Literacy Now

Students often indicate that one of their favorite times of the school day is when their teacher reads aloud. This special time allows them to become part of a community of readers caught in the spell of good stories, information, and poetry. Reading aloud can also be as beneficial as it is fun. Reading aloud enables teachers to introduce students to a variety of genres. Students’ reading and listening vocabularies expand as they hear new words in meaningful contexts. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) remind parents and teachers of two things about reading aloud to students. First, children’s listening comprehension is stronger than their reading comprehension until the middle grades so parents and teachers can read challenging books to develop children’s knowledge. Second, books read aloud to children in the upper grades can extend and enrich what students are able to read on their own. This week the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group focuses on some of our favorite new books for reading aloud. Happy reading!

GRADES K-3

Dempsey, Kristy. (2012). Surfer Chick. Illus. by Henry Cole. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Sometimes it’s hard to live up to the accomplishments of a parent. Although Chick is thrilled to be taken under the wings of her well-known surfer father, riding the waves is harder than she thought, and more than once, the plucky fowl ends up wiped out, struggling to stay on her pink board. Through her father's tender guidance and her own perseverance, she goes from a miserable heap of wet feathers on the beach to eventually surfing skillfully with a twist of her own. Clearly, this is a daughter much like her father, certainly deserving of the title Surfer Chick. This charming picture book written in rhyming text features clever word play with fun-to-say phrases such as "foul-tempered" (unpaginated) and "ruffled her feathers" (unpaginated). The surfer lingo such as "bummer" (unpaginated), "colossal wipeout" (unpaginated), and "gnarly new legend" heighten the book's appeal and make it a sure pick for a read aloud. The acrylic paint and colored pencil illustrations paint sentimental images of the joys of surfing and of the ocean’s allure. Not only does this title lovingly depict the relationship between a father and his daughter, but it also serves as a gentle reminder that not everything worth doing comes easily.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Henry, Jed. (2012). I speak dinosaur! New York: Abrams.
During imaginary play children like to speak dinosaur. Dinosaurs don’t ask, “May I please play with you?” (unpaginated). Instead the little boy with a red dinosaur hat shouts to his friends in dinosaur, “Gribber, grabber, blobber, slobber!” (unpaginated). All of his friends immediately disappear. Dinosaurs never say thank you or I’m sorry either. And sometimes dinosaurs speak to their moms, “Roar!” When this happens though, dinosaurs need to leave the house. The little boy moves to his back yard swing set and is suddenly lonely. Large dinosaur shadows loom overhead and ask him, “Hi, may we please play with you?” (unpaginated). Little boy is shocked to hear, “May I?” and “Please.” His young friends have returned with their own dinosaur hats, but are using their manners. This is a perfect picture book to remind children about using manners. Teachers could also use this book at an imaginary play center with some dinosaur hats. Another extension would be to show how the author and illustrator, Jed Henry, used capital letters or large font type when the dinosaurs were shouting or yelling. Children could try this idea in their own writing or book making. 
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Jurmain, Suzanne. (2011). The Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the true story of an American Feud. Illus. by Larry Day. New York: Dutton.
From the author/illustrator pair that brought readers George Did It, this new book brings to light the friendship and disagreements of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. At that time in American history the President and Vice President could represent different political parties, which was the case with Adams and Jefferson. Coming from very different political philosophies, “…as different as pickles and ice cream,” this governmental pair argued over most issues in the early years of our country. Adams became the second President of the United States serving after George Washington and Jefferson defeated Adams to become the third President. Because of their numerous arguments, the two men did not speak for over ten years after their terms ended. As the country continued to thrive under other presidents, Jefferson and Adams rekindled their friendship through letter writing as they felt the need to discuss the developing nation. Caricature illustrations provide a humorous look at the antics of these two great men as they waged their battles in shaping the United States. Personal anecdotes from the author about two of the nation’s forefathers give readers the chance to see their human qualities in addition to watching how a friendship can develop after troubled first encounters. 
