Literacy Now

This was a banner year for chapter books, making it difficult to choose some favorites for this year. Members of the International Reading Association's Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group offer some titles that will want to include while you are catching up on your year’s reading.

Berry, Julie. (2013). All the truth that’s in me. New York: Viking Juvenile.

The citizens of Roswell Station are a judgmental lot and deal severely with those who break the town's rules or seem to be different from the norm. When she is fourteen, Judith and her best friend Lottie disappear from town. Lottie's body floats down the river while Judith doesn't return for two years. Judith's cut tongue makes it hard for her to communicate, and because her mother fears what others will say, she insists that Judith remain mute, rarely speaking. Only when the village is threatened by outsiders does she return to her kidnapper to enlist his help. Thanks to an unexpected friend, she begins trying to speak and even decides to attend school. Ever since she was a child, Judith has loved Lucas, a handsome local boy. But he seems to pay her little mind, and after she returns from her kidnapping, he barely notices her. The author describes her loneliness and hidden passion vividly while also making it clear that many of the villagers are not as pure as they might seem. The schoolmaster, for instance, is revealed in all his lechery and determination to force Judith to submit to his unwanted physical attentions. Judith's mother pays her little attention, even shutting the door against her when she most needs her help. Were it not for the horse and cow in the barn, her brother, and Maria who encourages her to speak, her lot would be, indeed, loveless. I liked the female friendship she develops with Maria and the fact that Goody Pruett turns out to be more than a busybody or judgmental elderly woman. Her desire for Lucas is palpable especially since the entire book is addressed to him through the author's use of second person. This title, evoking the Puritan ethic effectively, brings to mind The Scarlet Letter and Speak, reminding teen readers of the power found in finding and using one's voice, especially in righting a wrong. Readers will be impressed with Judith’s stamina and determination to have more than has been allotted to her and hope that she would find some semblance of happiness by the end of the book. The story is powerfully told and keeps readers’ attention.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Deuker, Carl. (2013). Swagger. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Fans of Carl Deuker will certainly enjoy his latest offering, Swagger, filled as it is with an imperfect but likeable protagonist and ethical dilemmas that could have been torn from today's newspaper headlines. One of the aspects of this author's writing that has always impressed me is how he approaches topics that other sports writers tend to avoid. He does so gently but relentlessly so that readers are swept up by the characters' lives and the decisions that face them. Because he includes plenty of descriptions of the sports activity—in this case, basketball—reluctant readers are a lot less reluctant to read a book. This title focuses on Jonas Dolan, a starting point guard for his California team. When his coach encourages him to apply for an athletic scholarship with a Division II team, he makes efforts to improve his work in the classroom and on the court. But his family's relocation to Seattle means that he has to start over and win a place on his new high school team. The new coach already has a starting point guard, and his style of playing doesn't suit Jonas's, which is more suited to new assistant coach Ryan Hartwell's. Jonas befriends kind-hearted Levi Rawdon, a tall, quiet boy whose father is a minister. As the basketball season moves on with Ryan getting limited playing time at the start and more as the team comes together, he must deal with a secret revealed to him by Levi. Readers will find the quagmire in which Jonas is mired to be quite realistic as well as being fascinated by the web woven by his coach. Even though there are some elements of the book that strain credibility, I still enjoyed this title, as will many teen readers. Many of them may want to follow Jonas's decision to do the right thing, even despite what it costs him. In the end it seems pretty clear that no one needs to swagger to show his or her confidence.  

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Farrant, Natasha. (2013). After Iris. New York: Dial.

Twelve-year-old Bluebell Gadsby's family seems to be tearing apart. Her twin sister Iris died three years ago, and no one seems to want to talk about Iris anymore. While her mother and father go their separate ways with jobs that necessitate much travel, Blue and her siblings are left under the care of Zoran, a patient au pair who seems more concerned with the children than their parents. Blue uses her video camera and diary entries to capture her complicated family, including dramatic older sister Flora, and younger siblings, Jasmine and Twig, who adore rats. Readers' hearts will break for Blue as she experiences her first crush and first betrayal, but they will also applaud how she goes from invisible to all-too noticed when she and a new guy devise a perfect comeuppance for Dodi, Blue's former best friend who has turned on her and has made school somewhat hellish. There are plenty of surprises here as well as an acknowledgement that there are spaces for those among us with their own views of the world around them. There is only so much weirdness and rule-breaking that can be tolerated before something very bad happens. If there is one thing especially worth noting about this book, though, it is the author's delicate handling of mourning and how each of us deal with loss. As is the case of Iris, it often is true that those that leave this world never really leave us, living on in the memories we hold dear.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Flores-Scott, Patrick. (2013). Jumped in. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Sophomore Sam Gregory has learned how to blend into the scenery in his Des Moines, Washington high school. He follows certain rules that make sure he won't be noticed by his teachers or classmates and spends most of his afternoons sleeping in his grandparents' home. Sam longs for the good old days when he and his mother lived in Aberdeen and he and his buddies listened to the music of Nirvana and dreamed of starting their own band. When he and Luis Cardenas are seated together in English class, at first he fears the boy that he is sure is a gangster, but he eventually realizes that the two of them have something in common. As they work together on a piece for the class poetry slam dreamed up by their teacher, Ms. Cassidy, both confront their fears. Readers will be moved by this story and impressed by the poetry of Luis that is inserted between the chapters. When the truth about Luis and the scar on his neck is revealed, tissues will be needed. Sam is able to move past his own anxieties and open himself to including others in his life despite the fact that his mother seemingly has abandoned him and he fears being hurt when someone gets too close. The addition of names to his cell phone address book provides ready evidence that he matters to others just as they matter to him. Readers will want to read this while listening to Nirvana's musical accompaniment. While the friendship between the boys develops a bit too quickly to be believable and Sam's initial depression goes unnoticed by school authorities and his grandparents for far too long, the book still presents an authentic struggle by two teens trying to fly beneath the radar while also having quite a lot to say. Even Gilbert, his grandparents' parrot, constantly reminds him of his mother's departure, making it hard for him to move past her betrayal. As the book comes to a close, readers will still be curious about Sam and Luis, and will keep thinking about how Luis had been jumped in, not into a street gang, but into the world of poets and those who express their thoughts most effectively through poetry.

