the story’s poignancy and authenticity.  Being separated makes the time the children and the adults in their lives spend together even more precious.

    Sharon Robinson will present at Somewhere Over The Rainbow: The Search For Literacy And Social Responsibilityon Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. and at the "I Can See Myself!" Identity and Diversity Author Panelon Monday, May 12 at 11:00 a.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    McDonald, Megan. (2014). Judy Moody & friends: Jessica Finch in pig trouble & Rocky Zang in the amazing Mr. Magic. Illus. by Erwin Madrid. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

    Judy Moody and Friends | Reading Today OnlineIn a new series featuring the irrepressible and always-popular Judy Moody and some of her friends, these two separate stories highlight two youngsters who have great expectations. Judy plays a supporting role in both stories. In the first title, Jessica would love to have a pig as her birthday present, but when she and Judy Moody look around her house for signs of the pig, they find only pig-themed gifts. Jessica is at first disappointed and then becomes angry when she thinks Judy is keeping secrets from her. In fact, she becomes so annoyed that she no longer wants Judy to attend her party. But Judy's secret might make Jessica’s wishes come true.

    In the second title, everyone’s favorite third grader provides a little help—make that some disruptions—to her friend Rocky Zang as he tries out several magic tricks. Readers will surely be amused by all the hijinks described in the book, and how the tricks go so very, very wrong. Many of them will relate to Rocky's determination to pull off some nifty tricks and amaze others, too.

    Megan McDonald will speak at the Primary Literature Luncheon on Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 p.m. Tickets are required for this event.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Grades 4-6

    Flood, Nancy Bo. (2013). Cowboy up! Ride the Navajo rodeo. Illus. by Jan Sonnemair. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press/Wordsong.

    Cowboy Up | Reading Today OnlineEighteen poems written in different voices are juxtaposed with informational text and commentary from a rodeo announcer in this book. The poems provide insight into Navajo rodeos, weekly events that draw competitors from all over. Not only do these competitions provide entertainment, unite families, and provide a place to socialize and enjoy good food, but they also offer a chance for youngsters to test their nerves and strength.

    The book contains vignettes and large, colorful photographs featuring the ever-present sheep, horses, and bulls—all essential parts of the rodeo. There are also descriptions of fast-paced barrel racing and feats requiring courage and stamina. The back matter provides additional information about the history of rodeos, and readers will be curious to learn even more about these events so common in the western portion of the nation. For those unable to saddle up, the book provides a vicarious thrill ride.

    Nancy Bo Flood will present at Children's Literature: The Perfect Teachable Moment on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman


    Kinney, Jeff. (2013). Diary of a wimpy kid: Hard luck. New York, NY: Abrams/Amulet Books.

    Diary of a Wimpy Kid 8 | Reading Today OnlineIt seems that Greg Heffley may never run out of things to say or write about, a fact which must please fans of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Poor Greg Heffley is down on his luck and completely on his own now that his BFF Rowley spends all his time with his new girlfriend, Abigail, who dislikes Greg. What’s a wimpy kid to do?
    Desperate for someone to hang out with at school, Greg considers joining various clubs and even befriending someone else. But still, a good friend like Rowley—despite his flaws—seems impossible to come by. Various amusing vignettes about Greg’s family, including his mother's sisters and their children, are threaded through the main plotline. While it's clear that they love each other, it's also clear that some of his relatives have an unattractive and greedy side.

    When Greg finds a Magic 8 Ball, he decides to let it determine his future actions. Of course, this leads to many problems. Although the book is hilarious as usual, it also has serious moments surrounding Greg’s perception of his childhood. As the author digs further into Greg’s family dynamics and classroom challenges, readers laugh and learn about navigating middle school.

    Jeff Kinney will be the keynote speaker at the General Session held on Saturday, May 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Mlynowski, Sarah. (2013). Whatever after: Dream on. New York. NY: Scholastic.

    Whatever After Dream On | Reading Today OnlineIn the fourth installment of this revisionary fairy tale series, Abby and her younger brother Jonah end up going back through the magical looking glass in her basement when her best friend Robin stumbles into the fairy tale world. Fans of fractured fairy tales will enjoy this one immensely as the youngsters end up in the world of Sleeping Beauty and find a princess who can't see all the wonderful reasons she has to be happy right under her nose.

    While Robin slumbers on after pricking her finger on a spindle, Princess Brianna is angry to have missed out on the curse intended for her, and what she is sure will be a much better future. Readers will enjoy the interplay between the siblings as well as the interesting dynamics among the fairies as they arrive to bestow gifts on Jonah who pretends to be having a birthday. All of the titles in the Whatever Afterseries are delightful, and this one is no exception with its humor and character development.

    Sarah Mlynowski will present at Special Interest Group Network of Adolescent Literature (SIGNAL): Experiencing Adolescent Literature with E. Lockhart on Sunday, May 11 at 11:00 a.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Pilkey, Dav. (2013). Captain Underpants and the revolting revenge of the radioactive robo-boxers. New York, NY: Scholastic.