- Karen Hildebrand Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Pallotta, Jerry. (2012). A giraffe did one. Illus. by Tatjana Mai-Wyss. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. 
This fun read aloud begins with, “An ant did one, but no one could hear it” (unpaginated). A worm, a mouse, a squirrel and a skunk also did one, but readers aren’t  exactly sure what they have done. This is a perfect book to help teach the thinking strategy prediction. While reading a teacher could ask students, “what do you think the animals are doing?” On one page, “A turtle did one. It made a little bubble” (unpaginated), children could turn to a partner and share what they think the turtle did. On another page, “A monkey did one, and started laughing, but why?” The teacher could stop reading and write down on chart paper all of the students’ predictions. Later, readers will learn that a flower and a tree “can’t do one” which helps refine predictions. The funniest page is, “When the elephant does it, watch out! It sounds like an EARTHQUAKE! (unpaginated). The book closes with an illustration of a mom and a sheepish little boy surrounded by all of the different animals that were in the book at a tea party. The little boy did one too! 
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Rosen, Michael. (2010). Tiny little fly. Illus. by Kevin Waldron. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
In this delightful read aloud title, a diminutive fly flits teasingly by three mighty beasts--an elephant, a hippo, and a tiger--without coming to any harm. One by one, each of the massive creatures decides to put an end to that fly’s peskiness. Despite their best efforts and amid all sorts of delightful language ["TRAMP! CRUSH! TRAMP!" (unpaginated), "ROLL! SQUASH! ROLL!" (unpaginated), and "SWOOP! SNATCH! SWOOP!" (unpaginated)]--and possible mayhem, the fly simply keeps on buzzing, slightly, but annoyingly, out of reach. Young readers will enjoy hearing this story multiple times, and readers won't mind reading it again because of how much fun it is to say the words and enjoy the pencil, gouache and digitally enhanced illustrations that fill its pages. The two-page spread that shows the elephant's eye peering at that fly is especially appealing since the size of the fly makes it unlikely that it could survive an encounter with a pachyderm. But then again, size doesn’t always matter, especially when you’re a savvy fly.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Rosenstock, Barbara. (2012). The camping trip that changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and our National Parks. Ill. by Mordicai Gerstein. New York: Dial.
During the month of February, we celebrate Presidents so this unique story adds to the collection of little-known stories about one of America’s Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and how he came to create the national park system that we preserve and enjoy today. Roosevelt read a book written by naturalist and out-door lover John Muir where Muir was asking the government to preserve America’s beautiful forests and wilderness areas. On May 15, 1903, Teddy Roosevelt arrived in California, slipped away from the presidential entourage, and camped out for three days with Muir in Yosemite to discover the giant redwoods, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove and other splendors of this wilderness area. When the President returned from his camping trip and outdoor adventure with Muir, the national park and monument system was created. Gerstein’s watercolor illustrations bring the beauty of America’s wilderness areas to young readers and make visible the rationale to save these wonderlands. 
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Sierra, Judy. (2012). Suppose you meet a dinosaur: A first book of manners. Illus. by Tim Bowers. New York: Knopf.
Judy Sierra takes children on a rhyming romp where a well-mannered little girl meets an equally well-mannered dinosaur in the store. Both know all of the right words to say.  For instance, “Imagine that the dinosaur is standing by the bathroom door. / You have to pee! She is in your way. / Quick! What is the proper thing to say?” You say, “Excuse me” (upaginated).  Kids will not only delight in the fun rhymes and Tim Bowers’ delightful acrylic illustrations, but also the very notion of a large green dinosaur wearing stylish pink glasses with rhinestones shopping in the store. This book is an ideal choice for reading aloud when children need a gentle reminder that good manners need to be used. 
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

