Literacy Now

Being a teacher means embracing constant change. Yet all too often, teachers are told when, how and why to change. In this monthly column, Mrs. Mimi takes on creating change for herself by rethinking old practices and redefining teaching on her own terms.

Come with me on a journey back in time to one of my favorite teaching moments ever. It was a beautiful spring day and despite the glorious distracting sunshine outside our window, my classroom was abuzz with the sounds of learning. My read aloud that day? Genius. That lesson on making connections across texts? A grand slam. The class project for the science fair? Someone show me the Nobel Prize. The four thousand inevitable classroom interruptions? Handled. Without batting an eye.

That magical day, the classroom organized itself, papers found themselves graded and filed, and the photocopier was working. And there wasn’t even a line!

I walked home that day half expecting birds to land on my shoulder as I burst into song.

What really happened? I went home to Mr. Mimi, who asked about my day, and said, “It was amazing.” To which he replied, “Because you’re amazing.” (Don’t you just love him?) To which I replied, “No, it was the kids. They’re amazing.”

Most teachers I know are extremely self-deprecating. We love to joke about how many chocolates we’ve eaten off the secretary’s desk (“Seriously, I am such a PIG!”), make fun of ourselves when we accidentally pack up the kids 20 minutes early (“Guess I need a lesson in how to tell time!”), and put down our own profession constantly (“It’s not like rocket science.”).

How many times have I overheard (or been a part of) the following conversation:

Teacher 1: That lesson was amazing! I loved how you incorporated that read aloud.
Teacher 2: Oh, well, my colleague and I wrote that lesson together.
Teacher 1: It was a great choice of read aloud. Such a lovely mentor text!
Teacher 2: Yeah, well, you know, the librarian pointed it out to me.
Teacher 1: And your kids! They were so engaged!
Teacher 2: I guess it’s just one of those days. Tomorrow will probably be a mess…

Hey, Teacher 2? JUST SAY “THANK YOU.”

Yes, your colleague worked on the lesson with you and yes, the librarian showed you a great book, but YOU made that lesson sing with your fabulousness. Own it.

You need to own it. Not only for your sense of self but for the kids. (I know. I just pulled the “do it for the kids” card…one of the lowest cards to pull on a teacher. Please know that I would not pull this card without just cause.)

As teachers, we need to own our expertise and not be so ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater every time a new-fangled curriculum or mandate comes along. Own what you know. Own your years of experience, your successes, your institutional knowledge. Own that “special something” that makes our job indescribable and impossible for anyone who has not walked in our shoes to understand.

Oh, and can you own it fast? Maybe you haven’t heard, but this little thing called The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy is coming and it’s already getting off the exit and is like ten minutes from your house, so you might want to roll out the welcome mat and put a fresh pot of coffee on.

Read the standards for which you will be responsible. I mean, really read them. Then read the standards for the grade levels above and below you. Now, get out your highlighter and/or favorite teacher pen (because I know you have one) and take notes. Underline words. Circle stuff. Do whatever you have to do to understand what is being asked of us in a deep, knowledgeable way.

And then, with the all the confidence you have mustered from owning what makes you a master of your craft, come to the table with a plan, an interpretation of the standards, a way of reaching this goal, something. Save the gossip and kvetching for a glass of “soda” with your colleagues (because you know Mrs. Mimi understands your need to vent, and vent you shall).

Stand up to own this change before someone with a power tie comes along and owns it for us.

Mrs. Mimi is a pseudonymous teacher who taught both first and second grades at a public elementary school in New York City. She's the author of IT'S NOT ALL FLOWERS AND SAUSAGES: MY ADVENTURES IN SECOND GRADE, which sprung from her popular blog of the same name. Mimi also has her doctorate in education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

First the crocus, then the daffodil, and next the tulip bloom to herald the return of spring. Warm weather and the joyful music of songbirds beckon us outside to soak up the sunshine, work in the yard, plant gardens, and to play. Green replaces the drab brown remnants of winter and we welcome the reawakening of nature and a new season.  This week the International Reading Association Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group shares books that celebrate this wonderful time of the year.

Arnosky, Jim. (2012). Creep and Flutter: The Secret World of Insects and Spiders. New York: Sterling. 

This nonfiction masterpiece is ideal for children who enjoy observing the insects and spiders around them. Indeed, this introduction to 200 arthropods would serve as an excellent field guide for some of the tiny (and not so tiny) creatures that share our world. Readers will learn about an array of insects and spiders ranging from a tick and tiny bedbug to a dragonfly, from a tarantula to a comet-tailed moth, from a honeybee to a praying mantis. The larger than life illustrations illuminate such details as brilliantly colored wings, scissor-like jaws, and venomous fangs. Arnosky’s concise writing, thorough research, and magnificent super-sized paintings and drawings make this book a compelling choice for nature lovers. The book includes a table of contents, six foldouts, an author’s note, and a list of additional readings about insects and spiders.
-Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University


Ford, Jessie. (2012). My Bunny Puzzle Book. New York: Abrams. 