- Barbara Ward, Washington  State University Pullman

Knowles, Jo. (2013). Living with Jackie Chan. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

As does the equally elegantly written title, The First Part Last by Angela Johnson, this book looks at the after-effects of a pregnancy from the point of view of the male. Josh is essentially a good person who made a bad decision. After a casual one-night stand with Ellie results in an unwanted pregnancy, he is haunted by what happened to their child. Josh moves in with his uncle Larry who idolizes Jackie Chan and teaches karate to him. Naturally, he isn't merely teaching him karate but a way to live life and treat others, something Josh recognizes even while hiding his own pain from everyone around him. The more Josh tries to forget his actions, the more they haunt him, leaving him unable to hear a baby crying without second-guessing himself. As Larry, his cat Clover, and Stella, an attractive teen in his karate class, try to help him find his way back to himself while forgiving himself for his mistakes, Josh flounders through his final year of high school, keeping his distance and observing the changes in his own parents who have inextricably found a way to hold onto their own relationship against all the odds. Fans of this book's predecessor, Jumping off Swings, will be delighted to find out what happens to Josh. The author raises plenty of tough questions while setting her characters in challenging situations from which they must rise or fall. The outcome for some might be predictable but not for all of the characters. For instance, Stella's loss of herself and need to be available to her boyfriend Britt and his whims mirrors her mother's compliance to her own boyfriend's needs, something she is unable to see throughout most of the book. The author did not simply give in to the easy path and start a late-blooming romance between Josh and Stella. The possibility is there, but so is the possibility that they will become even better friends, an outcome that seems all too rare in much of today's literature for teens. This thoughtful, provocative book is sure to prompt much introspection and examination.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Koertge, Ron. (2013). Coaltown Jesus. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Walker and his mother continue to mourn the loss of seventeen-year-old Noah, Walker's older brother. Jesus makes several appearances to help Walker come to terms with Noah's death and his own guilt about something he said to his brother. Since the story is told in a novel in verse format, it is quite accessible to teen readers even while raising questions about divinity, faith, and death. The Jesus who is depicted here is a very human one, witty, honest, irreverent, and interested in some of the world's more modern conveniences. As with all of this author's books, this one raises as many questions as it answers, even while offering some hope to the bereaved.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Kowitt, H. N. (2013). The loser list: Take me to your loser. New York: Scholastic.

Everybody's favorite loser, Danny Shine, concocts a plan to get involved in the school student government in order to avoid having to wrestle Bruiser Pekarsky. As happens with just about everything associated with Danny, things don't go the way he expects, and he ends up becoming more involved with student government than he ever planned. In fact, he is elected president in a bizarre of turn of events, and must lead the class in choosing how to spend a financial gift from donors. The student council members find it impossible to agree on almost anything, and Danny is subject to much pressure from his classmates and friends, all of whom have worthy projects on which the money could be spent. How can he choose from among the worthy causes, including an origami crane folding project, paintball warriors, a musical, and his friends' monster truck zombie film? Readers will laugh as they turn every page.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Larson, Kirby. (2013). Duke. New York: Scholastic.

Eleven-year-old Hobie Hansen loves his German shepherd, Duke, and having his companionship in his Seattle home eases the pain of having his father so far away during WWII. When he learns about Dogs for Defense, he feels compelled to loan Duke to the military, an action that is further motivated by pressure and bullying from Mitch, one of his classmates. But he immediately has second thoughts about his decision, especially when he realizes that many of the dogs in the K-9 units will be used in the war effort and not simply remain stateside as guards. The author captures Hobie's naïve belief that Duke will make it home safely and that he can somehow persuade the Marine with whom he's been paired to send him back to his owner. His letters to Marv, and Marv's letters back to him are brief but poignant. So desperate is Hobie to be reunited with Duke that he is ready to volunteer a friend's dog for military service so that he can have Duke back again. The inclusion of details such as radio programs, foods, slogans, shoe brands, the blue and gold stars in family windows, and recipes lend authenticity to a story that is clearly well-researched and written from the heart. Pair this one with Cracker by Cynthia Kadohata about a war dog during Vietnam or the recently released Dogs of War. Readers should be warned, though, that this book will tug at their heart strings and make them appreciate their own canine companions even more than they did before. This is another moving tale told with dignity by the always-reliable Kirby Larson.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Sloan, Holly Goldberg. (2013). Counting by 7s. New York: Dial.

While this book isn't perfect, reading it made me smile and laugh and reminded me to be a better person. Twelve-year-old Willow Chance is at the book's heart. Willow was adopted by her parents who could tell that she saw the world differently than others did, and subsequently nurtured that uniqueness. Her interests aren't the typical hobbies of middle schoolers since she is fascinated by human medical conditions and gardening on a large scale. As she heads into middle school, she hopes it will offer some challenges, but that notion is quickly dispelled. Accused of cheating on a standardized test, Willow is sent to counseling with the decidedly incompetent Dell Duke, who becomes fascinated with her genius status. She meets Nguyen Thi Mai and Nguyen Quang-ha at the counseling office and is quickly impressed with Mai. When her parents are killed in a wreck, Willow has nowhere to go, but her new friend comes up with a plan that solves everything temporarily. I enjoyed how the author allowed Willow to slowly take interest in the world around her again even while continuing to mourn her parents, and how she somehow found a family, even though that family didn't fit the expectations of social services. Willow's innate goodness shines thorough in so many ways, and it would be impossible not to root for her to have a happy ending. As they read this title, readers may find themselves thinking of the irrepressibly optimistic nature of Amber Appleton in Matthew Quick's Sorta Like a Rock Star. Somehow, Willow makes those around her better just by knowing her. There are so many philosophical moments contained in this book as well as reminders about how everything seems to connect and that our actions always have consequences. Even Dell comes to realize this once he sees what has happened to Cheddar, the cat he brought to work one day. Like the seeds Willow plants, this book plants seeds of hope that each of us can make this world a better place, starting with ourselves. This one will stick with readers and make them continue to think long after the book has been closed.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Vanderpool, Claire. (2013). Navigating Early. New York: Delacorte Books for Children.