GRADES 3-4

McCarthy, Meghan. (2012). The incredible life of Balto. New York: Knopf.
Balto was an inexperienced sled dog when Gunnar Kaasen chose him in 1925 to lead one of the last legs of a race—a 600 mile race to get life-saving serum to Nome, Alaska to save the people from a Diptheria Outbreak. “Balto delivered the medicine to Nome in record time!” (unpaginated), becoming an instant hero Balto. A statue in his likeness and honor was erected in New York City’s Central Park. A dog food was named after him. He even starred as himself in a movie called Balto’s Race to Nome. Yet, fame does not last forever. Eventually Balto and his companions became part of a vaudeville act and finally a sideshow. Cleveland businessman, George Kimball, could not believe how the once-famous Balto was now featured in sideshow.  Kimball resolved to buy Balto and his companions, but the exorbitant price of $2,000 was more than he had. The people of Cleveland raised the money in two-weeks so the Balto and his teammates could be purchased and donated to the Cleveland Zoo.  This read aloud has great appeal for animal lovers and anyone with a sense of adventure.  
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

Sheinmel, Courtney. (2012). Stella Batts needs a new name. Illus. by Jennifer Bell. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.
Even someone’s name can be the source of unwanted teasing, and when a classmate starts calling Stella Batts an unflattering rhyming name, she decides to solve the problem by changing her name. Instead of Stella, the California third grader wants to be called after a candy since the family owns a confectionery store with yummy treats identified with their two daughters. Stella’s friends all love the idea, and they decide to adopt candy names for themselves as well. Lucy becomes Truffle, Talisa becomes Kit Kat, and Willa becomes Caramel. Stella is stuck with Scheherazade because she can't think of a good candy name, but her friends comfort her by reminding her that the long moniker can be shortened to Sherry. Naturally, mayhem ensues as the students' teacher continues to address her students by their given names, and even Stella gets everyone's name mixed up. Since she plans to be a writer when she grows up, she chronicles all the difficulties she's facing, many of which can be traced back to the problem with her name. The first in a planned series that is sure to be popular with fans of Clementine, the book contains useful messages about learning to get along with others that go down as smoothly as the delicious sweets the family sells. This read aloud will have listeners laughing at the antics of Stella and her classmates.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Tavares, Matt. (2012). There goes Ted Williams: The greatest hitter who ever lived. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.
Ted Williams had the goal to be “the greatest hitter who ever lived,” and he worked on that goal every day of his young life. He practiced his swing longer and harder than his friends. He ate lots of food to gain weight. He did fingertip pushups. Then he practiced his swing again and again. “He is always swinging something—a bat, or a stick, or a pillow, or a rolled-up newspaper” (Unpaginated) He is offered his professional contract as a junior in high school at age 17! His batting heroics make him a star, but everything changes when he enlists in the Navy during World War II. Three years later, he is back on field and hits a home run on his first time at bat. His legendary career and legendary home runs continue until America is at war again and Williams is needed as a pilot in Korea. As he leaves for Korea, he wonders if his baseball career is over…. Students will enjoy the satisfying ending. The story of Ted Williams is the true story of a kid who had a dream and dedicated his life to making his dream come true.
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

GRADES 5-8

Bauer, Joan. (2011) Close to famous. New York: Viking. 
Winner of the recent Schneider Family Book Award, this title by Joan Bauer brings together a unique cast of characters that teachers will have fun portraying while reading it aloud. Fleeing Memphis in the middle of the night, Foster McFee and her mother are escaping the relationship of her mother’s abusive boyfriend, an Elvis impersonator. Since her father was killed in battle in Iraq, Foster and her mother have no real place to go but somehow end up in Culpepper, West Virginia in a rented Airstream trailer. Foster gets acquainted with the people in this tiny community through baking her delicious cupcakes and muffins. Although she always had difficulty reading, her love of baking and goal of being the first kid chef on the Food Network keep her driven and determined. As that culinary talent draws even more people to her, including a has-been movie star hiding out in Culpepper, her new friend Macon who dreams of being a filmmaker, Angry Wayne, owner of the local bar and grill (but who sells Foster’s cupcakes), and Perseverance Wilson all band together to help Foster.  Bauer tackles many issues within the storyline such as homelessness, race, domestic violence, learning disabilities and social justice. Visit Joan Bauer’s website http://www.joanbauer.com/close_to_famous.html for an interview about the book as well as cupcake recipes.
- Karen Hildebrand Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Angleberger, Tom. (2011) Horton Halfpott, or, the fiendish mystery of Smugwick Manor, or, the loosening of M’Lady Luggertuck’s corset. New York: Amulet Books. 
Though author Tom Anglebarger (The Strange Case of Origami Yoda) says this tale was inspired by Charles Dickens, readers/listeners might be laughing too much to think of this as Dickensian. The story opens one morning at Smugwick Manor when M’Lady Luggertuck loosens her corset to allow her circulation to start flowing, and giving her the idea to host a ball for her single and lovelorn nephew. As the days of preparation begin, the family heirloom, the Luggertuck Lump is stolen and Horton, the lowly kitchen boy is accused of the theft. A bumbling detective is hired to solve the case and Horton, falsely accused, is arrested and sent to jail. While in jail, Horton overhears who it is that actually stole the lump (a diamond!), quickly escapes and is on the path to find the real thief. The hilarious bumblings of these zany characters trying to solve the mystery within the castle prove to be an entertaining farcical story. Teachers might like to start this read aloud by sharing the two-minute video the author created for the website companion to this book found at http://hortonhalfpott.wordpress.com/.
- Karen Hildebrand Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

A classroom tablet computer is an amazing tool but heading over to its app store can be quite overwhelming—there are literally thousands from which to choose. So, where do you begin?

Apps tend to fall into specific categories. There are many drill-and-practice apps that help with basics like spelling words, but the power in a classroom iPad lies in the creative apps, such as voice recording, story creating, and draw-and-tell apps. These types of apps allow your students to demonstrate their learning.

The abundance of educational apps increases the tablet’s incredible potential for classroom use. Below are some favorite apps that I use in my grade one classroom with our class iPad.

[Please note: Most of the apps discussed are free, but I’ve noted cost when there is one. Also, many of the apps are only available for iPad at this time, but when available, Android apps have been listed as well.]

Voice Recording Apps

Voice recording apps are those I use to record my students’ voices, and have provided a great way for me to document my students reading orally over time. They are open-ended apps—unlike the drill-and-practice ones, open-ended apps aren’t set up with right or wrong answers—so their potential for learning is unlimited. Here are three of my favourites.