    Captain Underpants | Reading Today OnlineThis series just keeps getting better and better, and while much of the humor may not appeal to some adults, it has kid-appeal written all over it with its humor and the characters’ crazy antics. Only the grumpiest of individuals can fail to be amused by the adventures of George and Harold, not to mention Captain Underpants, and the many versions of Tippy Tinkletrousers. The names alone are enough to make readers titter in glee. They will surely hoot in delight at the various iterations of this villain as they peek out from the man’s unzipped pants.

    The focus of this volume is a revisionist history behind the Ice Age, the extinction of the dinosaurs, and other tidbits concerning early humans. The Flip-O-Rama that allows readers to animate a few pages' worth of drawings adds to the delights of reading this one, the tenth in the series. Even the chapter titles are witty; for instance, "Have an Ice Day!" (p. 158).

    Dav Pilkey will be the keynote speaker at the General Session on Sunday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Grades 7-8

    Swinburne, Stephen R. (2014). Sea turtle scientist. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    Sea Turtle Scientist | Reading Today OnlineThe close-ups of the sea turtles that scientists are dedicated to saving and the lively, engaging text offers readers reasons to care about the fate of these creatures. The author provides a sandy observation post during the mother turtles’ laborious process prior to depositing their eggs on the beach. The turtles heave their cumbersome bodies across the sand in search of a safe place, and then dig a body cavity for the eggs with their flippers. After covering them with sand, the female turtles head back to the ocean where they can move more fluidly.

    While the turtles are the reason for the book, the text focuses on the work of Dr. Kimberly Stewart who studies the turtles that nest on the beaches of St. Kitts. She counts the number of eggs laid by the mother turtles and works to involve the community in protecting them. Readers will be swept up by the enthusiasm of those who care about turtles and their hatchlings' perilous journey to the sea. This fine addition about a unique type of science is another excellent addition to an already stellar series dedicated to scientists’ work in the field.

    Stephen R. Swinburne will present at Authors, Teachers, and Teacher Educators: Sharing Teachable Moments for Reading and Writing in the Middle Grades on Sunday, May 11, at 11:00 a.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Grades 9-12

    de la Peña, Matt. (2013). The living. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

    The Living | Reading Today OnlineWhile some of the elements from this author's earlier books can be found in this one—cultural identity issues, romantic yearnings, family dynamics, encounters with racism—he explores new territory in this title. Although all the protagonists in his earlier books are survivors in one way or the other, this one explores survival at its most basic level. The book's protagonist is Shy, a California high school teen who takes a job on a cruise ship. He intends to use the money he will make to help ease his family's financial burdens. Shy has no idea that his “glamorous” job will come close to costing his life.

    After an earthquake shatters parts of the west coast, a tsunami topples the ship. Through sheer luck, Shy manages to survive and ends up in a boat with Addison, the daughter of a wealthy passenger who had dissed him earlier. While the two use their limited resources to survive, Shy realizes that there is a connection between Addison’s father and the man who committed suicide on an earlier voyage. When they are finally rescued, their salvation may not be as clear as they think. There seem to be links between the island where they have found shelter and the origin of Romero Disease, the deadly plague that has claimed the life of Shy's grandmother. Teen readers will be riveted by the description of the enormous waves that crash into the cruise ship and the ever-hungry sharks circling the wreckage for survivors.

    It's nearly impossible to categorize this one—Is it an adventure story, a story of survival, a medical thriller, a romance, a post-apocalyptic slice of life, or a modern version of the Titanic? But de la Peña’s fans will eagerly await “The Hunted,” the next book in this series.

    Matt de la Peña will speak at the Young Adult Literature Luncheon on Sunday, May 11 at 12:00 p.m. Tickets are required for this event.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Stiefvater, Maggie. (2013). The Raven boys. New York, NY: Scholastic.

    The Raven Boys | Reading Today OnlineAs usual, Blue Sargent and her psychic mother stand in a churchyard on St. Mark’s Day, April 25, as those destined to die during the next year file by. For the first time, Blue herself hears the voice of one of the poor souls, Gansey, a boy born into a life of privilege and great wealth.

    Gansey and his friends attend an exclusive local private school, and their lives become intertwined with that of Blue, who is in on a mission to keep him alive. As the story unfolds, readers realize that all of the characters are harboring secrets. Some won't even be surprising: Of course, the Latin teacher with the odd last name of Whelk has a somewhat sordid past that leads him to increasingly risky behavior. Gansey is in search of ley lines and a connection to the past while Adam, Blue's love interest, endures an abusive home life.

    Fans of the supernatural will love the book and its successor “The Dream Thieves” (2013) and all the odd characters and happenings in the small Virginia town where the series takes place. The writing is engaging, the characters intriguingly complex, and the book hooks readers from its very first page. “The Raven Boys” and “The Dream Thieves” will steal into your slumber and turn those innocent dreams into nightmares.