This vibrant four-page board book is perfect for spring reading. In simple words young readers learn what bunny likes to do. On the first page, “My bunny likes to sniff flowers” (unpaginated). A small speech bubble adds, “Twitch, twitch!” (unpaginated). In addition, bunny likes to eat carrots, listen to bumblebees and hop away. But that isn’t all. Each page contains a puzzle piece that can be removed. Little hands will love putting together the pieces to create a gray and white bunny. When the puzzle is flipped over little eyes will notice pictures of everything bunny likes to do. This book is sure to be read and played with multiple times. 
-Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver


Fogliano, Julie. (2012). And Then It’s Spring. Illustrated by Erin Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press. 

Sometimes the best part of winter is anticipating the fresh greens of spring, something that this picture book celebrates quietly.  Swathed in a red scarf, red mittens, and a red knitted hat with a pompom on its top, a boy looks over the brown landscape and plants seeds in hopes of warmer weather. His dog, a turtle, a bunny, and various birds observe curiously. Hoping for rain and a bit of sun to nurture those seeds, he waits and watches, pondering all sorts of possibilities. Worried about the tiny seeds, he imagines that maybe the birds ate them or the stomping of lumbering bears kept them in hiding. Eventually, when he peers out the door of his house, everything is green. Each page of this book is filled with some delight that observant readers will note; for instance, the amount of smoke rising from the red house on the hill diminishes over the course of the illustrations as temperatures begin to rise and the boy sheds some of his winter wear. Through a wonderful two-page cutaway view of the earth, readers are able to see the actions of creatures busily preparing for spring when he puts his ear to the ground to hear the "greenish hum that you can only hear if you put your ear to the ground" (unpaginated). Using woodblock printing techniques and pencil, the illustrations feature the particular shades of brown and green found only at the end of one season and the start of another. The subtle secrets found within this book’s pages insure that readers will return to it to savor the joy of spring even when winter winds still howl outside their doors.
-Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman


Frost, Helen. (2012). Step Gently Out. Photos by Rick Lieder. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

The text of this book—a poem—invites young readers to look carefully and closely at nature to see what tiny and amazing creatures are lurking just outside their doors. Frost uses rich language to describe the insects as “the creatures/ shine with/ stardust” (unpaginated) and “they’re/ splashed/ with/ morning/ dew” (unpaginated). Then she closes with a reminder, “In song and dance/ and stillness,/ they share the world/ with you” (unpaginated). The imagery of Frost’s words seem to dance with Lieder’s close-up photographs that share the beauty of graceful wings in flight, jewel-like droplets on a spider’s web, the glint of a katydid’s eye, and the soft, fuzzy scales on a moth’s wings. Children will want to learn more about the tiny insects around them after they experience the combination of the gentle message, the calming text, and the breathtaking photography. The author includes detailed endnotes about each of the insects and spiders that appear in the book.
-Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University


McDonnell, P. (2011). Me…Jane. New York: Little, Brown and Co. 

Me…Jane describes the formative years of Dr. Jane Goodall, a United Nations Messenger of Peace.  This story narrates how the young Jane became interested in nature and animals, and decided to study chimpanzees in Africa.  As a girl who loved to sleep with her stuffed toy chimpanzee, Jubilee, chasing animals and observing plants in her backyard on nice spring days weren’t enough to satisfy her curiosity.  One day, interested in where chicken eggs came from, she hid in her grandmother’s chicken coop and watched the hens in order to solve the mystery.  She avidly read many books in order to learn about different animals.  Although women were not encouraged to pursue adventurous careers at that time, with the encouragement of her mother, Jane kept dreaming of going to Africa.  Her dreams ultimately brought her to Tanzania, where she discovered that chimpanzees could make and use tools just as humans do.  The India ink and watercolor illustrations allow readers a glimpse into the personality of this ground-breaking woman. This book recounts one little girl’s almost impossible dream that became a reality—and it all started in her own backyard.  
-Tadayuki Suzuki, Western Kentucky University


Millard, Glenda. (2012). Isabella’s Garden. Illustrated by Rebecca Cool. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Many of us think of gardening in spring, and Isabella is no different. Millard tells the story of the amazing things that happen in the beloved garden, told in a similar style as the traditional nursery rhyme “This is the House that Jack Built.” Amazing things happen to the tiny seeds as Isabella and her friends observe the incredible events unfolding before their very eyes. “These are the shoots that seek the sun/ that kissed the clouds that cried the rain/ that soaked the seeds that slept in the soil,/ all dark and deep, in Isabella’s garden” (unpaginated). Rebecca Cool’s brightly colored, mixed-media illustrations capture the wonderful growth and change that takes place in astonishing garden.
-Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University


Pfister, Marcus. (2012)  Ava’s Poppy. New York: NorthSouth Books. 