Audioboo (available for iPad and Android) is an easy to use recording app. It creates short voice recordings that can be stored on the Audioboo.net website, or easily embedded into a blog. Here is an example of an Audioboo embedded on my class blog.

VoiceThread (available for iPad) allows you to add oral comments to a photo or drawing. VoiceThreads can easily be shared between users (including ones one the other side of the globe!) and are great for collaborative projects.

Dragon Dictation (available for iPad) is an app that turns speech into text. In my classroom it has been great for one of my learning disabled students. This student has a ton of great ideas but has difficulty writing them down. Dragon Dictation allows this student to speak his ideas and then the app transforms the speech into text.

Story Making Apps

Story making apps allow my students to use their creativity to create or retell stories digitally. The story making apps that I recommend are open ended and the final product can be shared with others.

All of the story making apps below have been used in different ways by my students. Sometimes my students work on their own creating their stories, while other times they work in partners or small groups around the one iPad. It’s important to note that these story making apps can be used to share a variety of content, not just creative stories.

My Story ($1.99, available for iPad) is an app perfect for primary students eager to create stories. This app enables students to draw, write, and/or speak their stories then publish their finished stories for others to read.

Scribble Press (available for iPad) is another app for primary students. This app has preset story frames that can be personalized by filling in blanks. This text can also be edited and changed, or you can completely type in your own text. This app allows you to add photos and/or stickers, and create drawings using a large variety of drawing tools. Once you have completed your story, the app allows for stories to be easily uploaded and shared via the Scribble Press website.

Book Creator ($4.99, available for iPad) allows you to create personal stories that can be published. It is very easy to import photos and add text as well as play with page features such as colour and font.

Toontastic (available for iPad) is an app that allows you to create cartoons to tell a story. There is no writing involved with this app; instead, you create simple animation movies and record your voice to go with the movement. The app provides the user with a lot of different backgrounds and characters to choose from as well as a framework that allows the user to remember key elements in story telling. These key elements include setting, conflict, challenge, climax, and resolution.

Puppet Pals (available for iPad) is another animation app (made by Polished Play) that allows you to create simple movies. You can use this app to retell stories, or create your own. The free version of Puppet Pals comes with a small selection of characters and scenes, but I highly recommend investing in the $2.99 “director’s cut” for a very large selection of characters and scenes.

The beauty of story making apps is that they allow every student to create a story in a way that works best for them. For example, when we worked together with a buddy class from another school using their iPads, we used ScribblePress to easily create a collaborative story about working together. We were able to use the iPad2 camera to add photos of our experience, too.

In addition, some of my students have used our class writing time to draw, write, and tell their personal story using the My Story app. Puppet Pals was a great retell some of the Fairy Tales we studied in January. Puppet Pals can also be used to create math number stories, or to review skip counting. So, while I’ve listed many different story making apps, each app seems to meet a different teaching, learning, or student need and it’s wonderful to have such a fantastic selection.

Draw-and-Tell Apps

Draw-and-tell apps allow you to draw a concept and explain what you’re doing as you do it. They act like interactive whiteboards. For example, my grade one students will be drawing the life cycle of a frog. As they draw the life cycle they will record what they are drawing. Draw-and-tell apps bring voice to those drawings.

The following four apps do pretty much the same things but in slightly different ways. It’s best to explore all four to find out which one is best for your age group; the ones listed here are available for iPad only.

• Show Me
• Screen Chomp
• Explain Everything ($2.99 )
• Educreations

One of the benefits of draw-and-tell apps is that students can work together easily—one can draw while the other speaks. In addition, they are great for retelling stories while drawing simple story maps to go along with the retell. They can be used to create graphic organizers to compare and contrast different characters in a story, or different versions of the same story.

Draw-and-tell apps also provide an excellent way to document reading comprehension. One teacher I know used these apps as a back channel during a class movie. The students using the apps took notes (in words and in pictures) about the movie as it was happening so that they could go back afterwards and revisit what they had learned.

Draw-and-tell apps really do have an infinite number of ways to be used. Think of them like your whiteboard in that they can be used over and over again, but the results may never be the same twice.

Word Work Apps

My grade one students spend part of their day learning and working with letters and words. Here are some of my students’ favourite apps to practice their word work.

Magnetic Alphabet ($1.99, available for iPad) is just like those magnetic letters you grew up with on your fridge at home.

Word Wizard ($2.99, available for iPad) is a fabulous app for those still learning letter sounds, or for those phonetically writing. This app allows your students to hear letter sounds as they manipulate them to create words. In addition, this app has a large selection of sight words and provides an exciting way to practice spelling them.

ABC PocketPhonics ($2.99, available for iPad) is a great app to help your students learn to read, write, and say a variety of letter sounds/words. This app allows you to set up individual accounts for each student so that everyone can work at their just right level. There is a free version available for this app, but it only has a very small selection of what the full app offers.