    Maggie Stiefvater will present at Discover Your Spirit Animal: Children Reading Multi-Platform Books in the 21st Century on Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. and Kick-Ass Girls in YA Lit: Who They Are and Why We Need Them on Sunday, May 11 at 11:00 a.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Yang, Gene Luen. (2013). Boxers & saints. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press/First Second.

    Boxers | Reading Today OnlineSet near the end of the nineteenth century in the Northern Shan-tung Province in China, this emotionally stunning and informative graphic novel boxed set provides readers with insight into the Boxer Rebellion in China. Once again, Gene Luen Yang explores cultural identity through important historical events while also examining their effects on individuals. In “Boxers,” Little Bao watches as foreigners destroy two men he admires. The boy grows into a man who forms a group called the Big Sword Society. Their goal is to rid the country of the foreigners who seem to be overrunning their country while replacing traditional beliefs with Christianity.

    Somehow harnessing the power of his Chinese ancestors, Bao has good intentions but little compassion. In one especially compelling scene, he orders his followers to burn the sanctuary where several Christians, white and Chinese, have sought safety, while justifying his decision because of their supposed sins. The book's images are stunning, and its messages about intolerance, power, and cultural values hit hard. When he burns the famous library in Peking with all of its literary treasures to get to the foreigners on the other side, Mei-wen, a follower whose mother was killed by some disreputable Chinese Christians, reminds him that in so doing he has destroyed China's people and her stories.

    In the companion volume, “Saints,” readers follow the misadventures of Four-Girl, whose very name indicates her family's bad fortune. When her grandfather dies, she is convinced that she killed him, and then eventually drawn to Christianity since she thinks it will make her even more evil. Instead, her new religion offers her friendship and a new name, Vibiana, and she leaves her village. While she finds some measure of happiness in her new home, Bao’s Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist is not far behind, and they murder the Christians. Because the two books cover some of the same events from different perspectives, readers will feel torn about what is right and what is wrong. In the end, the line between those who are sinners and those who are saints is a fine one, as Boxers & Saints shows time and time again.

    Gene Luen Yang will present at A Plethora of Possibilities: Connecting Graphic Novels to the Common Core State Standards on Monday, May 12 at 1:00 p.m.

    -Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman


    These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online

    The CL/R SIG is accepting submissions to the fall 2014 edition of their journal, The Dragon Lode, through April 15, 2014. There is an open theme, and they invite manuscripts that explore contemporary issues and questions, genre study, literary theory, and research related to children's literature and reading. Manuscripts should be no longer than 20 double-spaced, typed pages. Use APA (6th edition) formatting. Author's name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address should be on a separate cover page. Photos and illustrations should be sent as a separate jpeg file. Any reference to the author that would enable the reviewer to know the author's identity should not appear in the manuscript. Submit all manuscripts to: Dr. Ruth McKoy Lowery, Co-editor.

    CL/R SIG will host a special session entitled Children's Literature: The Perfect Teachable Moment on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. The session celebrates award-winning children's and young adult books and authors. Author Nancy Bo Flood is the keynote session speaker. Her work encompasses more than a dozen books. Her recent historical fiction "Warriors in the Crossfire" is set in Saipan during WWII, and was selected on the 2011 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list. The NBGS list represents selections and authors from all genres K-12, with a focus on understanding of and appreciation for the world's full range of diverse cultures, ethnic, and racial groups. The session will also include presentation of the 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list by members of the selection committee. Visit http://www.iraconference.org to learn more about IRA 2014 or to register. 

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  • This week’s reviews from the Children’s Literature Special Interest Group share new favorite books that celebrate the Earth’s diverse habitats and weather, and explore conservation’s human side as well as ways nature has inspired technology.
    • Blog Posts
    • Reading Lists
    • Book Reviews

    Celebrating Life, Celebrating Earth

    The CL/R SIG
     | Mar 31, 2014

    “Tug on anything at all and you'll find it connected to everything else in the universe.”—John Muir, “Return of the Condor” (p. 179).

    Earth Day Book Reviews on Reading Today Online

    Happy Earth Day! More than 190 countries will celebrate Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22, for the 44th time. Earth Day celebrations go on for the entire week in many parts of the United States. Observation of Earth Day centers on supporting protection of the environment and adopting Earth-friendly practices. Individuals, families, schools, and communities can join the Earth Day celebrations.

    There are several ideas for Earth Day celebrations at school at EcoKids. For anyone interested in starting something that involves the entire community, there are ideas about how to organize a maze, Ecothon, and other great events to celebrate Earth Day here.

    This week’s reviews from the Children’s Literature Special Interest Group share new favorite books that celebrate the Earth’s diverse habitats and weather, and explore conservation’s human side as well as ways nature has inspired technology. Let us join hands and celebrate the Earth and take some steps toward saving the only home we have.  

     

    Grades K-2

    Bluemle, E. (2014). Tap tap boom boom. Illus. by Brian Karas. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

    Tap Tap Boom Boom | Reading Today OnlineWeather is an interesting phenomenon to teach, experience, and watch. In one New York neighborhood, a storm creates memorable moments in the lives of the city’s inhabitants. When the downpour increases, one by one, they head underground where they share food and fellowship. Soon the soaking folks have drip-dried and the rain stops tap-tapping.