Thirteen-year-old Jack Baker is still processing his mother's unexpected death when his father, a military officer, moves him from their Kansas home to a Maine boarding school near his base. Jack tries to cover up his ignorance about boats and the water, but his classmates quickly realize that he knows little about those things. As he wanders through the school, looking for a way to fit in, he becomes increasingly drawn to the mysterious and eccentric Early Auden. Early plays records, certain singers and songs for each day, and Billie Holiday for rainy days. Left alone in the school during a holiday, they head to the Appalachian Trail on a quest. A mathematical savant, Early is convinced that the numbers in pi tell a story, and that the experiences of the main character in that particular story mirror those of his own brother, Fisher, who was killed during WWII. As the boys make their way via boat and on foot through the woods, they encounter all sorts of strange creatures, both human and animal, including pirates, a black bear, and lost souls filled with regret over words never spoken or seeking closure. Readers' hearts will surely break, as did mine, at some of the encounters, while pounding in excitement at the ways the individual stories all seem to somehow intersect. There are moments that seem tinged with magic, and others that will leave readers thinking about how all the pieces of the book come together. It's impossible not to fall in love with Jack and Early for very different reasons, especially Early's penchant for providing synonyms for the words he uses. For example, this passage is typical of Early: "Maybe we could ask them to give the Maine back. Now that Captain MacScott is 'no longer with us,'" he said, using finger quotation marks. "That means someone's dead. Or you can say kicked the bucket or bought the farm or cashed in his chips or gave up the ghost--" (p. 277). For someone so clueless about certain social skills, Early possesses abundant reservoirs of awareness about others. This tender, touching story of the journey two boys take will move readers even while they marvel at the deftness of the author's handling of several complex themes and issues.

- Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

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

When I was a kid, maps were flat on the top of your desk. But in today’s world, students can see the world in 3D. One free app that engages students as they study their planet is called WhirlyGlobe. Students use their fingers to spin the globe; as they touch a certain spot, the name of the ocean or the continent appears first. If they land on Africa, for example, with just a touch of their finger, students can view an outline of the country as it looks from space. It does not take long for students to build Africa piece by piece with a few additional finger swipes. Our sixth graders have been studying Africa and have enjoyed this resource in their study of the Earth. The labels on this app allow them to see the size of these countries in perspective. As students swipe their finger across the iPad, they can make the map as big as they want.

If you’d like your students to move beyond interacting with labels, Google Earth actually provides a unique street side perspective of any location on the globe. After downloading the app, students can type in an address on the search bar and immediately arrive at their location. Then, they can swipe the screen and drag the little orange man icon to get to a street view of anywhere in the world. It takes a little practice, but in no time at all, whole neighborhoods seem to come to life, offering students endless opportunities to virtually explore snapshots of the world in which they live.

A third app, National Geographic World Atlas HD, costs $1.99, but is an easy way to plan a whole trip! With the touch of your finger, the globe spins, and with a swipe of your finger, the map becomes large enough to read. Students can show or hide pins on the map that mark specific locations along their trip and drag the tool at the bottom to calculate the exact mileage between two locations. There is also a currency calculator that helps convert US dollars to Yen, Euros, and British pounds. With a quick click, students can locate any country and have their money converted to estimate the costs of a trip to anywhere in the world.

AAA app is another great digital tool for exploring maps. This app allows students the opportunity to virtually explore their local community or plan a car trip around town. Hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and pharmacies are easy to locate with this handy app. The map is in 3D, and you can track roads with a swipe of your finger. Welcome centers, gas stations, and rest areas are also part of the legend. This app gives travel directions from your current location to any address, city, state, or province. With a few clicks, students can create an itinerary with the locations they wish to visit and also generate directions to get their destination in the shortest amount of time.

In so many ways, geography comes to life with an iPad. With powerful apps such as these, students have a much more realistic view of the world and can play an active role in planning their own trips for fun or for real. An iPad seems to have become an important necessity for any road trip.

Marjie Podzielinski is the librarian at Coulson Tough School in The Woodlands, Texas.

Gloriously diverse and artistically impressive picture books filled the shelves of libraries and bookstores during 2013. Anyone wanting to add to their collection of picture books will find it quite easy to find something from the list. The problem might be deciding exactly how many books to purchase. As part of the end of the year round-up of titles that caught our eyes and delighted our imaginations, members of the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group celebrate the approaching holidays with our favorite picture books of the year. Since picture books may be used at any grade level, we have not separated our offerings by grade level.

Asim, Jabari. (2012). Fifty cents and a dream: Young Booker T. Washington. Illus. by Bryan Collier. New York NY: Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

Written in a free verse style, this beautifully illustrated biography tells the life story of Booker T. Washington. Previous interpretations of Washington’s life have often run contrary to the concepts of the fight for freedom and true emancipation as seen in other versions and approaches to civil rights. In this version of his life story, author Jabari Asim presents the determination of a young man born into slavery, but given his freedom by the end of the Civil War years.

Through hard work and with just a few pennies in his pocket, he walked 500 miles to begin the academic life he so earnestly sought when he received admission into the Hampton Institute in Virginia. Working as a janitor while he was at Hampton, Booker earned his degree and went on to become a teacher, truly living the dream he had placed before himself as a young boy. Detailed author notes at the end of the book provide a timeline and further details of the life of this determined young learner.

Teachers will find an interesting interview with both author and illustrator at this popular children’s literature blog, Mr. Schu Reads.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Becker, Aaron. (2013). Journey. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

This magical story takes readers on a journey to far worlds through the imagination of one youngster. Left to her own devices as her family goes about their own pursuits and ignores her, a young girl picks up a red marker from her bedroom floor and proceeds to draw her own adventure, starting with a door in the wall. She leaves her room quickly as the door opens into a luminous, lush, green-filled natural world. By turns, she then draws a boat, a hot air balloon, and a flying carpet that enable her to travel to all sorts of places.