My students love all three of the apps listed and when given the choice they love to use the magnet letters first. ABC PocketPhonics has also been well received by my students that are having trouble learning their letters and sounds.

However, as their teacher, my absolute favourite is Word Wizard. Word Wizard has helped my newest student to Canada a lot. This student has very limited English. He can say a simple sentence such as “I like Christmas” but he doesn’t yet have the skill to isolate the sounds in Christmas, nor is he sure which letters make which sounds. But when I help him stretch the word Christmas into the c, r, I, s, m, a, s, sounds he is able to use Word Wizard to figure out which letters actually make those sounds.

As you can see by reviewing this long list of apps, your classroom tablet computer is an amazing tool for teaching and learning. Hopefully these suggestions will get you thinking about ways you can integrate your new technology into your classroom!

UPDATE, 7/12: Read Karen's account of adding a class set of iPads through a grant program, and an overview of the apps she's loaded on to her students' iPads, here.

Karen Lirenman (@klirenman) is a grade one teacher in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. She has been teaching for 20 years and discovered Twitter for educational purposes in July 2011. Her interests include utilizing technology, improving her teaching, and sharing with others. Karen spent the 2009 school year teaching in Melbourne, Australia. She loves to travel and is a five-time Ironman finisher. Karen's professional blog can be found at LearningandSharingwithMsL.blogspot.com.



In the Nick of Time: Tools for Organizing Our Teaching Life

Teaching Tips: A Peek Inside—Digital Tools that Empower

Throughout my 28 years as an educator, I have worked with students in rural, urban, and suburban environments from preschool to college level. Regardless of the instructional setting or age group, one of the most challenging aspects of teaching has been supporting the learning of students with special needs. Students with learning challenges often arrive at the classroom door with needs that require educators to think carefully about the ways they plan instruction. Teachers must ensure all students have access to rich, engaging content as well as appropriate means for demonstrating their learning. With such great variability among learners, how can the classroom teacher keep up-to-date with the best ways to support student learning?

The Virginia Department of Education Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC) Assistive Technology Blog has just the answer! This blog, which has been active since 2006, offers a plethora of assistive technology information for educators at every level! Assistive Technology (AT) is defined as “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. (29 U.S.C. Sec 2202(2))” (National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011). Although designed with students with disabilities in mind, some assistive technology tools can also support the learning of students in the regular education program.

Every weekday, T/TAC staff members post information on the latest tools, methods and technologies available for supporting student learning through assistive technology. The site’s consistent, organized design makes information easy to find. Tool bars allow the reader to search for specific keywords, view material by date posted, or look for entries related to broad categories like AT for Reading. Queries submitted in the search bar produce multiple entries on virtually every keyword one uses. The blog offers an RSS feed to keep readers informed of new entries that can be customized to focus on specific topics of interest. For example, selecting an RSS feed for the term “word study” will allow the reader to receive updated information on that topic whenever it is posted. Additionally, T/TAC encourages readers to email specific questions to the site so answers can be posted for the entire community’s benefit. 

Encouraging students of all learning abilities, particularly those with special needs, to engage in instruction can be challenging for any teacher. By visiting the Assistive Technology Blog, educators are guaranteed to find many creative solutions to meeting student’s needs while increasing their own knowledge of the latest assistive technology tools. Using the insight gained from this blog, teachers may be better able to utilize instructional methods and tools that benefit all learners.

Reference

National Institute of Standards and Technology. (July, 2011). What is assistive technology? Retrieved from: http://standards.gov/assistivetechnology.cfm

Joan Rhodes is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Reading Program group at Virginia Commonwealth University. 

This article is part of a series from the Technology in Literacy Education Special Interest Group (TILE-SIG). 

The Kids In Need Foundation announces the second year of a teacher grants program sponsored by Elmer’s Products Inc. As a result of this educational partnership, teachers nationwide can visit the Kids In Need Foundation website to apply for an Elmer’s Teacher Tool Kit grant that can range from $100 to $500.

The grants will be given to teachers who wish to conduct classroom projects selected from a catalog of more than 500 projects currently in the Kids In Need Guide to Award Winning Projects during the 2012-2013 school year. Applications will be available online at www.kinf.org. This year, approximately 250 grants sponsored by Elmer’s will be provided to teachers nationwide. These grant awards are based on financial need, number of children who will benefit, and the teacher's commitment to complete the project. Special consideration is given to first year teachers. The deadline for online submissions is April 30, 2012.

“The Kids In Need Foundation recognizes the creativity of teachers through our Teacher Grants Program. Our library of projects showcases dynamic classroom activities, but they all require funds,” said Dave Smith, executive director of the Foundation. “We want to alleviate the need for teachers to reach into their own pockets to fund these projects, and we are thrilled to partner again with Elmer’s to provide teachers with the tools they need to strengthen imagination and critical thinking skills and abilities among their students.”