    When they go above ground, a beautiful rainbow and sunshine greet the New Yorkers. All of them leave the shelter of the subway station with happy smiles for the cherished moments. Great for reading aloud and to start conversations about weather, the book presents an interesting reaction and experience to a normal weather phenomenon.  

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Gleisner, J. L. (2014). We celebrate Earth Day in spring. Ann Harbor, MI: Cherry Lake Publishing.

    We Celebrate Earth Day in Spring | Reading Today OnlineThis book introduces the youngest readers to Earth Day celebrations and shows them ways that they can participate in the festivities. One class recycles newspapers. Others participate in cleaning up the park. Simple text and engaging pictures with children provide context to engage young readers.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Peschke, M. (2014). Kylie Jean: Green Queen. Illus. by Tuesday Mourning. North Mankato, MA: Picture Window Books.

    Kylie Jean Green Queen | Reading Today OnlineWhile fiction books on environmental themes are rather rare, it is even more difficult to find such books for early readers. In this book, Kylie Jean is determined to celebrate Earth Day. She comes up with a plan and invites her friends to join. Soon, they plan to clean up their trash-filled school yard and repair and repaint its play things.

    Kylie Jean is one lucky girl—her entire family, from her grandma to her youngest cousin, lives in Jacksonville, Texas. Therefore, she has no problem attracting participants into the program. However, Kylie had no idea that the older family members in her family would be impressed by her enthusiasm so that they, too, beautify Jacksonville. All through the book sustainability tips are included for students to follow. Passages in this book can also be adapted for a play.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Berkes, M. (2014). The swamp where the gator hides. Illus. by Roberta Baird. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publications.

    The Swamp Where Gator Hides | Reading Today OnlineHabitats are filled with hundreds of creatures. From the algae to the gators, all of them have complex and intricate relationships with each other. This title explores these interconnections among species and habitats marvelously. The gator hides under the algae while the other animals are going about their business in the swamp. Turtle, snake, frog, deer, egret, vole, and bobcat are all depicted doing their activities around the water when the gator jumps out.
    Who will be his lunch today? The text and pictures capture a delightful rhyming story for younger readers about a thrilling moment in the swamp. This title is great for reading in the classroom as it invites young readers to join in making the sounds.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Grades 3-5

    Stewart, M. (2014). Feathers: Not just for flying. Illus. by Sarah Brannen. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

    Feathers Not Just for Flying | Reading Today OnlineBirds and feathers go together. But what are feathers for? Melissa Stewart has created another masterful book on the wonders and many uses of feathers. Feathers can serve as a blanket, a cushion, or an umbrella. Feathers protect birds from sunburn, soak up the water like a sponge, or provide camouflage. Some feathers are fancy and attract attention. Others are strong and tough like a backhoe. Feathers can glide like a sled. Each use is illustrated with species and specific details. The back matter has details regarding kinds of feathers and a write up by the author provides more information for education. Teachers can use this book as a virtual field trip in the classroom.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman


    Salas, L. P. (2014). Water can be… Illus. by Violeta Dabija. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press.

    Water Can Be... | Reading Today OnlineWater is water. Or is it? This delightful book introduces readers to the various uses of water and the parts of the water cycle. The book begins with “Water can be a… tadpole hatcher” (unpaged) and then provides various everyday connections such as picture catcher, downhill speeder, kid drencher, before entering into the part of water cycle using scientific terms such as “fog” and “frost.” In the end the author talks about more variations of water—ice and snow.
    Illustrated with delightful, evocative pictures filled with details, the water sparkles in both prose and pictures. This is a great addition for school and any teacher’s personal library. Back matter introduces teachers and readers to more information about water and the water cycle.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Brett, J. (2014). Wild about bears. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

    Wild About Bears | Reading Today OnlineThere are only eight kinds of bears around the world. The author takes the readers through a journey to meet the bears. From the cloud forests to the polar regions, bears live in various habitats. Often exploited and misunderstood, bears are an important species that contributes to the Earth’s biodiversity.

    The book also discusses the subspecies of bears—the Kodiak bear of Alaska’s Kodiak Island is a subspecies of brown bear. And offers interesting facts—the brown bear has the largest home range of any land mammal, and if food is scarce, the bears may roam up to one thousand square miles.

    The back matter provides readers with maps of bear species’ distribution and a habitat glossary. This is a great book for use in classroom. It can be paired with favorites such as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?”

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University, Pullman

     

    Grades 6-8

    Lasky, K. (2009). One beetle too many: The extraordinary adventures of Charles Darwin.  Illus. by Matthew Trueman. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Biographies.