Her travels enable her to make new friends and encounter enemies determined to imprison a lovely lavender bird and the artist. After drawing her own escape, she finally meets the bird's creator with whom she apparently has quite a lot in common. The watercolor and pen and ink illustrations are filled with imaginative details and prompt readers to stretch their imaginations amid this marvelous wordless picture book.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Belloni, Giulia. (2013). Anything is possible. Illus. by Marco Trevisan. Translated by William Anselmi. Toronto, ON: Owlkids.

Teachers looking for ways to introduce the importance of math in early childhood will want to take a close look at this book. Sheep is so envious of the birds flying overhead that she gets the idea to build a flying machine. Knowing that her “friend” Wolf is really good at mathematics, she takes the idea to Wolf and asks him to help with the project. Wolf isn’t so sure about this crazy idea, but he gets busy with his ruler and protractor and starts to scribble mathematical equations and formulas all over the place.

After several attempts, resignations, and failures, they are perplexed. Wings didn’t work and neither did helium balloons. With sparse text, the illustrations do a wonderful job at filling in the spaces for a young reader’s observation to take flight. Working together and showing determination and perseverance, the two unlikely friends discover a solution that works. A short YouTube video book trailer will help introduce the book to young readers.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Brown, Peter. (2013). Mr. Tiger goes wild. New York, NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

Mr. Tiger doesn’t do much roaring at the start of this picture book. In fact, as expected by cultural mores, any wild inclinations seem to have been buried deep within his striped body, and he has been thoroughly civilized, strapped into a coat, shirt, tie, and even a top hat. But he's bored with his lifestyle and longs to do something out of the norm. His first departure from what everyone else is doing is fairly simple, but as he continues to engage in increasingly daring acts, his friends and neighbors suggest that he leave so that his actions don’t offend their sensibilities. Although he does so, he misses the others' companionship. When he returns to civilization, it's on his own terms.

Mr. Tiger returns, but remains true to himself despite the efforts of others to enforce conformity. The accompanying illustrations, created with India ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil and then digitally composed and colored, are filled with delights, including the opening pages filled with a muted palette that is relieved only by Mr. Tiger’s vibrant orange. As he frolics in the wilderness, the pages are covered in greens and flashes of Mr. Tiger's shimmering orange coat.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Chin, Jason. (2013). Island: A story of the Galápagos. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Group.

Starting with a volcanic eruption over six million years ago, this narrative nonfiction is beautifully designed beginning with end papers that are entitled “Species of the Galápagos” and contain thumbnail sketches for the very unusual plant and animal life that spawned on these unique volcanic islands. In rather simple language with beautiful paintings, the book is divided into five sections describing the evolution of the island: Birth, Childhood, Adulthood, Old Age and an Epilogue.

Interestingly, the epilogue is dated 1835, the year that Charles Darwin visited the islands and wrote about them for the world to know. The author has included detailed notes at the end of this biogeography to add further explanations for the appearance of the island and its strange inhabitants. This book was named one of the Outstanding Science Trade Books for 2013. Vist the author’s website with award news and more reviews or visit the publisher’s website for more enlargements of the interior art.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Cooper, Elisha. (2013). Train. New York, NY: Orchard Books/Scholastic, Inc.

The beautiful language coupled with beautiful pictures make this book about trains an invitation to climb aboard. Cooper has presented a look at many different kinds of trains and travel. Starting with the red-striped commuter train that leaves the city passing little towns as they whiz past. Then a look at passenger trains and from Grand Central Station, a freight train leaves filled with all kinds of cargo traveling to distant places. An overnight train chugs its way across the country and over the Rocky Mountains. Finally, a bullet-shaped high-speed train takes its passengers on to the big cities of the west coast.

Cooper repeats the phrase, “passengers on, passengers off” throughout the various journeys in addition to bringing beautiful vistas and also interior views of these different types of trains. Each ride or train brings new experiences for young readers. Read more about the creation of this book in an interview on the blog, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Daywalt, Drew. (2013). The day the crayons quit. Illus. by Oliver Jeffers. New York, NY: Philomel Books. 

Duncan arrives at school one morning and reaches into his desk to pull out his box of crayons. Much to his surprise, he finds a stack of letters instead. The letters are from the crayons and they have decided to quit! The letters are from each color of crayon in his box specifically, with each stating its complaints. Red is tired, Peach is embarrassed, Beige is tired of being boring, Black is misunderstood, Yellow and Orange are spatting with each other, Pink feels undervalued, and so the moans and groans from each color are represented.

Jeffers’ wonderful pencil, paint, and crayon illustrations personify the emotions and disgruntlement of each character so that readers will understand their labor issues. Photographs of letters and coloring pages add another dimension to this cleverly designed book. Duncan is able to offer resolution to the crayon group so that everyone has a satisfying ending. Teachers will appreciate some of the lesson ideas for this book at the blog, The Classroom Bookshelf, or sharing the short slide show at the author’s website.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Floca, Brian. (2013). Locomotive. New York, NY: Atheneum Book for Young Readers.

From end paper, title page, to page one and on to the last end paper, this beautifully designed book is a train-lover’s delight from start to finish. The front endpapers tell the story of the building of the Transcontinental Railroad so that the story within the pages shares the journey of an unnamed family traveling in 1869 from Omaha, Nebraska, to San Francisco, California.

Told in poetic prose, readers will truly be immersed in the trip with sounds, colors, and images of train travel in those early days. The use of a wide variety, size and style of fonts adds to the kinetic feel of the journey. Floca takes reader/passengers from the engine to the caboose. The job of the conductor, the engineer, the coal man, and the newspaper boy are visible. Travel with the passengers as they get on and off at different towns, stop for a bite of food, explore parts of the train and watch the towns and parts of America fly by. Floca has identified the regions where the train is traveling.

Peek through the train windows as this nonfiction book takes young readers on an unforgettable train ride. Detailed notes on the history of the locomotive add further historical background on this visual narrative of early trains. Teachers will find three short videos talking with the author about the book. Read an interesting interview from Publisher’s Weekly with authors Brian Floca and Elisha Cooper as they discuss their new books, both entitled, Train. A detailed CCSS guide can be found at Brian Floca’s website.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Fogliano, Julie. (2013). If you want to see a whale. Illus. by Erin E. Stead. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Anyone who has ever stared at clouds and imagined the possibilities in the sky or looked at the horizon and hoped to see something interesting approaching will be captivated by this picture book. Even while the story's two characters, a boy and his dog, wait as patiently as possible for a whale, there is much to distract them. While they’ve been advised to ignore everything else while they are waiting for that whale, they seem to be savoring the joys of the rest of the world during their vigil.