“Elmer’s has a deep commitment to the education of young people and those who help to mold them,” said Terri Brown, senior manager marketing services and communications at Elmer’s. “Together, with the Kids In Need Foundation, we will provide teachers with tools that help strengthen critical thinking, creativity and innovation among their students. The Teacher Grants Program is just one way Elmer’s provides educators with the resources they need to be successful.”

As part of the Elmer’s-Kids In Need partnership, Elmer’s will also donate product to the Foundation’s national network of free stores for teachers. The Kids In Need National Network of Resource Centers, 27 facilities across the country where teachers from low income schools can obtain free school supplies for their students and classrooms, will feature an area called Elmer’s Tools for Teachers stocked with such items as Elmer’s School Glue and Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks, art materials, scrapbooking supplies, and other Elmer’s products.

For more information about Elmer’s Teacher Tool Kit grant and this educational partnership with the Kids in Need Foundation, visit Elmers.com.

As if anyone needs an excuse for it, February is the time for love. Children and adults create and purchase Valentines or love tokens for their loved ones. But no one needs to wait for a holiday to share their heartfelt sentiments or say, “I love you.” The following book reviews, written by members of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group explore the infinite varieties of love to be found in recent publications.

GRADES K-3 

LaReau, Kara. (2012). Mr. Prickles: A quill-fated love story. Illus. by Scott Magoon. New York: Roaring Brook Press. 
Poor Mr. Prickles, a porcupine, has difficulty making friends. Although he tries to be friendly with the other animals in the forest, things just never work out.  Food gets stuck in his quills during playtime, and his spines are certainly unwelcome at a sleepover. Refusing to frolic with him anymore, the other animals end up telling him he isn’t cute, cuddly or playful. This saddens Mr. Prickles, and he becomes very lonely. But one day he meets Miss Pointypants and they begin to have fun together. They swim and splash in a dark lake. They dine on twigs and bark. They even watch the moon rise over the water. The forest animals make fun of the two porcupines and say hurtful things about the pair. Fortunately, Mr. Prickles realizes that what the other animals have to say doesn’t matter and that it is much nicer to be alone with someone who loves his quills—Miss Pointypants. This sweet love story may spark discussions on finding friends in unlikely places and getting along with others who might not look like us. 
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Harper, Charise Mericle. (2011). Henry’s heart: A boy, his heart, and a new best friend. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
This hybrid picture book includes two genres: realistic fiction and nonfiction. At the top of each page, in a circle, is a narrative story about a boy named Henry. Information and facts about Henry’s heart can be found in tiny illustrations and speech bubbles on each page. Children could enjoy this book in multiple ways—reading the narrative, exploring the facts/information about hearts or reading both the story and the nonfiction facts at the same time. Henry’s mother wants his heart to get some exercise. As soon as Henry begins running in the sunshine, his heart begins to beat faster. Small illustrations of Henry’s heart state, “I think I got up to 130 beats per minute on that hill” (unpaginated). Henry’s heart beats even faster when Henry meets a brown-haired girl in a polka-dotted red dress. One full page shows the different snacks that keep a heart healthy. Another page has a table with activities and exercises that help our hearts. A funny love story twist occurs in the conclusion.
- Deanna Day, Washington State University Vancouver

Knudsen, Michelle.  (2011). Argus. Candlewick Press. Illus. by Andréa Wesson.
When Sally’s teacher hands out eggs for the class science project, Sally notices that hers looks a little different than the other students’ eggs. Her desktop incubator hatches the egg, which turns out to be a small dragon. As Argus the dragon grows, he presents major problems for the classroom such as possibly eating the other hatchlings and creating chaos in the school. Feeling as though he doesn’t belong, Argus runs away. At first Sally is relieved to be rid of her “project” because he is unlike the other chicks. Eventually, though, she realizes that she loves her irrepressible dragon and misses him. The other children in the class help Sally look for Argus, and everyone rejoices when he is found. The author and the illustrator work together to make sure young readers recognize Argus’s true nature  as his identity as a dragon is never mentioned directly in the text. The theme of loving something that is a little—or in some cases, a lot—different will make this a great read aloud for story times.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Nivola, Claire. (2011). Orani: My father’s village. New York: Frances Foster/Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.
In text and watercolor illustrations, the author skillfully enables young readers to experience the same sights, sounds, smells, and feelings she encountered as a young girl visiting her father’s native village.  The words she uses to describe Orani, Sicily, bring the village to life and show her love for a place and time that exists only in her memories. This text is ideal for showing children how to expand a moment and to bring sensory impressions to their own writing about their experiences.  Nivola deftly illustrates how experiences—common or uncommon—can become sensory feasts through careful word choice and description. Readers can almost taste the cool water and dine on the sumptuous meals being laid out on dinner tables before wandering through the village’s winding streets. This loving tribute evokes a sense of place in memorable fashion.
- Terrell A. Young, Brigham Young University