    One Beetle Too Many | Reading Today OnlineCharles Darwin’s fascinating life and contributions to life sciences unfold in a graceful manner under the skillful and expert writing of Kathryn Lasky. Beginning with his childhood, the author traces Charlie’s love for beetles and bugs. He was sent to boarding school, but failed miserably. When he went to Scotland to become a medical doctor, he hated both anatomy and theology. But a letter from his friend changed his life forever. The letter held tickets for sailing into the unknown world. Everyone he knew, his father and sisters, uncles and aunts, all objected to this wild scheme. But Charles was determined to travel.

    On his voyage and during landfalls, he watched ants, spiders, snakes, lizards, chameleons, and birds. He encountered earthquakes and giant tortoises. Back home, Charles began synthesizing all the observations and information he had. His idea that all beings on Earth evolved from simpler life forms caused great uproar. A life filled with study of all creatures is wonderfully illustrated.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Grades 8-12

    Davies, N. (2013). The lion who stole my arm. Illus. by Annabel Wright. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

    The Lion Who Stole My Arm | Reading Today OnlineBooks that explore the human-animal conflict are important for young readers. They present the complex situations that put people directly in the path of the animals. Some human-animal interactions have not been favorable for the animals, and have resulted in their extinction.

    In this slim volume, Nicola Davies tells the story of Pedru, who is waiting to avenge the lion who stole his arm. He is devastated because he always wanted to be a great hunter like his father. However, his father says, “…the finest tools of the hunter, your eyes and your ears, are still working… You do not need two arms to be strong (p. 12).”

    The lion continues to create havoc in the local villages. Pedru and his father decide to hunt down the creature. But the lion is clever and gives them the slip every time. While chasing the lion, they encounter three researchers who are studying lions. Pedru asks them to collar the lion that is troubling the village. After seeing the data for several other radio-collared lions and their cubs, he gradually begins to feel empathy for them. When he shares the drawing of the lion that attacked him, he not only learns the lion’s name—Anjani—but also learns the pedigree and its kith and kin. When he encounters Anjani next, will he raise his spear to kill or work to protect the lions? This a great book for book club and class discussion.

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

     

    Gregory, J. (2014). From butterfly wings to display technology. Ann Harbor, MI: Cherry Lake Publishing.

    From Butterfly Wings to Display Technology | Reading Today OnlineSeveral fantastic modern innovations are inspired by nature. How does innovation happen? It partly relies on being open to different perspectives and sharing failures and successes with others. Cell phones, iPads, computer screens, and billboards are all heralding messages through using the best digital technology available today. That modern display technology is inspired by one of nature’s wondrous creations, butterfly wings.

    In the natural world, butterfly wings play an important role. They help butterflies avoid predators, attract mates, and offer camouflage. Butterfly wings are even colored differently to capture the beauty of the display. Almost all the electronic screens today use LCD technology that has been inspired by the sky and the light scattering from the sun. This highly technical book will be an exciting read for students interested in both technology and nature. 

    -Rani Iyer, Washington State University Pullman

    These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online

    The CL/R SIG is accepting submissions to the fall 2014 edition of their journal, The Dragon Lode, through April 15, 2014. There is an open theme, and they invite manuscripts that explore contemporary issues and questions, genre study, literary theory, and research related to children's literature and reading. Manuscripts should be no longer than 20 double-spaced, typed pages. Use APA (6th edition) formatting. Author's name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address should be on a separate cover page. Photos and illustrations should be sent as a separate jpeg file. Any reference to the author that would enable the reviewer to know the author's identity should not appear in the manuscript. Submit all manuscripts to: Dr. Ruth McKoy Lowery, Co-editor.

    CL/R SIG will host a special session entitled Children's Literature: The Perfect Teachable Moment on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. The session celebrates award-winning children's and young adult books and authors. Author Nancy Bo Flood is the keynote session speaker. Her work encompasses more than a dozen books. Her recent historical fiction "Warriors in the Crossfire" is set in Saipan during WWII, and was selected on the 2011 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list. The NBGS list represents selections and authors from all genres K-12, with a focus on understanding of and appreciation for the world's full range of diverse cultures, ethnic, and racial groups. The session will also include presentation of the 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list by members of the selection committee. Visit http://www.iraconference.org to learn more about IRA 2014 or to register. 

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  • In March we celebrate Women’s History Month. In recent years, many engaging books about women have been published, especially in the new genre of picture book biographies and in nonfiction narratives...
    • Blog Posts
    • Reading Lists
    • Book Reviews

    Strength and Achievement: Books for Women's History Month

    by the CL/R SIG
     | Mar 10, 2014

    Books for Women's History Month | Reading Today OnlineIn March we celebrate Women’s History Month. In recent years, many engaging books about women have been published, especially in the new genre of picture book biographies and in nonfiction narratives about the role of women in history. Authors have taken a deeper look at many behind the scene scenarios where women actually played a pivotal role in making or changing history.

    The Children’s Literature and Reading SIG presents an array of fiction and nonfiction books that will be of interest to students and teachers all year long and provide young readers excellent choices to see girls and women featured prominently in the stories. For classroom ideas, visit ReadWriteThink.org’s calendar event, “March is National Women's History Month.”

    Grades K-2

    Fern, Tracey E. (2014). Dare the Wind. Illus. by Emily Arnold McCully. New York: Margaret Ferguson Books/ Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan.

    Dare the Wild on Reading Today OnlineA new addition to the picture book biography genre, this is the story of Ellen Prentiss Creesy, the daughter of a Marblehead, Massachusetts schooner captain, who lived from 1814 to 1900. Growing up surrounded by the sea and developing her own love of sailing and navigation through her father’s lessons, she married a man who loved the sea as much as she did.

    This story features a special 1851 voyage of her husband’s clipper ship, the Flying Cloud, as Ellen navigated their journey down the east coast, around Cape Horn and on to the Gold Rush regions of California carrying passengers and cargo. Their voyage was the fastest journey to date as the fever for gold impacted fortune seekers. Emily Arnold McCully’s watercolor illustrations are the perfect complement to frame the hazards of the voyage including roaring storms and the rolling motion of the ship—and clear skies as well. At a time when women were hardly allowed aboard a ship, let alone being the owner and navigator of the vessel, Ellen set the world record for making that “round the Horn” trip in the least time.

    –Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Polacco, Patricia. (2014).  Clara and Davie: The True Story of Young Clara Barton, Founder of the Red Cross. New York: Scholastic Press.

    Clara and Davie on Reading Today OnlinePatricia Polacco has written another family story from the annals of her own ancestry. Her story begins on Christmas, 1821, the night that Clarissa, later known as Clara, was born. Her mother was ill for a very long time following her birth so her older sister Dolly became her chief caretaker and her older brother Davie became her confidant and protector. Young Clara developed an unusual affinity for plants and animals and even in her young life, her healing hands became well known. However, Clara spoke with a pronounced lisp and school children made fun of her to the point she did not want to go to school. Her family banded together to teacher her math and reading at home.

    One day, when Davie fell from the loft of the barn and was critically injured, it was Clara who nursed him back to health after an arduous 3-year long recovery. Davie predicted then that she would “grow up to be a very great lady.” Polacco has included detailed notes at the end about Clara Barton’s contribution to medicine and healing, the creation of the Red Cross, and her own family connection to Clara Barton.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2014).  Separate is Never Equal, Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation.  New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

    Separate is Never Equal on Reading Today OnlineSylvia Mendez starts school at Westminster and is treated badly by students there. When she gets home from school and tells her mother she doesn’t want to go back, her mother explains the fight they have just been through for the right to attend Westminster. Seven years before Brown v Board of Education there was Mendez v Westminster School District in the state of California.

    When Sylvia Mendez and her brothers moved from crowded Santa Ana, California, to a smaller farming community of Westminster they tried to enroll in the local school. They were refused admittance and told they had to attend the Mexican School.  Aunt Soledad questioned why and got no real answer. When Sylvia’s parents got involved in questioning why their children could not go to the local and closest school, they never got an answer. Gonzalo Mendez, Sylvia’s father, travels around the area to get other parents to join his fight for better education in integrated schools for his own children and for everyone.

    After a several-year battle that included Thurgood Marshall and then California governor Earl Warren, later chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, their case was won and minority children were permitted to attend the local public school. Tonatiuh has not only told an accurate accounting of this case and given a look at the time period, but his detailed author notes, glossary, bibliography, and index add extensive resources for this piece of civil rights history.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Grades 3-5

    Demi. (2014). Florence Nightingale.  New York: Henry Holt and Co.
     
    Florence Nightingale | Reading Today OnlineFlorence Nightingale (1820-1910) was born into an English family of privilege who lived in Florence, Italy at the time. From an early age, Florence traveled with her parents to different countries in Europe and often home to England, and in later years she often visited hospitals and poorhouses to observe how patients were cared for and what techniques and practices seemed most helpful. After her studies as a nurse, she led a group of nurses to Turkey to assist with medical needs during the Crimean War. She was convinced that cleanliness, better hygiene, and patient care that included hot nutritious food was the best way to get soldiers back to good or improved health.

    Demi’s detailed illustrations depict all the things nurses were doing to care for their patients—cleaning and scrubbing, changing linens, and attending to medicines and patient care. Nightingale’s contributions to the medical field are lauded in this beautifully executed picture book biography.

    —Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Hunter, Nick. (2014). Women in World War I. Chicago: Heinemann Library.

    Women in World War I | Reading Today OnlineThe world was at war and men were leaving the country to fight on foreign soil. American women had to step up and fill in as needed. Illustrated with archival photographs, fact boxes, journal entries, quotations, and bold print vocabulary words, this book covers many aspects of the first world war and the roles women played. Chapter headings include: How did World War I change women’s lives; What was life like for women before the war; What did women do on the home front; How did women care for the wounded; Did women fight in the war; What challenges did women face at home; What happened to women at the end of World War I; Remembering the Women of World War I; Timeline and Glossary. 

    Each page is full of information that offers an introduction with brief information about this war.

    –Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Kimmelman, Leslie. (2014). Hot Dog! Eleanor Roosevelt Throws a Picnic. Illus. by Victor Juhasz. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.