Red-haired Ava discovers a bright red poppy growing in the middle of a field near her house. Over the summer she befriends the flower and takes care of it by watering the poppy, sheltering it from heavy rain, protecting it from harsh winds. When the summer ends and the growing season is over, the flower withers and eventually dies. Ava feels the loss of a true friend. She marks the spot where her flower passed by creating a ring of stones around the area to memorialize their friendship. Winter comes and goes but Ava has not forgotten her poppy friend. In spring when Ava returns to the circle of stones and as the cycle of life promises, a new friend has started to grow within the circle. Pfister has created colorful opening and closing spreads that show the flower from seed to stem and finally the dying plant.  Teachers who are using picture books to support science concepts of life cycles will find this book useful as well as nurturing friendships whether personal or botanical.
-Karen Hildebrand , Ohio Library and Reading Consultant


Salas, Laura Purdie. (2012). A Leaf Can Be… Illustrated by Violeta Dabija. Minneapolis: Lerner. 

This lovely story in rhyme begins with, “A leaf is a leaf. It bursts out each spring when sunny days linger and orioles sing” (unpaginated). From there, Laura Purdie Salas takes young readers and listeners on a colorful tour that illustrates the leaf’s many functions, such as: “Tree topper/ Rain Stopper” and “Wind rider/ Lake glider” (unpaginated). Violeta Dabija’s stunning, evocative mixed media illustrations are the perfect compliment to Purdie’s playful text. The back matter includes a glossary, a list of books for further reading, and “More About Leaves” section that further explains each of the leaves’ many functions. Between the lyrical text and the luminous, magical illustrations, children will beg to return to this book again and again.
-Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University


Seeger, Laura Vaccaro. (2012). Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press.

This stunning, imaginative offering from the creator of First the Egg (2007) highlights all the incredible shades of spring’s favorite color, green. A quick glance at the illustrations and simple text reveals that there are many different shades of green, ranging from the greens of a tree’s foliage to the greens of a sea turtle sliding through the ocean depths. Thus, her die-cut illustrations feature the particular green lushness of an unlogged forest on a spring day, the green of a juicy, just-cut lime, the darkish greens in a bowl of newly-shelled peas, and the slow-moving green of a caterpillar creeping across a flower petal, among others. Each double-page spread has a cut-out that belongs to the next page. Once readers reach the end of the book, they encounter opposites with a stop sign that is "never green" (unpaginated) as well as a snow-filled landscape when there is "no green" (unpaginated) to be seen. Finally, the mature trees of summer seem to be "forever green" (unpaginated). With spring’s recent arrival in some parts of the world, this is a timely title to share in the classroom. The fact that the cut-outs are designed in different shapes and sizes as well as being placed at different spots on the book's pages adds to the appeal. Readers may enjoy viewing the book trailer for this must-have classroom library title at http://us.macmillan.com/green-1/LauraSeeger. 
-Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman


Singer, Marilyn. (2012). A Stick Is an Excellent Thing: Poems Celebrating Outdoor Play. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Boston: Clarion Books. 

With the end of winter, youngsters love to venture outside, but sometimes they have no idea what to do once they shut the door. Despite the attraction of indoor games, playing outdoors in the spring and summer can be plenty of fun. A little imagination and a simple object or two are all that is needed, and the time will pass quickly and enjoyably as described in these 18 poems celebrating the joy of playing outdoors. Thus, one lonely boy in “First One Out” plays catch with the family poodle since no one else is around. While a boy blows a bubble “big as a planet,” (unpaginated) his younger sister creates her own small bubbles that go “sailing right behind him” (unpaginated) in the poem “Bubbles.” The children in these poems play catch and jacks, jump rope, fly high or low on a swing or roll down a grassy hill as though they were barrels. They even run through the sprinkler in glee, play Statues in their own unique way, play Hide-and-Seek, and concoct their own unappetizing soup from the most unlikely items.  The title poem "A Stick Is an Excellent Thing" points out all the possible uses for the perfect stick that might be found and used in imaginative play as a king’s scepter, a fairy’s wand or even just something to throw. The pencil and ink illustrations have been colored digitally, and all of them show boys and girls--and even an adult or two--enjoying the great outdoors. 

-Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman


Smith, Lane. (2011). Grandpa Green. New York: Roaring Brook Press 

Youngsters are often surprised to realize that the elders in their families weren’t always old. They once had youthful dreams, some of which come to fruition, and others of which are supplanted by others. In the case of Grandpa Green, who grew up on a farm while imagining a career as a horticulturist, he recalls many significant events in his life, including his bout with chicken pox, and represents them and his life stories through topiary shapes in his garden. Once an ambitious and talented young man whose college plans were derailed by WWI, Grandpa Green lived an energetic life and loved to entertain his great-grandson by sharing his precious memories.  This Caldecott Honor book follows his life from birth to his first stolen kiss to his marriage to a woman he met while in Europe to his twilight years with many offspring, blessed with many children and grandchildren.  Although age has caused him to become more forgetful and he will physically disappear some day, his wonderful memories have been captured through skillfully formed topiary shapes in his garden.  The watercolor, oil paint, and digital paint foliage illustrations and the brush and waterproof drawing ink representing the characters show that Grandpa Green was not only a simple grandfather but also an artist who cultivated his family.  Although all humans eventually become old, their memories can stay fresh through the next generation.  Grandpa Green teaches us that all families are special and have unique stories to share.  
-Tadayuki Suzuki, Western Kentucky University


Springett, Martin. (2012). Kate and Pippin: An unlikely love story. Photographs by Isobel Springett. New York: Henry Holt.