Ogburn, Jacqueline K. (2011). Little treasures: endearments from around the world. Illus. by Chris Raschka. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
This American Library Association Notable Book for 2012 is filled with several ways to say “I love you” through phrases and endearments from 16 cultures around the globe. Each endearment is written in the native language with an English translation and a pronunciation guide. Alphabetic characters from different parts of the globe make the book even more appealing. Children will delight in hearing some of the endearing ways adults let children know how they are loved, including “ducky” (unpaginated) from England, “little coconut candy” (unpaginated) from Brazil, “possum” (unpaginated) from Australia, “hug bunny” (unpaginated) in Finland, or “little mischievous pea” (unpaginated) in China. Terms of affection used within families transcend cultures, bringing the world a little closer in this title with familial love as a universal theme. Caldecott-winning Raschka’s watercolor, gouache and ink illustrations portray the culture of each loving phrase with non-stereotypical color and design.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Urbigkit, Kat. (2011). The guardian team: On the job with Rena and Roo. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.
Who knew that a pup and a wild donkey could become friends? In this delightful picture book, Rena, the runt of the litter, and Roo, a scruffy burro, slowly learn to trust one another and become an integral part of life on a sheep ranch in Wyoming. These unlikely guardians keep close watch over the lambs, protecting them from predators or unwanted intruders. The text describes how each animal is introduced separately to the lambs that will be their responsibility and then the dog and the burro are introduced to each other. Over time, they form an alliance, working together to keep the herd where it’s supposed to be. The large photographs trace the animals' growth over a year as well as documenting the bond that grows among canine and burro and their fluffy charges. An Author's Note provides additional information about guardian animals, and the references will provide more reading material on this topic. Once again, this reliable author presents interesting information in an engaging way sure to appeal to many young readers. Life on a ranch may be hard work, but clearly it’s a labor of love for Rena, Roo, and Urbigkit.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

GRADES 4-6

Weeks, Sarah. (2011). Pie. New York: Scholastic.
When Alice’s beloved Aunt Polly passes away and leaves her incredibly delicious pie recipes to her cat, Lardo, the mystery begins. Alice has inherited Lardo but cannot understand why her aunt would pass her famous recipes along to a cat that certainly can’t use them. The whole town mourns the loss of Polly and the closing of her pie shop since everyone loved her pies. In fact, each of them had a favorite type of pie. When Polly’s pie shop is vandalized, Alice realizes that someone is after her aunt’s famous pie recipe. As Alice and her family work to solve the mystery,  the whole community is drawn into the story. Set in 1955, the atmosphere of this book is from an era of close community ties. An epilogue from 1995 brings comforting closure to the story. An added treat is the collection of pie recipes that introduce each chapter of the book. This book is sure to make a pie-lover out of the most devoted cake or ice cream lover.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 7-8

Hilmo, Tess (2011) With a name like Love. New York: Margaret Ferguson Books/Farrar Straus Giroux.
Ollie and her traveling preacher father, Everlasting Love, and the family arrive in 1957 Binder, Arkansas, on the heels of a murder. The family usually stops in towns for a 3-day revival before moving on, but this time they stay a bit longer. Ollie happens to meet Jimmy Koppel, the son of the woman accused of killing Jimmy’s father, an abusive man.  As their friendship develops, Jimmy convinces Ollie that his mother has been wrongly accused. Not only do the Loves carry the right surname, but they also live up to their names, reaching out the hand of trust and looking for justice in the world.  With Ollie in the lead, they embrace Jimmy in his time of need. Debut author Hilmo has developed a cast of characters that will draw readers into this murder mystery as they empathize with the Loves’ attempts to open the hearts and minds of the townsfolk who don’t seem to want to know the truth about the murder.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