With its repetitive reminder “if you want to see a whale…” (unpaged), this title is a superb reminder that good things come to those who wait. Both the text and the illustrations, created with pencil and linoleum print techniques, are exemplary and sure to engage readers. The last two pages featuring a barnacle-encrusted whale swimming right under the boy's boat and then just the tip of the whale emerging from the briny waters are worth the wait. Readers may wonder if the whale was right there, beneath the boy’s notice, all along. Young readers will want to check out the animal-filled cloud shapes in the sky in one of the illustrations.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Global baby girls. (2013). Text by The Global Fund for Children. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.

The Global Fund for Children has produced several wonderful books for young children including Global Babies in 2006 and American Babies in 2010. This new addition to the series focuses on girls around the world. Full color photographs with baby girls in their native clothing present an emphasis on what girls can do. From countries as diverse as Russia, New Zealand, Liberia, India, Peru, France, China, Guatemala, Canada and the United States, the importance of young girls is visually brought to our youngest readers through this beautifully presented board book. Learn more about The Global Fund for Children and see some of the internal art for this book at their website.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Guiberson, Brenda Z. (2013). Frog song. Illus. by Gennady Spirin. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

“CROAK! RIBBIT! Plonk! BRACK! Thrum-rum! Frogs have a song for trees, bogs, burrows and logs.” These are some of the opening lines to Frog Song, aptly named for the wonderful sounds and songs that emanate from this book. Teachers looking for a mentor text to teach onomatopoeia, look no further! Spirin’s beautiful double-page spread illustrations of frogs in their natural habitats around the globe provide the artistic backdrop for Guiberson’s poetic text about the music and sound of frogs.

From the strawberry poison dart frogs in Costa Rica to the tarantula-eating narrow-mouthed toad of Oklahoma to the Surinam toad with no tongue from Ecuador each worldly frog is more interesting than the next. The author also sends out a strong environmental message at the end when she writes that frogs are in trouble. Forests and plants are drying up and disappearing so the habitats for the frogs are gone and their songs will be silenced if we do not take care of the planet. This book is a science treasure and the teaching guide that goes with it will be ever so helpful to teachers. The author and illustrator have worked together to create a beautiful resource guide with activities to accompany their book.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Hillenbrand, Will. (2013). Off we go: A Bear and Mole story. New York, NY: Holiday House.

Come along with Hillenbrand’s third adventure with good friends, Bear and Mole. This time patient Bear is teaching Mole to ride a bike and they begin by taking off the training wheels. Fastening on his safety helmet, Mole is ready for takeoff. Bear pats his friend on the back for good luck and Mole begins his wobbly first attempt that ends in a crash landing with leaves flying and little critters fleeing. Mole is crying and discouraged, but Bear is there to help him try again. The second attempt is a success and Mole gains speed and confidence as he zooms away, just in time for the Storymobile. This promises to be a great read aloud and Hillenbrand has painted wonderful expressions on the faces of characters and used language that will keep young listeners engaged and laughing, though reminded of their first, or yet to be, attempts at riding a bike alone.

Will Hillenbrand has created a 6-minute video on the work behind this book that includes a short video of his son learning to ride a bike. Young readers will get a look at the behind-the-scenes work of an author/illustrator.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Hopkinson, Deborah. (2013). Knit your bit: A World War I story. Illus. by Steven Guarnaccia. New York, NY: Putnam Juvenile.

After their father leaves for service overseas during WWI, Ellie does her bit by joining her mother in knitting clothing for the service men. At first her brother Mikey considers knitting to be beneath him, but he changes his mind after his female classmates challenge him and his friends to enter a knitting bee in Central Park. Although the boys' work is nowhere near as professional as the girls' knitting, all of them feel satisfied to have done their bit for the soldiers by knitting.

Mikey is especially moved by the attention of one soldier who tells him how much comfort the warm woolen objects will bring. The pen and ink and painted watercolor illustrations evoke a sense of pride and allow the woolen stitches in the knitted bits to be visible to readers. This title would be a perfect pairing with Lita Judge's One Thousand Tracings (Disney-Hyperion, 2007) for a text set illustrating how those on the home front brought comfort to others on the battle lines and abroad. Back matter includes information on the knitting bees and knitting clubs of the time as well as suggesting websites that provide ways young knitters can get involved even today. The endpapers containing photos of school children knitting add authenticity to the story told here.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Idle, Molly Schaar. (2013). Flora and the flamingo. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.

Clad in her pink bathing suit, bathing cap, and flippers, Flora happens upon a beautiful and stately flamingo. In wordless text and lift-the-flap illustrations, Flora attempts to mimic the graceful movements of the flamingo, but as the lithe flamingo flexes in directions the stout little Flora can’t manage, Flora burst into tears. The flamingo patiently begins to teach Flora the dancelike movements of the graceful bird. A double-page spread fold-out bursts from the middle of the book as Flora and the flamingo enjoy the dance. Molly Idle worked in animation at DreamWorks and this talent is brought to life in this fanciful and beautiful wordless experience in print.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Kearney, Meg. (2013). Trouper. Illus. by E. B. Lewis. New York, NY: Scholastic.

This picture book captures perfectly the universal desire for a home and someone to love. Even stray dogs long for a forever home and some comfort. Trouper is part of a large dog pack of various sizes and breeds. As they search for a meal, they cause disorder, and they endure cruelty from others. When a dogcatcher lures them into his truck, the pack ends up at a shelter. All of them are adopted except three-legged Trouper, whose lonely heart "was a cold, starless night" (unpaged) once his friends have left. Luckily for him, though, a tender-hearted boy adopts him and brings him home. The bond between the two is clear in the final illustrations.

The text is filled with beautiful language that pays tribute to a brave dog and a boy who sees beneath an imperfect surface into that dog's spirit, while the watercolor illustrations capture perfectly the dog's anxiety, loneliness, and joy at having found someone "who liked the way I lean on those I love" (unpaged). Not only will this book inspire some to add a dog to their family, but it may convert a few feline lovers into canine aficionados. This is a wonderful book for sharing aloud and evoking a sense of compassion in others.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Kelly, Susan and Deborah Lee Rose. (2013) Jimmy the joey: The true story of an amazing Koala rescue. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Kids.       

Jimmy is a koala joey that was rescued when his mother was killed trying to cross a highway in Australia. Jimmy was found the next day and taken to the Koala Hospital. The volunteers there kept him warm and named him Jimmy. Only six months old, Jimmy is cared for like a human baby, though he is a marsupial. A volunteer named Barb, took Jimmy home with her to care for him. He slept in a laundry basket and cuddled with Barb like a living teddy bear. Eventually, Jimmy started to munch on eucalyptus leaves like all koalas do. By the time he was a year old, Jimmy was placed in the hospital’s tree yard so he could be with other koalas and where he learned to climb trees and develop a community with the other koalas. As Jimmy grew bigger it was time to release him back into his natural habitat in the forest.

The final pages of the book include a map, additional information, websites and places to visit to see koalas. Teachers will not want to miss the detailed teacher’s guide provided by the publisher with CCSS connections and also Jimmy’s own Facebook page! Visit the Koala Hospital page to see where Jimmy was given a second chance at life or the author’s page with early videos of Jimmy.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Lewis, J. Patrick, editor. (2012). National Geographic book of animal poetry; with favorites from Robert Frost, Jack Prelutsky, Emily Dickinson, and more: 200 poems with photographs that squeak, soar and roar! Washington, D.C., National Geographic.

These animal poems were selected by J. Patrick Lewis to accompany the beautiful photography that only National Geographic can offer. The range of wonderful poets included makes this an exceptional anthology, but one especially helpful feature for teachers, in addition to the guide mentioned below, are the resources included in the back of the book. There are detailed indexes of poets, first lines, titles and subject, but also resources for many different kinds of poetic forms like portmanteaus, parodies, reversos, spoonerisms, lipograms, double dactyls, palindromes and more. “Writing Poems about Animals” is a guide for young writers to try their own hand at writing some animal poetry.

Teachers will enjoy this downloadable classroom guide to using this book. Listen to Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis read from this book at the Nat Geo Website.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Mader, Roger. (2013). Lost cat. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

Feline lovers will be worried once they begin reading this picture book of a lost cat named Slipper. Part of that anxiety relates to imagining all the terrible things that might happen to her, and part of it relates to how the story effectively evokes empathy for Slipper as she characterizes each person according to his/her footwear. When Slipper’s human companion, Mrs. Fluffy Slippers, moves in with her daughter, somehow the cat is left behind in all the bustle of moving boxes and furniture. Once the humans realize that Slipper isn't with them, they return to Slipper’s house. But she has tried to follow them and is nowhere to be found. After a series of encounters with Ms. Muddy Boots, Mrs. Iron Shoes, Mr. Cowboy Boots, High Tops, Mr. Big Boots, and Miss Shiny Shoes, the cat somehow finds her way home.

Rendered in pastels, the illustrations capture Slipper's physical features and personality in extraordinary fashion. Readers can see the affection she has for the slippers around which she sleeps and the determination with which she seeks out a new family. The artist is clearly familiar with the habits of felines, having captured perfectly Slipper's trust in her new family as she rolls onto her back and shows her belly and her delight in the sensuous pleasure experience while rubbing against a pair of fluffy slippers. Most of all, though, this picture book serves as a reminder to keep animal companions such as dogs and cats in carriers when moving from one place to another or when movers are present. Although Slipper's story ends happily, not every story like this does.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Nelson, Kadir. (2013). Nelson Mandela. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books/imprint of HarperCollins.

Kadir Nelson has once again created a children’s book masterpiece with his free verse writing and exquisite oil on birch plywood illustrations depicting the life of Nelson Mandela. Beginning with the full cover portrait of Mandela on the front, the title appears on the back of the book.

Kadir Nelson begins the life story of Mandela, or Rolihlahla, his Xhosa name, which means troublemaker. It was a schoolteacher who gave him the name Nelson. As a bright child, he listened to the stories of the village elders to learn of the history and exploitation of his country by Europeans. At the age of nine, he leaves his village to get an education and eventually becomes a lawyer. While he is on his path to education he also experiences the injustices of apartheid and gets a close look at what is happening in his cruelly segregated country. His decision to get politically involved to end apartheid eventually leads to his arrest and 30 years in prison. Upon his release from prison all those years later, he again returns to the political scene to become the President of South Africa and lead his country into a state of equality.

Kadir Nelson’s poetic prose does not go into all the difficulties Mandela encountered both politically and within his own personal life, but writes of the more philosophical journey of Mandela. Author notes at the end provide further back matter into Mandela’s life and triumphs. Visit Kadir Nelson’s webpage for a closer look at many of the illustrations in his new book or listen to this book summary on YouTube.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Sheth, Kashmira. (2013). Tiger in my soup. Illus. by Jeffery Ebbeler. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers.

Avid readers will relate to this title in which a boy's older sister is too preoccupied with her own reading to read aloud her sibling’s book. So intent is she on her own pages that she doesn't even notice when a tiger appears in his bowl of soup. When she finally agrees to read his story aloud, the boy offers suggestions for how it should be read, and she sounds so much like a tiger that he can’t differentiate between his sister and the tiger. This amusing story is accompanied by acrylic illustrations that blend effectively the story’s realistic and fantastic elements. This is a delightful read aloud that pays tribute to the power of a good imagination and the joy of a good story.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Rosenthal, Eileen. (2013). Bobo the sailor man! Illus. by Marc Rosenthal. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

In a continuation of the adventures of three friends, a boy, a toy, and a cat, that were first introduced in I MUST Have Bobo (Atheneum, 2011) and I'll Save You, Bobo (Atheneum, 2012), Willy heads off for a busy day, making sure to bring along his beloved stuffed monkey, Bobo. When they arrive at the river and find a bucket, Willy decides that they can be sailors. But before he knows it, the bucket in which Bobo is going to sail has been swept into the current, sending Bobo far from shore. Although Willy can't use the slippery rocks that cross the river to rescue his friend, Earl rescues Bobo while Willy goes home to get a fishing pole.

The pencil and digitally colored illustrations are appealing, allowing the growing annoyance of the long-suffering and under-appreciated Earl to be more visible with each passing page. When Willy fashions official explorer hats for Bobo and him, it's pretty clear that Earl is fed up with his treatment. After Willy falls asleep, he gets his revenge.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Roth, Susan L. (2013). Parrots over Puerto Rico. Illus. by Cindy Trumbore. New York, NY: Lee & Low.

By 1975, only 13 Puerto Rican parrots remained in the wild, a far cry from the multitude of birds that once filled the skies of the island. Through the efforts of determined individuals who didn't want them to disappear, artificial nesting boxes were placed in the forests, and some of the birds were captured and moved to an aviary. This inspiring story tells the intertwined story of Puerto Rico and its beautiful birds and how they came back from the brink of extinction, having battled hurricanes, invasive species, and human encroachment. The text is lively, engaging, and filled with appreciation for the birds and their struggle against long odds while the paper and fabric collage illustrations are almost as mesmerizing as the actual parrots must be. What a terrific story of survival to add to the classroom shelves!

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

Singer, Marilyn. (2013). Follow, follow: A book of reverso poems. Illus. by Josee Masse. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.

Following the popular Mirror, Mirror (Dutton, 2010), Marilyn Singer has written a second book based on fairy tales using the reverso format in which the poems are presented forward and backward. For example, in this new edition from the tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” comes Singer’s “The Birthday Suit” (p. 5): “Behold his glorious majesty:/me,/Who dares say he drained the treasury/on/nothing?/Ha!/This emperor has/sublime taste in finery!/ Only a fool could fail to see./ Now read the verso poem of the same tale: “Only a fool could fail to see./Sublime taste in finery?/This emperor has-/ha!/nothing/on!/Who dares say he drained the treasury?/Me./Behold his glorious majesty!/ From “The Little Mermaid’s Choice” to “Your Wish is my Command” to “The Silly Goose,” Singer has cleverly created poems that beg to be read aloud with two voices, punctuation emphasis and perhaps a theatric or two for a truly enjoyable poetry experience. Visit Marilyn Singer’s website to learn more about her work.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Stinson, Kathy. (2013). The man with the violin. Illus. by Dusan Petricic. Postscript by Joshua Bell. Toronto: Annick Press.

Like everyone else in the subway station, Dylan and his mother were bustling along. When Dylan heard the beautiful strains of music coming from a street musician playing a violin, he wanted to stop and listen. His mother did not want to listen though Dylan begged, but his mother grabbed his hand and continued rushing him along with the crowds. But the music stayed dancing in Dylan’s head. When he got home he turned on the radio and listened to the droning of the announcer until the same beautiful violin music that he had heard in the subway station flowed out of the radio.

The radio announcer went on to tell his broadcast audience that the famous violinist, Joshua Bell, had conducted an experiment playing his famous and valuable Stradivarius violin in a free concert in the subway station that day and yet only a very few stopped to listen for even a minute. The musician noticed that several children tried to get their parents to stop long enough to hear the captivating violin, but parents were too busy.

Based on a true story that Joshua Bell relates at the end of the book, teachers can download two of the songs Joshua played that day in the Washington, D.C. L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station when over a thousand people did not take time to listen to one of the world’s greatest violinists. Annick Press has created an excellent 5-minute book trailer with the author giving the back matter of this talented man.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Tuck, Pamela M. (2013). As fast as words could fly. Illus. by Eric Velasquez. New York, NY: Lee and Low Books.

Based on the life of the author’s father, Pamela Tuck relives a moment in the civil rights movement of the 1960’s in Greenville, North Carolina. Young Mason Steele is a good writer and when his activist father needs help writing letters to civil rights leaders or people who have discriminated against Negroes, he dictates letters that Mason puts into words and letters. At one point the local civil rights organization finds a way to get Mason a real typewriter to help with his father’s letters.

One day, his father calls Mason and his two brothers into the kitchen and tells them they will be going to the all-white high school that is much closer than their segregated school. The boys are very nervous about this new turn in their lives, especially when the school bus drives right on by them the first two days of school. When they finally get picked up they are made to sit in the back of the bus. Though Mason excels at school especially in typing class, it is a very strained and difficult school atmosphere for Mason and the other black students. Mason is able to get a job in the library typing cards for the school librarian that adds more experience to his typing skills. When his typing teacher, Mrs. Roberts, announces a tournament Mason is selected as the candidate to represent the school. At the contest, he has to choose between an electric and a manual typewriter for the tournament. He chooses the manual typewriter and when the contest begins, his fingers fly across the keyboard to win the tournament. No one cheers or applauds. No one congratulates Mason. He received nothing. Later, when his principal, Mr. Bullock, asked him why he chose the manual typewriter, Mason replied, “Cause it reminds me of where I come from, sir.” (p. 31)

The book concludes with detailed notes from the author about her father’s experience and describes the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. Read more about the background of this story at the publisher’s website.

—Karen Hildebrand, Ohio Library and Reading Consultant

Wiesner, David. (2013). Mr. Wuffles! New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Books.

Just like many felines, Mr. Wuffles is particularly choosy when it comes to toys. Despite his human companion's efforts to interest him in a series of toy mice, feathery creations, and a fish on a string, the disdainful cat is completely disinterested. He becomes fascinated by a shiny metal spacecraft filled with aliens. Filled with close-up depictions of Mr. Wuffles keeping a watchful eye on the craft, clutching it in his paws, rolling it along the floor, and blissfully rubbing his chin against it, this picture book with its distinctive watercolor and India ink illustrations is vintage David Wiesner.

Needless to say, all Mr. Wuffles’ rough treatment damages the craft, and the aliens set off on a dangerous mission right under the cat’s nose and claws in search of materials with which to make repairs. They form an alliance with several insects and eventually make their escape. Fans of this talented visual storyteller will recognize many of his favorite themes and images while being thoroughly entertained by his efforts. This is another winner in a long line of exceptional picture books by a master.

—Barbara A. Ward, Washington State University Pullman

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

I, like many people, did not have a love for teaching writing. Not because writing, as a subject, is not interesting, rather writing requires grading/scoring stacks of papers with a wide variation of writing abilities, styles, and attitudes.

About 100 times I have heard, “To teach reading, you need to be a reader.” Not nearly as many times, have I ever heard, “To teach writing, you need to be a writer.” A plethora of professional texts focus on developing student's writing lives, but, as I find, to inspire students to become writers, you have to be a writer as well.

p: mrsdkrebs via photopin cc

One of the more frustrating aspects of writing instruction has become the student writers' propensity to ask, “Is this good enough?” Or, my new favorite, “Will you correct this so I can write a final draft?”

Ownership of Writing

I am finding students lack ownership of writing and are more than willing to transfer the load of writing demands to the teacher.

Not that I am curing what ails the maturing writers, but I found a strategy: Modeling my writing life.

Students identified three concerns when we started writing instruction this year.

1. Rough drafts have to be perfect so that all that needs to be done is a final draft (neat version)
2. There is nothing to write about (no ideas)
3. Everything is a narrative

However, within those statements, students, albeit stunted writers, want to write. Several expressed not only that they like writing, but want to be writers.

Promise!

The challenge, in the first six weeks became giving students space to become writers and authorities of their own writing.

This began by me promoting my writing life to them. I revealed to the class (most of) what I wrote. This included story ideas, character descriptions, teaching reflections, and book chapters. 

I discovered students emphatic response to the authentic writing. What did they like most? Messiness. Every idea, every first draft made little sense. No level of perfection at all.

Students also noticed my writing notebooks and observed me writing at odd times, like in the middle of a lesson, to jot down ideas.

Students and I also spent 15 minutes a day just writing, then sharing, simply to celebrate ideas.

You could almost feel students collectively decompress as writing anxiety exfoliated like the maple trees on the playground. In fact, students really fancied mini-lessons that included my writing vs. somewhat contrived ideas designed simply for the sake of a lesson. Both fifth and sixth graders appreciated seeing how writing develops in physical context.

The class learned, within the first week of school, that writing could be anything. One student wrote about her communication struggles. Several wrote about football games. One student sputtered for three days writing random sentences down. At last check, he proudly showed his three page story that he couldn't wait to work on.

We added genius hour to the mix so students could explore and write their own books, another activity where I work alongside them. Here, students are exploring writing adventure books, like their favorite author, Gary Paulsen. Several students began to recognize the difference between a “seed” and a “watermelon” and are moving into connecting seeds to make the watermelon.

To address the narrative issue, because in reality, narrative encompasses all the “types” of writing, as labeled by the CCSS, students had the freedom to write whatever they wanted. For most, in their minds, this meant they could write about real stuff, like book reviews or summaries. In time, students will see that narrative, as Lucy Calkins and Tom Newkirk suggest, is essential to writing opinion and informational pieces.

Since students began to realize that writing drafts and ideas can be yucky and messy, they seem to love writing more. I suspect they will love writing completely once they see how ideas can be developed into magical representations of their souls. If I want my students to be writers, I have to show them I am a writer as well.

Justin Stygles is a Grade 5/6 ELA/humanities teacher. He is currently writing a book with Corwin Literacy. Justin recently became a National Board Certified Teacher and he will be presenting at the IRA conference in May.

Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are guided explorations of web resources where the content is usually connected by topic, theme, or concept. VFTs are a great way to expand the classroom boundaries for your students by providing access to art, science, and history museums around the world. When budgets are an issue, virtual field trips are a viable alternative to the more traditional bus field trips. Face it—VFTs are inexpensive, less time-consuming, and much easier to plan in terms of logistics. You just need access to a computer and the Internet, and you are ready to start planning the trip!

Existing VFT Sites

There are a number of existing VFT sites that are designed to present content in a way that is engaging and interactive. VFT sites usually incorporate a variety of media, including text, photographs, podcasts, and vodcasts. For example, is your class studying frogs as part of an amphibian unit in science? You can visit the American Museum of Natural History site to view photographs of frogs and hear sounds that frogs make, along with other information about specific types of frogs. Studying World War II in social studies? Visit the Museum of Science and History-Chicago site to learn more about the U-505 that was part of a U-boat campaign that almost altered the outcome of WWII. Are you looking for an English/language arts field trip? Visit Google Lit Trips, a site developed by Jerome Berg, where you can use Google Earth to explore the journeys taken by characters from famous literature. Just a few of the Google Lit Trips options include:

• Grades 1-5—Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, Pedro’s Journal by Pam Conrad, or Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• Grades 6-8—Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by Joseph Swanson, The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox, or My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
• Grades 9-12—Kite Runner by Khaled Hossseini, the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, or Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Creating your own VFT

You might also opt to create your own VFT that is more specifically tailored to a unit your students will be studying. You can use cloud-based applications, such as Wix, PBWiki, or Weebly to design your VFT and make it easily accessible. Shirley Owens, an elementary teacher, wanted her students to explore the world of butterflies as part of a science unit, so she developed a VFT where her students had an opportunity to visit the Butterfly Conservatory. Brittany Robinson, a middle school teacher, developed a VFT where her students could learn more about the Harlem Renaissance, while Cindy Wallace, a high school teacher, created a VFT site for her students to learn more about the swamps of Louisiana.

All three of these teachers developed VFT sites that helped to scaffold their students’ exploration of a topic or theme by including text, photographs, and links to other sites that expanded the content in more depth. 

Learn More About VFTs

You can learn more about the world of virtual field trips by reading these articles:

• Get Outta Class with Virtual Field Trips, Education World.
• Take Museum Field Trip without Leaving Your Classroom, Education World.
• The Ten Best Field Trips, eSchool News.
• Virtual Field Trips, Scholastic.

Virtual Field Trips can extend your classroom boundaries by providing your students access to museums, geographical regions, other environments, cultural history…the possibilities are endless. Get started today exploring the world of Virtual Field Trips!

Kimberly Kimbell-Lopez, Ed.D., is the Hubberd H. & Velma Horton Boucher Endowed Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Leadership in the College of Education at Louisiana Tech University.

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