For three days, Pippin an abandoned fawn, cries out for help before Isobel Springett carries her home and places her next to Kate, a Great Dane. Kate licks and nuzzles the young deer and Pippin thinks she has found a new mother. Springett documents this unlikely bond in striking photographs. Wherever Kate goes, Pippin follows. Outside they play, roll around on the lawn, chase each other and leap everywhere. When they return home they fall asleep next to each other. One day the fawn disappears into the forest and doesn’t return for dinner. Isobel calls and Kate waits. But the next morning Pippin returns for breakfast. From then on, Pippin sleeps in the forest each night but returns to play with Kate. Gradually Pippin becomes an independent deer, returning to the farm to see Kate sometimes. This information book would make a wonderful read aloud and could be part of an animal text set.

-Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver


Stone, Phoebe. (2012) The Boy on Cinnamon Street. New York: Arthur . Levine Books.

Seventh-grade Louise has come to live with her pretty cool grandparents after a tragedy strikes her family that Louise cannot remember, or rather, has suppressed. As Louise narrates the story, she describes how she is creating a new life for herself having given up her old friends, her old neighborhood and her love of gymnastics. She has nicknamed herself Thumb, for Thumbelina, because she is so tiny, unlike her fairly large best friend Reni who stands by Thumb during this family life crisis. As spring approaches, Thumb receives a note from a secret admirer that she believes is from the pizza delivery boy, Benny. She and Reni set out to encourage a blossoming relationship with Benny only to find out the note is not from him. Standing in the wings of all this are Louise’s very supportive grandparents and Reni’s brother, Henderson. Readers will discover who is Thumb’s “biggest fan” before she realizes who the secret admirer is. Told with humor and realistic adolescent dialogue, Louise comes to terms with her father’s new family and the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death to move on and have a spring with new relationships and new beginnings.
Visit the author’s website for more books by Phoebe Stone: http://www.phoebestone.com/
-Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant


Vail, Rachel. (2012). Piggy Bunny. Illus. by Jeremy Tankard. New York: Feiwel and Friends/MacMillan. 

With Easter right around the corner this hilarious picture book will bring a lot of laughter. Liam is like all of the other piglets, except for one thing. Most piglets want to grow up to be pigs, but Liam dreams of becoming the Easter Bunny. Liam practices hopping, eating salad and delivering eggs. In the accompanying illustration Liam falls on his face, tries tasting greens and leaves a trail of broken eggs. His family thinks he is perfect the way he is with a squiggly tail, little black eyes, snouty nose, and triangular ears, but Liam believes he is the Easter Bunny. Thankfully, his grandparents respect his imagination and order him a Bunny suit on the internet. In the meantime, Liam practices hopping, eating salad and delivering eggs, though salad remains a challenge. When Liam tries on the Bunny suit and looks in the mirror, he is indeed the Easter Bunny. Every child or piglet can become anything they want to be when friends and family believe in them. 
-Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver


Warner, Sally. (2012) EllRay Jakes Walks the Plank. Illustrated by Jamie Harper. New York: Viking. 
   
Spring break is ruined! EllRay was supposed to take care of the class pet Zippy the goldfish, over spring break but his little sister Alfie accidently overfeeds him and that is the end of Zippy. This disaster happens just when things were starting to go really well for EllRay and his third grade year in school. When he returns to school after spring break he has forgotten to bring back Treasure Island, the book he borrowed from Mrs. Sanchez that she is reading aloud to the class and his classmates are furious. To make matters worse, his archenemy and the class bully, Cynthia, is unjustly blaming EllRay for a few playground and classroom issues that were not his doing. Readers who are familiar with the EllRay series will recognize how EllRay always seems to mess up. This third installment in the series brings another realistic school adventure to the early chapter book genre. Read about the entire EllRay Jakes series at the author’s website: http://www.sallywarner.com/
-Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant


Zoehfeld, Kathleen. (2012) Secrets of the Garden: Food Chains and the Food Web in Our Backyard. Illustrated by Priscilla Lamont.  New York: Knopf. 

Alice and her family are anxiously awaiting spring so they can begin planting their garden. Working the soil, starting the seeds in pots, and planting the budding sprouts they begin to watch their garden take root. Other critters are watching the garden as well and Alice narrates the comings and goings of nibbling rabbits and munching mice and buzzing insects where even the family cat and a soaring eagle drop into the garden. She discovers how many creatures, including her family, are waiting on the delicious fresh produce coming from the garden. Two chickens on nearly every page provide humor but also contribute science concepts about gardening through the speech bubbles that thread through the book explaining exactly what is happening as the garden changes including the water cycle, photosynthesis, composting and the food chains that bring the insects, rain and sun. Teachers who would like to add nonfiction read-alouds will find this book perfect on many levels. Careful examination of the often-humorous illustrations demonstrates how the garden is created and tended throughout the spring and summer.
-Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Have you ever met Dave Barry? Yes, THAT Dave Barry, the Pulitzer Prize winning columnist, author, comedian, and modern-day Will Rogers? Well, neither had I.