    Hot Dog! | Reading Today OnlineA little known moment of American history is brought to light in this delightful story and it centers on hot dogs. Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady to her husband President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was quite a woman. President Roosevelt was a victim of polio and spent most of his adult life, including his presidential years, in a wheelchair. Eleanor became his legs and voice as she traveled the country to let people know that the President was listening to their concerns and needs.

    In 1939, an invitation was extended to England’s King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth. No English monarch had been on American soil since the war for independence from England. As part of their visit, Eleanor wanted to invite the royal couple for a country getaway and made preparation for a picnic at the Roosevelt country home in Hyde Park on the Hudson River. This beautiful country setting was the perfect spot for a picnic that included Eleanor’s favorite—hot dogs! As the nation learned what the First Lady intended to serve the visiting royalty, she received hundreds of letters stating that hot dogs seemed totally inappropriate for visiting heads of state. Eleanor assured concerned citizens that there would be plenty of good food options. The visit was a huge success and in the years during World War II, the Roosevelts and the British Royal Family stayed in contact and remained close friends. Though FDR died before the end of the war and never made the intended trip to visit the King and Queen in England, Eleanor made the trip that she so enjoyed.

    On June 11, 1989, fifty years after the first picnic, Hyde Park hosted another hot dog picnic and many of the people attending had been children at the first picnic. Queen Elizabeth sent a message recalling the first picnic and how much she and the king had enjoyed the day and appreciated the friendship that spanned an ocean and a war.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Powell, Patricia Hruby. (2014).  Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker. Illus. by Christian Robinson. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

    Josephine | Reading Today OnlineWritten in jazzy, exuberant verse, this picture book unfolds around the life of Josephine Baker. Born in St. Louis (1906) in an era of racial segregation and outrage, Josephine’s talented dance routines brought her attention and led her to the stage by the age of 13. Leaving home to follow the her dream, she continues to confront racial prejudices—though she is allowed to dance on stage, she is not allowed to walk in the front door. As her talent continues to be recognized, she eventually goes to France where she is welcomed and the racial divide is not so troubling. Her flamboyant and courageous life includes a pet leopard with diamond collar and work as a spy for the French during the war years. Actual quotes from Josephine Baker are sprinkled into the verse of this rhythmic biography.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Roberts, Cokie. (2014).  Founding Mothers; Remembering the Ladies.  Illus. by Diane Goode. New York: HarperCollins.

    Founding Mothers | Reading Today OnlineBased on her adult book, “Founding Mothers; The Women Who Raised Our Nation(2004), award-winning journalist Cokie Roberts brings ten ladies of the revolution to a younger reading audience. Roberts has used journals, diaries, personal letters, ledgers, and lists to deliver factually researched information about the lives of the women who served behind the scenes during the American Revolution.

    The patriotic women include Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Deborah Reed Franklin, Eliza Lucas Pinkney, Catharine Littlefield Greene, Esther DeBerdt Reed, Martha Washington and Dolly Madison. Each two-page spread features Diane Goode’s ink and watercolor illustrations that depict the period in every detail. Listen to Cokie Roberts discuss this book at this NPR interview or watch this 4 minute ABC News video interview. 

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Woods, Brenda. (2014). The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond.  New York: Nancy Paulsen Books/Penguin Group.

    The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond | Reading Today OnlineBiracial 11-year-old Violet feels like a misfit in her family living in a small town suburb in Washington. Her mother is white and her father, who died in a car accident before she was born, is black. People automatically assume she is adopted, as she “looks like a brown leaf on a pile of white snow.” Violet begins to research her father’s family and learns that her estranged grandmother, a celebrated artist and her father’s mother, is coming to Seattle and so Violet makes plans to meet her. At first, her grandmother wants nothing to do with Violet, but her persistence and need for touching her roots from this side of her heritage wins over her grandmother. In her search for identity and fitting into society as biracial, Violet learns the meaning of family.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Grades 6-8

    Nardo, Don. (2014). The Split History of the Women's Suffrage Movement, Suffragists' Perspective;  The Split History of the Women's Suffrage Movement, Anti-Suffragists' Perspective. North Mankato, MN: Capstone Books.

    The Split History of the Women's Suffrage MovementFrom the publisher’s “Perspectives Flip Book” series, this back-to-back, inverted flip book presents two sides to the women’s suffrage movement during the mid-1800s and into the twentieth century. Using archival photographs, drawings and renderings, primary documents, and newspaper accounts, the women’s right to vote movement is presented. Teachers who are looking for ways to present points of view will find this book useful as one side represents the suffrage movement and the activists working toward that goal while the flipped side of the book presents the opposition.

    Details from the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention were put forth as women drafted and signed documents declaring it was time for women to be allowed to participate in legal decisions through their vote. Elizabeth Cady Stanton shared her document, “The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” patterned after the Declaration of Independence. Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, Charlotte Woodward, Paula Wright-Davis and other contributing women are mentioned in these pages.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Phillips, Jennifer. (2014).  Girls Research! Amazing Tales of Female Scientists.  North Mankao, MN: Capstone Press.