GRADES 9-12

Chambers, Aidan. (2012). Dying to know you. New York: Amulet Books/Abrams.
Desperate to impress his new girlfriend Fiorella Seabourne, Karl Williamson, a plumber's assistant who struggles with reading and writing, seeks help from her favorite novelist. The relationship is in its early stages, and Fiorella longs to know his innermost thoughts about a wide variety of topics, including love. Karl, in turn, wants to impress her with his ability to express himself. Drawn to Karl's plight and identifying with his dyslexia, the narrator agrees to help. He encourages the romance between the two through his ability to express the taciturn Karl’s feelings through writing. Not surprisingly, the romance hits a rocky patch as Karl continues to mourn his father, who died when he was twelve. When he uses art to express his feelings, the local thugs ridicule his work and his friends fail to understand the meaning of his work. This is an exquisitely written reminder of the power of art, love and friendship to fill the emptiness that consumes someone after a loss. The author describes effectively the contrast between the young and the old while also hinting that the two often have more in common than expected. As the narrator comes to know Karl better, he also learns quite a bit about himself and his own ability to possibly love again.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Coriell, Shelley. (2012). Welcome, caller, this is Chloe. New York: Amulet Books/Abrams. 
Junior year is not going well for Chloe Camden. When her social network deserts her, leaving her with no friends and nowhere to sit at lunch, she must find a place to fit. While Chloe navigates the high school halls in her fashionable shoes, she also is in the middle of a conflict between her mother and her grandmother whose Parkinson's makes it dangerous for her to live alone. Plus, her counselor refuses to accept her independent study project and steers her toward a project involving the school radio station. Although she becomes involved reluctantly, she makes her presence known immediately. Relying on her people skills and exuberant, larger-than-life personality, Chloe hosts a call-in show that quickly becomes popular with listeners. Working with the radio folks, Chloe realizes that she isn’t alone in needing to belong somewhere. She also finds romance with fix-up guy Duncan Moore who has home problems far more complicated than she could ever imagine. Despite all the rumors that are being spread about her, Chloe finds her way back to herself, realizing that listening is just as important as speaking up for what matters.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Green, John. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Dutton Books.
Best-selling YA author John Green takes on the topic of two teenagers with cancer in his latest release. Hazel Lancaster and Gus Waters meet at a cancer support group. Their friendship blossoms into love, and they share each other’s lives as they deal with their cancer. Hazel is particularly drawn to a book, An Imperial Affliction, and invites Gus to read it. As they become equally enthralled with this novel about cancer, they decide to seek out the author who is living in Amsterdam. Brushes with death from their cancer have given the young couple insight into life that readers will admire. Seeing how Hazel and Gus celebrate each day that they have together and ask hard questions about what comes next will inspire teen readers, possibly helping them cherish the time that they have.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Griffin, Paul. (2011). Stay with me. New York: Dial Books.
Two troubled teens, both from dysfunctional families, meet at the pizza place where they are employed. Although they fall in love at first sight, they could not be more different from each other. Cece is a smart, straight-A student applying for admission to a gifted and talented program, and Mark is a high school drop-out, a shy but volatile teen with a record. Mark’s passion for rescuing pit bulls draws Cece’s attention and admiration, causing her to eventually overcome her fear of the dogs. Their love for each other grows until Mark makes a terrible mistake. Minor characters add to the story’s depth with believable dialogue and interactions. This poignant story of love and heartbreak will also appeal to dog lovers.
- Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Michaelis, Antonia. (2012). The storyteller. New York: Amulet Books/Abrams. 
The very different worlds of German schoolmates Anna and Abel collide when Anna finds a doll belonging to his six-year-old sister Micha. After following him, Anna realizes that the school’s drug dealer is taking care of Micha by himself since their mother has disappeared. Their plight must remain secret until he turns eighteen so that social workers won’t take Micha away from Abel. The neighborhood in which Abel and Micha live and the grinding poverty they endure is foreign to Anna who has always lived in the lap of luxury, the only child of highly educated parents. Despite the cautionary words of her friends, Anna is drawn to Abel for his gift for storytelling. To entertain his sister, he crafts a fairy tale about a little orphan queen with a diamond heart who is pursued by hunters trying to steal that treasure. When Anna begins to notice parallels between the story and some of the disturbing events in the lives of Abel and Micha, she wonders if the boy she loves may also be a killer. In Anna’s eyes, Abel's love for his sister redeems him from the mistakes he makes. This is a magical, heartbreaking story for older teens that illustrates how unimaginably cruel the world can be, and how alluring fantasy can be for someone faced by grim reality. As Anna becomes caught up in Abel's world, she leaves her own far behind.
- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Sonnenblick, J. (2012). Curveball: The year I lost my grip. New York, NY: Scholastic. 
Freshman Peter Friedman has a promising future as a baseball pitcher until an injury destroys that promise. Searching for a new identity, Peter uses the photographic equipment his grandfather, a former professional photographer, gives to him and becomes the school sports photographer. Meanwhile, love blossoms between Peter and his photography classmate Angelika. While Peter struggles with Angelika’s expectation that he tell his best friend the truth about his injuries, Peter also deals with another secret about his grandfather’s worsening Alzheimer's disease. Just as Peter wants to keep the truth about his unlikely future in baseball from his friend AJ, his grandfather wants to deal with the disease on his own terms and does not allow Peter to tell anybody in his family. This book teaches readers about the meaning of true friendships, which sometimes require difficult truths to be told. Readers will empathize with the book’s characters and the difficult choices that they face. The story encourages empathy for others while also caring about ourselves.  

- Tadayuki Suzuki, Western Kentucky University