Until IRA.

And what a disaster.

Picture this. IRA’s Annual Convention is in San Antonio and I am a first time attendee. But not just a first time attendee; I’m a first time author. My very first novel had just been published, THE HOOPSTER, and I’d been invited as a guest of Disney Publishing to speak on a panel, sign books, and generally get introduced to the reading world at large wearing my brand new hat of YA author.

Cool, huh?

If you are familiar with San Antonio, you know that one of its hot spots is The Riverwalk. Basically, there’s a river and there’s a sidewalk around the river and someone in the city’s marketing department decided to name it The Riverwalk. Of course then, in the spirit of capitalism and exploiting tourists, they put a bunch of restaurants and bars around the thing and made it a “must visit” destination if you are ever in “The Tone.” (Okay, I just made that name up, but it sounds kinda cool, no?)

Actually, I’m joshin’ … The Riverwalk’s kinda cool. Especially if your new publisher hires a dinner boat, puts you on it, and seats you right next to Dave Barry for a fancy-schmancy banquet of epicurean delights as you cruise the high seas of people-watching pedestrians as they walk beside the river and overpay for margaritas and guacamole.

I think there were 12 of us on this vessel. In addition to Dave Barry, we had Ridley Pearson, another author extraordinaire, and all kinds of very high-ranking publishing executives from the world of Disney/Hyperion.

I wore a sport coat. All of us did. Like I said, it was fancy-schmancy.

To my way of thinking, my maiden voyage as an officially published author was getting off to one heck of a metaphorically apropos start, being that we were literally “on the water,” and my career was “setting sail” and all. Basically, I was over the moon. This was the big time. I’d arrived. Years of dreaming about becoming a “published author” were being realized. Let there be wine, right?

And wine there was. The nauti-waiter (nautical waiter) poured a nice red for all of us. One of those deep reds, too, the kind that came from a splendiferous estate where fat, bearded men ambled through their vineyards with walking sticks.

“A toast,” one of the execs cried out. After all, Dave and Ridley were sitting on the New York Times bestsellers list for their new book PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS, IRA was destined to be a magnificent affair, and The Tone was roarin’ like a 1920s outdoor speakeasy.

We all reached for our glasses. Unfortunately, however, one the book editors sitting across the table accidentally knocked hers over.

And totally drenched Dave Barry.

This wasn’t one of those “little spills” either. This was one of those “your tan colored sport coat, white shirt and beige slacks were just drenched to the hilt with a bold cabernet sauvignon and, since the boat departed the dock just eight minutes ago, you’re going to be stuck at sea in soaking wet clothing for the next two hours without a chance in hell of even one piece of your attire being saved from absolute ruin by this, the Stain of All Stains.”

Mortification struck. The whole boat froze. Slowly, eyes turned, a burn in the gaze of all the top brass, only one thought on their collective minds for the female member of their team who had made this tragic gaffe.

“You couldn’t spill it on the freakin’ new guy?”

I recoiled. International Celebrity, Pulitzer Prize winner, Library of Congress Hall of Fame nominee doused. Me? Totally bone dry. The math just didn’t add up. In truth, I felt like pouring a bottle of red wine over my own head just so I could handle the guilt and shame of not having been the victim. It should have been me who took the bath. Everyone on the boat knew it should have been me.

But Dave, such an unflappable gentleman and nice guy extraordinaire cracked a joke about how “if I knew you were gonna take me swimming, I would have worn a bathing suit,” and off we sailed to a dinner which was not ruined (very much unlike Dave Barry’s clothing).

Classy guy, top to bottom.

Of course, the next day at IRA was my book signing. My first book signing for Disney. Ever. I’d seen the lines for Dave and Ridley earlier that day. I’d seen how Avi had people snaked around the building waiting for his Avi Hancock. I made sure to bring two pens in case one ran dry, and did a series of hand-stretching exercises preparing to meet the forthcoming challenge.

It was the loneliest hour of my life.

And the loneliest hour of my life was made only more miserable by the fact that they weren’t even charging for my book—they were giving THE HOOPSTER away for free!

Sadness gave way to despair when my first “customer” (if I can even call her that) came up. She picked up my book and I smiled with the glow of ten-thousand watts. She read the back cover and I reached for my pen. For sure a signing, right?

“Ehh,” she said, setting the book back down. “Nah.”

And then she walked off.

THE HOOPSTER wasn’t even good enough for her to take as an autographed freebie? My career was a sham… and it was ending before it had even gotten out of the gate. Riverwalk Margaritas and I were about to share a long night together.