    Girls Research Amazing Tales of Female ScientistsThe fascinating women included in this book were true pioneers and broke down barriers to blaze trails where women had not yet gone. To quote the opening page, “They had to fight to go school … They had to fight for jobs … They had to fight for respect … They developed thick skin and pursued science with curiosity, courage and determination. Medical cures, discoveries about ancient civilizations, new species, revelations about the size of the universe … the list of accomplishments marches on. What a different world this would be if female scientists hadn’t persevered.”  

    A few of the women scientists included are: Shirley Ann Jackson, physics; Anna Freud, psychiatry; Edna Foa, psychiatry; Marie Curie, physics; Gertrude Elion and Jane Cooke Wright, chemotherapy; Susan Solomon, atmospheric chemistry; Sylvia Earle, oceanography; Chien-Shiung Wu, atom smashing; Temple Grandin, animal science; Elena Aprile, astrophysics; Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, virology; Joycelyn Elders, public health; Ingrid Daubechies, physics/mathematics; Frances Glessner Lee, forensic science; and Rosaling Franklin, DNA science. A timeline and index conclude the book.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

     

    Grades 9-12

    Earl, Esther. (2014).  This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and words of Esther Grace Earl.  With Lori and Wayne Earl. Introduction by John Green. New York: Dutton Books.

    This Star Won't Go Out | Reading Today OnlineJohn Green’s popular YA novel, “The Fault in Our Stars,” was dedicated to Esther Grace Earl saying, “Esther Earl, whose life was a gift to me and many.” Esther died in 2010 at the age of 16 from thyroid cancer. This new book is a compilation of her journals, letters, fiction pieces, and sketches of her writing during her illness.

    Family and friends have added to the book through writings and photographs. Esther’s poignant pieces put together her thoughts on life—and death. Her outlook and attitude affected all who knew her and may help others coping with life-threatening illness. Teachers might like to use the companion website to this book at http://tswgo.org/ or use this newspaper article from the Boston Globe as a short text to accompany the novel. Teachers might also like to use this video featuring Esther’s mother that explains the TSWGO Foundation concept.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    Gibson, Karen Bush. (2014). Women in Space: 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Mission, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures. Chicago: Chicago Review Press.

    Women in Space | Reading Today OnlineLast year Gibson brought readers, Women Aviators (2013).This year’s book might serve as a companion to that with the 23 stories of astronauts from around the world as they pioneered women’s history in outer space. The book is divided into four parts starting with the Mercury 13 program where 13 women were invited into the astronaut program and often surpassed the men in certain test categories, but were eventually washed out of the program. 

    Part two deals with the Soviet Cosmonaut program in Russia. Part three centers on American female astronauts Sally Ride, Mae Jemmison, and Peggy Whitson who were female firsts in space. The final part of the book details the lives of astronauts from other parts of the globe including Japan, Canada, Italy, France, and South Korea. Sidebars, source notes, glossary, further reading, and bibliography add to the resources found at the end.

    Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

    More Resources

    Social Studies and the Young Learner.  Jan/Feb. 2014: The entire issue is devoted to “Remember the Ladies.”

    Digital Connections

    Women’s History Month for Teachers: Library of Congress Resources

    The History Channel: Women’s History Month

    NEAWomen’s History Month for the Classroom

    Edutopia: Women’s History Month

    Smithsonian Education: Women’s History Resources

    The Amelia Bloomer Project and Book Awards

    These reviews are submitted by members of the International Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Reading Today Online

    The CL/R SIG is accepting submissions to the fall 2014 edition of their journal, The Dragon Lode, through April 15, 2014. There is an open theme, and they invite manuscripts that explore contemporary issues and questions, genre study, literary theory, and research related to children's literature and reading. Manuscripts should be no longer than 20 double-spaced, typed pages. Use APA (6th edition) formatting. Author's name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address should be on a separate cover page. Photos and illustrations should be sent as a separate jpeg file. Any reference to the author that would enable the reviewer to know the author's identity should not appear in the manuscript. Submit all manuscripts to: Dr. Ruth McKoy Lowery, Co-editor.

    CL/R SIG will host a special session entitled Children's Literature: The Perfect Teachable Moment on Saturday, May 10 at 3:00 p.m. at the International Reading Association 59th Annual Conference in New Orleans. The session celebrates award-winning children's and young adult books and authors. Author Nancy Bo Flood is the keynote session speaker. Her work encompasses more than a dozen books. Her recent historical fiction "Warriors in the Crossfire" is set in Saipan during WWII, and was selected on the 2011 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list. The NBGS list represents selections and authors from all genres K-12, with a focus on understanding of and appreciation for the world's full range of diverse cultures, ethnic, and racial groups. The session will also include presentation of the 2014 Notable Books for a Global Society (NBGS) list by members of the selection committee. Visit http://www.iraconference.org to learn more about IRA 2014 or to register. 

    Read More
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