Of course the wonderful folks at Disney tried to cheer me up. “Don’t worry, you’re new. One day, you’ll have lines, too.”

I didn’t believe them at the time, even though later that night I did sign a few books at a publisher’s dinner. But ya know what? That prognostication came true. Now, people do wait in lines for me to sign their books. And they even pay for my books, too.

Just incredible. But that first IRA, it taught me to keep the faith.

And every aspect about my career since has proven that there are scores of readers out there who need us. They need the writers, they need the teachers who play match-maker between kids and books, they need the media-specialists who are so tragically under fiscal assault in this day and age, and they need the book publishing peeps who work so hard to bring the printed word to the page (and e-page, as the case may be).

Yep, times are certainly changing in the world of books. But one constant remains: kids need books to build their brains, and I am not sure if there is a better place to learn more about how to tackle this task than IRA Annual. Fact is, I am sad that I won’t be able to make it to Chicago this year. (It’s for good reason, though. My wife is due to deliver Baby #2 on April 25th, and some things in life ya just can’t miss!)

So spill some wine on a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, if you happen to see one… and have a great conference! Remember, the young’uns need ya.

Alan Sitomer was named California's 2007 Teacher of the Year. In addition to being an inner-city high school English teacher and former professor in the Graduate School of Education at Loyola Marymount University, Alan is a nationally renowned speaker specializing in engaging reluctant readers who received the 2004 award for Classroom Excellence from the Southern California Teachers of English, the 2003 Teacher of the Year honor from California Literacy, the 2007 Educator of the Year award by Loyola Marymount University and the 2008 Innovative Educator of the Year from The Insight Education Group. He’s the author of six young adult novels, three children's picture books, two teacher methodology books, and a classroom curriculum series for secondary English Language Arts instruction called THE ALAN SITOMER BOOK JAM. A Fun Look at Our Serious Work appears quarterly on the Engage/Teacher to Teacher blog.

by Jen Donovan

Calling all literacy advocates and book lovers! World Book Night is quickly approaching. On April 23 the U.S. will celebrate its very first World Book Night by sending thousands of copies of paperback books out communities across the nation. Thirty books have been chosen, featuring modern American classics such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, as well as NY Times best sellers like Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones. Also included in this literature line-up are a number of books for young adults. The Hunger Games and Because of Winn-Dixie are some examples of the featured award-winning titles in young adult fiction. 

World Book Night will rely on volunteers to distribute 20 copies of their favorite book on the list to members of their own community. The goal of the event is to encourage the love of reading and allow volunteers and participants to share their passion for a great book. The original World Book Night was first held in the UK; it was such a success that the idea has spread around the world. In the US, the first World Book Night is supported by major publishing houses, libraries, authors, and communities. 

The 2012 US World Book Night currently has tens of thousands of volunteers signed up to distribute, but there is also a waiting list for those who wish to be a part of the event. More information is available on the World Book Night website.

Jen Donovan is the strategic communications department intern at the International Reading Association. 

The Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group reviews of new graphic novels continues with this list of texts to enchant and inspire readers of all ages.

GRADES K-2

Knight, Hilary. (2011). Nina in that makes me mad! New York: Toon Books/Candlewick Press.

This graphic novel is for beginning readers. Each full page spread discusses a new reason why Nina is mad. For example, Nina gets mad when her parents blame her for something she didn't do. In the accompanying illustrations Nina is taking care of her baby brother in the bathtub. Tony gets carried away and splashes a lot of water on the floor. The speech bubble states, “No more bath for you tonight” (p. 9). Nina has a perplexed face with pointy eyebrows. Other reasons Nina gets mad include: “When you don’t let me help” (p. 12), “When I try and it doesn’t work” (p. 14) and “When I need you and you make me wait” (p. 20). The last page closes with, “But I feel better when I can tell you that I’m mad!” (p. 30). This fun picture book will definitely bring about discussion. Teachers and parents could ask—Do you ever get mad like Nina? or What are some of the things that cause you to get mad?

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Eaton, Maxwell. (2012). The flying Beaver brothers and the fishy business. New York: Random House Children’s Books. 

The Beaver brothers, Ace and Bub, uncover a plot by a corporation to use up the island’s trees to create Fish Stix for consumers in this second title in the graphic novel series. In its advertisement campaign, the corporation claims that Fish Stix, made from ground-up trees, are somehow good for the environment. The campaign promoting Fish Stix features the brothers' nemesis Bruce. It will take an alliance made up of Ace, Bub, some evil penguins who aren't all that evil, and yes, even Bruce to stop the corporation before the trees are all gone. There are plenty of funny lines and visual humor as well to keep young readers entertained as well as informed. Using spots of green in the pen and ink and digitally colored illustrations complements perfectly the forests being destroyed so casually and so purposelessly. Older readers will recognize the greed behind the corporation's marketing of a product for which there really is no need and possibly compare those actions with some advertising campaigns by corporations today. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

GRADES 3-5

Eaton, Maxwell. (2012). The flying beaver brothers and the evil penguin plan. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 

In this second book, the Beaver brothers are swinging off a rope, hang gliding to a beach, and surfing some waves. All of a sudden some penguins steal one of the beaver’s surfboards. An immediate chase begins. Fortunately, beavers can make bridges between cliffs pretty quickly by gnawing down trees. The beavers follow the penguins under water to a large refrigerator at the bottom of the ocean. They notice that the penguins are viewing large blue prints, but aren’t sure what is going on. Readers will have many questions at this point in the book, making inferences and predictions. Later, Ace and Bub return to the ocean to enter the large refrigerator. They learn that the penguins are planning to create a frozen paradise using the ice machine. One beaver escapes and shuts down the refrigerator’s turbine, thus saving their island. This humorous book seems to have a deeper meaning—are humans destroying the penguin habitat? 

- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver 

Krosoczka, Jarrett J. (2012). Lunch Lady and the mutant mathletes. New York: Knopf. 

Dee, Hector, and Terrence, also known as the Breakfast Bunch, are forced to join the extracurricular Mathletes as their punishment for missing the museum field trip in the previous title. In this, the seventh installment of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, the friends are definitely not thrilled to spend time after school solving math problems. But joining the Mathletes turns out to be less painful than they had expected. Even Dee comes around once the private school kids from Willoughby Academy denigrate the public school kids of Thompson Brook. The two teams roll on inexorably toward the final round of competition where they face each other. But there's something odd about the private school students and their competitive teacher, and it's up to Lunch Lady and her cafeteria side-kick Betty to figure out what's going on. Not only does she come through, yellow gloves, Cannoli-oculars, and Pineapple mace in tow, but so do Orson, the Mathlete over-achiever, and Mr. Kalowski, the school janitor. The book’s lessons are sound, accompanied by the Lunch Lady’s expostulations such as "Moldy Bread!" and "Sweet BBQ sauce!” Not only does the ever-ready Lunch Lady fight for justice, but she can also be depended upon to whip up a yummy batch of cookies just when they're needed. 

- Barbara A. Ward Washington State University Pullman 

GRADES 6-7 

Neel, Julien. (2012) Lou! Secret Diary. Translation by Carol Klio Burrell. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe. 

Translated from its original French and winner of the Youth Prize of the Angouleme International Comics Festival, this graphic novel looks exactly like a comic book that might be found on store shelves. It stars twelve-year old Lou who is plowing headlong into adolescence. Trying to catch the eye of the boy across the street, in addition to finding a boyfriend for her single mom as well as designing her own clothes and fashion statement, this tween also keeps a diary of her thoughts and opinions, some of which are colorfully portrayed on the end pages of the book. Lou’s diary provides a fun yet also serious look at that stage of pre-dating, dealing with crushes on boys and peer pressures. It’s easy to see why Lou is so popular in so many different countries. 

- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Reading and Library Consultant 

Nelson, O. T., & Jolley, Dan. (2012). The girl who owned a city: The graphic novel. Illus. by Joelle Jones. Minneapolis: Graphic Universe. 

Originally written in 1975, this book of survival after an apocalyptic event translates well to the graphic novel format. After a virus kills everyone older than twelve, leaving those left behind to fend for themselves, Lisa Nelson and her younger brother are managing to survive, thanks to Lisa's ability to find food and supplies. Others use numbers and intimidation to take what they need, and Lisa forms a neighborhood coalition to guard against the marauding gangs. When the alliance fails, she fortifies a former school where her allies will be safe. Everyone has jobs to do, but Lisa feels responsible for everyone in her city. This graphic novel only hints at what may lie ahead for the survivors of the virus once they turn 12—or the emotional cost of being responsible for so many other dependents. Lisa's self-reliance and her determination to help others be self-reliant are particularly appealing in the original story and in this adaptation. While she and her friend Craig may have very different ways of finding happiness, both seek self-reliance. The title raises many issues; for instance, how will the survivors cope when all the available supplies have been depleted, and what happens when the society with which we are familiar has disappeared? 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

Phelan, Matt. (2011). Three remarkable journeys around the world. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. 

Jules Vern’s Around the World in Eighty Days provided the inspiration for three adventurers who set out on their own worldwide journeys. First, questioning the value of ten years spent working in a mine, Thomas Stevens purchased a large-wheeled bicycle in 1884 and then rode it 3,700 miles from San Francisco to Boston. Upon reaching Boston, Stevens decided he was ready for a larger challenge and took off on an around the world bicycle ride. Reports of his journey were published over a three-year period in Outing magazine. Nellie Bly, a daring and dashing female reporter, embarked on her own journey around the world in 1889. She met her goal to return in less than 80 days since her travels lasted 72 days. During that time, the New York World, the newspaper for which she worked, sold record numbers of papers with updates on Bly’s fabled journey. Finally, Joshua Slocum set out in 1895 to become the first person to traverse the globe alone in a small boat. Neither storms nor pirates stopped Slocum from reaching his goal. The inspiring stories of these three independent individuals fit the graphic novel format well with Phelan’s artwork almost seeming to resemble a film screen. 

- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University 

GRADES 9-12 

Hicks, Faith Erin. (2012). Friends with boys. New York: First Second/Roaring Brook Press. 

Maggie, who has been homeschooled all of her life, is understandably nervous about her first day at high school. Her three older brothers insist that she must go it alone since they did. She navigates the school corridors, alone except for the ghost that keeps following her, eventually making friends with two siblings, Lucy and Alistair. There are hints about the story behind the rift between the Mohawk-wearing Alistair and volleyball star Matt. When Alistair finally tells Maggie the story behind his haircut, it's easy to understand his reluctance to stand up for his sister or for the males who have been ridiculed for their preference for drama rather than sports. It's impossible not to like Maggie and understand her confusion about the often cruel high school social order. While there are some similarities to Anya's Ghost, this graphic novel can be savored for its own strengths, including its accurate depiction of the sometimes rocky shoals of high school and family. The author encourages readers to examine their own tendencies to judge others by their appearances when appearances are often masks behind which others may hide their true nature.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

Long, Mark & Demonakas, Jim. (2012). The silence of our friends. Illus. by Nate Powell. New York: First Second/Roaring Brook. 

Set in the late part of the racially volatile 1960s in Houston, Texas, this graphic novel tackles the challenging topic of civil rights. The story follows two different individuals whose lives come together unexpectedly: a white television newsman reporting on the city’s civil rights protests, and an African-American Texas Southern University faculty member involved in the protests. When the protests turn violent, leading to the death of a police officer, the blame is placed on a handful of TSU students. The trial that results divides the city even more. The starkly stunning black and white illustrations evoke a sense of a time and place during which it was hard to know who to trust or what to believe. This graphic novel plunges readers right in the midst of this turmoil-filled period. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

Lyga, Barry. (2011). Manga man. Illus. by Colleen Doran. New York: Houghton Mifflin. 

When Ryoko, an attractive androgynous young man with beautiful feminine and masculine features, falls through a rip in time and space and lands in our world, he is shunned by many humans. The difference that makes others shun him makes him more attractive to Marissa Montaigne, a popular, beautiful teen who is bored with her life and her relationship with a hard-drinking football player. The romance between Ryoko and Marissa parallels that of Romeo and Juliet, complete with scenes in which Ryoko leans from his window and talks about his growing attraction to Marissa while she overhears him while hiding in the bushes beneath his compound. When he shows Marissa the different dimensions, she is able to move from one cartoon panel to the next. The pen and ink illustrations are beautiful and show the inner and outer beauty of this unlikely couple. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

O’Connor, George. (2012). Hades: Lord of the dead. New York: First Second/Roaring Brook Press. 

Sticking closely for the most part to the original story of Demeter, Hades, and Persephone in this fourth title in the Olympian series, the creator of this graphic novel describes how Hades kidnaps Persephone—known as Kore on Earth—and shows her around his kingdom. While she is gone, her mother, Demeter, allows the crops to fail as she searches for her daughter. Once she finds Kore again, she agrees to allow new life to bud on Earth to celebrate her daughter’s return. Of course, during the time her daughter must return to Hades, cold weather will cover the Earth, representing Demeter’s sadness at being separated from her child. But this updated story contains a twist as Persephone comes into her own while in the Underworld. Out from under the control of her mother, she flourishes, and although she is glad to be reunited with her mother, she is also relieved to return to Hades, enough so that she lies about having consumed any foods while in Hades the first time around. This is an empowered version of Persephone, unwilling to be a pawn in a game played by the gods. The different perspective is refreshing, allowing Persephone to make her own mark on how things are done in her new kingdom. One of the best illustrations is the last one, which shows the two rulers on their underground thrones, Hades with just the slightest smile on his lips. Fans of mythology will relish this moody version of the classic story. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman 

Yang, Gene Luen. (2011). Level up. Illus. by Thien Pham. New York: First Second/Roaring Brook Press. 

In the latest offering from the creator of American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang returns to the themes he covered in his earlier graphic novel: the clash between parental expectations and one's own dreams, cultural expectations, coming of age, and the journey to self-acceptance, among others. The story focuses on Dennis Ouyang, a boy whose attraction to video games has been denigrated by his parents in favor of academic success. After his father dies, Dennis plays games so much that he is kicked out of college. Four angels intervene and set him back on the path of success, but they allow him to have no fun whatsoever. His hard work pays off, and he is accepted into med school, but still he wonders about his life goals and whether he wants to spend the rest of his life doing what his father wanted him to do. Dennis ends up quitting med school and starts playing games for cash prizes. He returns to medical school after he realizes that he wants to make a difference in the world, only to find that the manual dexterity honed by all those games will actually be useful in his chosen area of specialization. The lines between reality and fantasy blur interestingly in this book with soft colored artwork and slight but pertinent visual references to video games at the beginning of each section. 

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman