More Insect Books

If you have a little one in your life who is fascinated by insects, here's a list of a variety of books on the topic. All of these are nonfiction because I had trouble finding good fiction books about bugs. Have any good suggestions?



Giant Pop-Out Bugs: A Pop-Out Surprise Book (Giant Pop-Out)


Amazon Description: This interactive book, with impressive pop-out features, is sure to engage and entertain curious preschoolers. Simple clues in words and pictures allow children to guess what hides behind each flap. And then . . . surprise! Giant Pop-Out Bugs reveals an assortment of creepy crawlers that kids will love. The large pop-outs are simple and sturdy, making them well-suited to young children.






I Can Draw Insects (Boxed Sets/Bindups)

From the publisher: Adults and children alike can create 30 amazing illustrations of a grasshopper, monarch butterfly, tarantula, caterpillar, praying mantis, scorpion, and more using simple circles, ovals, and other common shapes. A special format features easy instructions on the left side and blank practice pages on the right, plus a pencil, eraser, and sharpener.



Amazing Insects and Spiders (Amazing Life Cycles)

From Powells:
- Bold, vivid photos matched to clear text

- Colorful, easy-to-read maps build map-reading skills

- Life cycle diagrams using photos aid comprehension

- Amazing Fact boxes highlight organisms' extraordinary characteristics

Dazzling Dragonflies: A Life Cycle Story (Linda Glaser's Classic Creatures)

From the publisher: A dragonfly lays her clutch of eggs and the life cycle of dragonflies has begun. Watch as the little nymphs change over time into beautiful adults who can move through the air like an acrobat.







The Silliest Bug and Insect Book Ever

From Barnes and Noble:
This book came from the author's fear of bugs and insects. She went to a hypnotist to help with this fear, but the only thing that came from that is this book. By taking the bugs and insects and imagining them wearing funny hats and being in funny situations, she was able to look at bugs and insects in a totally different way.




Insect Investigators: Entomologists (Scientists at Work)
From the publisher:
This series explores exciting, real-world careers in science. Each title looks at a range of scientists in the field, the dangers and difficulties they face, and the training and tools necessary to do the job.

Insect Investigators covers: What are Entomologists? How do Entomologists study insects? What have Entomologists discovered? How do people become Entomologists?





There are TONS of children's books about insects out there. Do you have any favorites I haven't mentioned?

Check back tomorrow when I review Alphabet of Insects.

Eliza and the Dragonfly

Eliza and the Dragonfly by Susie Caldwell Rinehart; illustrated by Anisa Claire Hovemann
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Dawn Publications (CA) (March 2004)

When a dragonfly lands on Eliza’s toothbrush, she and her Aunt Doris, an entomologist, release it at a nearby pond. It is here they discover a green dragonfly nymph in the pond. Eliza’s first reaction is “ewwwwwwww,” but when Aunt Doris only replies with “Magnificent,” and tells her more about dragonflies, Eliza soon changes her tune. She names the nymph Horace and visits him every day after school. She draws him and talks to him. Her friends Carlos and Annie teach him Spanish and play music to him as they await for him to hatch.

Along the way, we learn interesting facts about dragonflies. For example, “Horace has a gift: a lower lip, five times the size of his head with giant hooks on the end. It tucks away neatly until a small insect swims by. Then it’s dinnertime!”

Then one day, Eliza and her friends get to see what they’ve all been waiting for: Horace hatches into a beautiful green dragonfly.

Through this engaging story, Rinehart teaches children about the lifecycle of a dragonfly and helps them develop an appreciation for insects and nature’s creatures. You’re never overwhelmed with facts, and kids may not even realize they’re learning. Anisa Claire Hovemann’s soft watercolor illustrations resemble ripples in a pond and set the tone for a warmhearted story.

The back of the book includes more information about the lifecycle of a dragonfly and a list of resources to learn more about dragonflies. It may even inspire some young explorers to go out and discover what’s hiding in their backyard.

This would make a nice read for kids, especially ones who are interested in dragonflies, insects, and nature.

Don't Squash That Bug Learning Activities

Don't Squash That Bug!: The Curious Kid's Guide to Insects (Lobster Learners) by Natalie Rompella is a great introduction to insects that will keep your kids entertained and informed.

Here are a number of online resources where your child can learn even more about insects. This is just a small sampling of what's out there.

Insectclopedia
Various insect lesson plans from Grades K-12.

Tree of Life Web Project
From the site: The Tree of Life Web Project (ToL) is a collaborative effort of biologists from around the world. …the project provides information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their evolutionary history (phylogeny), and characteristics.

Buginfo from the Smithsonian Institution
Information sheets on a variety of insects.

Helen's World of Nature Photography
Gorgeous photos of all kinds of insects and more.

Sci4Kids
Interesting articles from the USDA about insects such as, "Bug Gut Analysis: What's Eating You?" and "Got Insect Troubles? Call on a Spider!"

Enchanted Learning
Get lesson plans and lots of fun insect craft ideas. I like the Litter Bug and the Butterfly Wand .

Insects for Kids
A resource to a lot of different insect resources.

Tomorrow, I'm reviewing a fiction book about bugs, Eliza and the Dragonfly, and on Thursday, I'll give you links to more great insect books.

Nonfiction Monday: Don’t Squash That Bug! The Curious Kid’s Guide to Insects by Natalie Rompella

Don't Squash That Bug!: The Curious Kid's Guide to Insects (Lobster Learners) by Natalie Rompella

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Lobster Press (March 25, 2007)

As soon as you open up Don’t Squash That Bug!, you see life-sized photographs of all different types of bugs staring right at you—creepy crawly legs, wings, antenna, larvae. It’s all right there in the endsheets—a pretty cool start to a book all about bugs.

Don’t Squash That Bug! is a perfect introduction to insects and will appeal to many different types of readers. The book is organized into two-page spreads featuring a different order of insect on each spread.

A typical spread includes:

• The name, pronunciation, and description of the order in which the insects belong
• Vibrant, full-color photographs of the insects in that order, along with captions giving more information
• A paragraph or two giving details about the insects
• Country Cousin: A short section with information about similar insects found in another part of the world
• Don’t Squash That Bug! section: An explanation about how the insect is important
• Where Are They?: Information about where you can find the insect

Because the information is broken up into chunks, kids won’t be overwhelmed with too much information, and they can read the sections that interest them the most without having to wade through paragraphs full of text. Rompella does an excellent job of giving information about the insects without making it sound too academic or too difficult to read.

For example, “Cockroaches are omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals. They will even eat the glue on the backs of postage stamps.”

Without overwhelming you with messaging, Don’t Squash That Bug also helps us establish an appreciation for insects and their importance to the ecosystem.

This would make an outstanding library resource, and teachers will find it useful when creating and presenting lessons about insects. For parents of reluctant readers, this book would be an excellent choice, especially if your child is interested in all things creepy crawly.

Check out the other Nonfiction Monday submissions at Picture Book of the Day. Thanks Anastasia for organizing!

New York Times Bestselling Picture Books

Wow…nothing like a snazzy sticker to boost sales! All four Caldecott Honor Books made it into the top 10 this week. But where is The Invention of Hugo Cabret , the medal winner? No worries! Selznick’s absolutely wonderful fantastic amazing book is on the chapter book list because it’s not a picture book, which makes it even so much cooler that it won the Caldecott this year.

The four honor books and the story of a Buddist panda edged out:

• The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up: Based on the Books by C. S. Lewis (Narnia)
• The Three Snow Bears
• Fancy Nancy
• Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)
• Hug Time

1. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Bookwritten and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder
   
   Gallop remains in the top spot this week, its 10^th time on the list. If you haven’t seen this book yet, I urge you to check it out. This book is amazing! By flipping through you book you can see a horse galloping, an eagle soaring, and many other animals in movement. The content rhymes and has funny replies that will leave your child laughing.

2. First the Egg written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

This Caldecott Honor Book and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book debuts at number 2. In my opinion, this is another must have for a small child in your life. Through die-cuts and rich, vibrant illustrations, Seeger presents a series of “first/then” scenarios (egg/chicken; tadpole/frog; seed/flower).

3. Smash! Crash! by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon.

   

   Scieszka’s newest book remains at #3 in its second week on the list. Smash! Crash! kicks off Scieska’s Trucktown series for preschool/kindergarten-aged children. If you have a child in your life who loves trucks and who loves to smash things together, he/she will be delighted as Jack Truck and Dump Truck Dan smash and crash through the town.

   
   

   
   

4. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, written and illustrated by Mo Willems

The second Caldecott Honor Book on the list this week, Knuffle Bunny Too is the follow up to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale . Here, little Trixie goes to school and discovers that her beloved Knuffle Bunny is NOT the only one in the world…oh boy. Willems illustrations and story had ME laughing out loud more than once. If you’re unfamiliar with Knuffle Bunny or Willems’ other works, I highly recommend you check him out. The honor propelled this book back on the list for the 12^th time.

5. High School Musical: All Accessby N. B. Grace
   
   Dropping three spots in its ninth week, this book would be a great gift for a High School Musical fan in your life. It looks like a scrapbook made by someone who goes to the school with ticket stubs, pictures, notes in lockers, etc. It would be especially good for a reluctant pre-teen reader.
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtainwritten and illustrated by Peter Sis
   
   The third Caldecott Honor Book on the list this week, The Wall debuts in the sixth spot. In this fascinating autobiographical picture book, Sis recounts his childhood growing up in Cold-War era Prague.
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. The Arrival by Shaun Tan

With its third appearance in the top 10, the only words in this book are from an invented alphabet. In the book, an immigrant leaves his family behind to start a new life in a new country. Haunting, emotional, hopeful…these are only a few words to describe this captivating book.

8. Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxyby Matthew Reinhart

This cool collectable moved down four spots in its 14th week on the list. If you have a Star Wars fan in your life (or you are one), this would make a great gift.

9. Henry's Freedom Box written by Ellen Levine. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Another Caldecott Winner, Henry’s Freedom Box tells the true story of a slave, Henry “Box” Brown, who mailed himself to freedom in a packing crate with the help of the Underground Railroad. One more must-have in my opinion.

10. Zen Ties written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth

In its first week on the list, this is a surprisingly heartwarming story of a Buddist panda who encourages his nephew and friends to help a grouchy neighbor. They’re surprised by what they get in return.

This week's rankings reflect book sales for the week ending January 19, 2008. Check out the New York Times' Children's Book Page for this week's bestselling children's chapter, paperback, and series books.

Poetry Friday

Ah...nothing like a little unrequited love to brighten up your day. We studied William Butler Yeats in my senior seminar in college, and the romantic in me LOVED to read about his infatuation with Maud Gonne who inspired so many beautiful poems. How I longed to me someone's muse, and I couldn't understand how she could have possibly resisted such beautiful words. Now that I think about it, maybe he was kind of creepy. Oh well...makes for some pretty darn good poetry. Here's one of my favorites that still gets to me:


When You Are Old
WHEN you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim Soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;
And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

by: William Butler Yeats
Source: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-you-are-old/

Favorite line: "But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you" Sigh.....

Visit the rest of the Poetry Friday roundup at Mentor Texts, Read Alouds, & More

'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade; illustrated by Ben Hodson

'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day by Catherine Ipcizade; illustrated by Ben Hodson

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (February 10, 2008)
• Language: English

'Twas the Day Before Zoo Day is an adaptation of Clement Moore’s classic poem “The Night Before Christmas.” As the title implies, it’s the day before “Zoo Day,” when lots of children and their families will be visiting the zoo. The trainers and zookeepers are in a rush to make sure everything is clean and all of the animals are on their best behavior, but the elephants can’t resist the mud, and the llamas won’t stop spitting.

Through this entertaining story, we learn many fun facts about animals. For example, did you know that lions sleep 20 hours a day and that rhinos weigh as much as a car?

And who wouldn’t have fun reading text like this?:

“Giraffes used their blue tongues to drink and to slurp. ‘We might drool sometimes, but we try not to burp.’”

The rhythmic text makes for a great read aloud, and children will laugh out loud more than once, especially at Ben Hodson’s vivid illustrations of the animals with hilarious facial expressions.

If you have a child who loves animals, this would be an excellent choice.

As with all their books, Sylvan Dell has a wealth of teaching activities and more supplemental materials for parents and teachers.

One Thousand Tracings: Learning Activities

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II

I urge you to visit the wonderful website Lita Judge put together for more information about the relief effort her grandparents led to help thousands of struggling Europeans after WWII.

On the site, you can read letters Judge's grandmother translated from German to English, see pictures of more foot tracings, a timeline of WWII and the relief effort, a teacher's guide, and more.

This book could also be a great way to motivate your child (and your entire family) to participate in a service organization or contribute to relief effort (local or abroad) and help other families in need. The teachers guide on the website links to three organizations, but there are many many more out there.

One Thousand Tracings by Lita Judge

One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II written and illustrated by Lita Judge

A 2007 Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book Finalist

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (June 5, 2007)

I don’t think I have ever read a picture book, a NONFICTION picture book at that, that has moved me the way One Thousands Tracings moved me. Author/illustrator Lita Judge was inspired to write this picture book, her first, when she found a box of full of old letters containing foot tracings. She learned from her mother about the huge relief effort her grandparents, Fran and Frederick Hamerstrom, led to help families in need in post-WWII Europe.

One Thousand Tracings is the story of this effort told from the perspective of young girl (Lita Judge’s mother). The story begins in December 1946, “When I was three, Papa left home to join the war. When I was six, the war was over, and Papa came back to me and Mama. I thought everyone we loved was home and safe. But just before Christmas, a letter arrived that changed everything.”

That letter was from their friends in Germany who said they were starving and had no shoes. They put together a care package for the family, and weeks later received a thank you letter from the family along with a list of ten families who needed help. There were foot tracings for each family member in the letter. Over the next two years, the Hamerstrom’s received over a thousand foot tracings, and enlisting the help of friends and neighbors, over 3,000 care packages including shoes matching the foot tracings and other supplies were sent to families all over Europe.

In addition to telling us the story of the relief effort, Lita Judge draws us in by telling, through letters sent to the Hamerstrom’s, the story of one family with a little girl named Eliza who is the same age as the narrator. Her father is still missing, and she, her mother, and brother are in need. The reader is filled with anticipation to find out what happens to this family and the father.

The most poignant part of the story is the fact that Americans put their differences with Germany aside and helped PEOPLE. They were no longer fighting the enemy, but helping mothers, fathers, children who didn't even have shoes to keep their feet warm in the bitter cold. But perhaps the most engaging part of the book are pictures of the actual foot-tracings, yellowed letters, and photos sent with the letters scattered throughout the pages of the book and on the end papers. Mixed in with Judge’s soft watercolor illustrations, we can SEE what Lita Judge found in the attic. We see a picture of the real Eliza, a pair of warn boots that would be a godsend to a poverty-stricken family, a doll like the one Judge’s mother made for Eliza, and more.

One Thousand Tracings is beautifully written and tells the heartwarming story of human compassion. Sure to spark a lot of conversation, no child’s library should be without it.

Kersplatypus Learning Activities

I think the late Steve Irwin and now his daughter Bindi Sue have turned a lot of kids (and adults) onto Australia and its wildlife, so Kersplatypus will appeal to many young children, and they’ll be into learning even more about Australia.

The folks at Sylvan Dell have developed a wealth of learning activities in a variety of subject areas (math, science, language arts, etc.) and more to help you expand upon Kersplatypus. In fact, they have this with every book, which I think is wonderful.

First, in the back of Kersplatypus, they have a “For Creative Minds Section,” that offers expansion activities such as platypus facts, and discussion questions about bullies. This section is even available in pdf format online that you can print out and duplicate.

Second, they offer a comprehensive guide chock full of teaching activities that can help you discuss the book and teach more about Australia. There are language arts, science, math, research and geography, and character activities.

Third, they offer a wealth of learning links where you and your child can go online to learn more about Australia and its animals.

Next, you can go online and listen to each published book in audio format. Kersplatypus is not available yet.

Sylvan Dell also offers online comprehension quizzes teachers can use to test reading comprehension.

Finally, Sylvan Dell offers a variety of ideas for craft activities for your budding artists.

100 Books Every Child Should Read

An interesting article by Michael Morpurgo in today's UK Telegraph claims, "if children are to be readers for life, they must first love stories." He goes on to argue that the focus on reading as an "educational commodity" is biting them in the behind and can even be "counter-productive and alienating". If reading feels like "work," who wants to do it? Instead, teachers, parents, caregivers, etc. need to be passionate about reading to their children. They must FEEL it, LOVE it, and pass it onto their children.

So very very true. I know it's harder for me to want to do something if no one around me is interested or into it.

Following his article is a list of the 100 books every child should read in their early years, middle years, and early teens. Some I've read and are definite favorites....some I'm unfamiliar with, and there may be some different ones we'd add to the list in the United States.

Well worth checking out.

Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell, illustrated by Sherry Rogers

Kersplatypus by Susan K. Mitchell, illustrated by Sherry Rogers

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (February 10, 2008)

On February 10th, Sylvan Dell is bringing us Kersplatypus, the story of a creature who appears in the Australian Outback after the big rains. The other animals, including Kookaburra, Wallaby, and Blue-Tongued Skink among many other animals indigenous to the Outback, have never seen a creature this before and have no idea what he is. Even the poor creature himself doesn't know, so they all set upon a mission to help him discover where he belongs. They first lead him to a tree, which he attempts to climb but falls down with a KERSPLAT! Determined to help him find his place, the animals go through a number of similar scenarios until, with the help of wise, old Bandicoot, he finally figures it out.

Susan K. Mitchell does an excellent job with characterization. Brushtail Possum is the nurturer of the group as she is the first to help the creature, and mischievous Blue-Tongued Skink reminds me of my little brother. We get a clear picture of his personality early on in the story when he first sees the creature, " 'You're the craziest looking thing I've ever seen,'… 'What are you supposed to be?'" Mitchell also does a great job of giving young readers interesting facts about Australian wildlife through her story without making it seem like they're being taught a lesson. Through the creature's attempts to find where he belongs, readers learn that possums live in trees, kookaburras fly, wallabies bounce high in the air, and much more.

Sherry Rogers' vivid and detailed illustrations perfectly complement the story and bring the characters to life. One of my favorite illustrations is the scene where Wallaby is bouncing in the air. Blue-Tongued Skink is lying on a rock, hands under his chin, with a grin on his face just waiting to see the creature go KERSPLAT!

Children, teachers, and parents will also enjoy the "For Creative Minds" section in the back of the book where there are a number of activities including more fun facts about the platypus and much more. Also, be sure to visit Sylvan Dell's website where you can find a multitude of learning links to learn even more about Australia and its creatures.

28 Days Later

Kyra E. Hicks, author of Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria and who also blogs at Black Threads in Kid's Lit just informed me about 28 Days Later, "an effort by Brown Book Shelf to promote African American authors and illustrators of children's and YA lit." Their first initiative will be to highlight 28 different African American YA and children's authors and illustrators during Black History Month, beginning February 1st with Christopher Paul Curtis, author of multiple-award winningElijah Of Buxton.

This is an absolutely wonderful initiative, and I'm looking forward to learning more about these authors and illustrators.

Learn more about 28 days later and see the schedule here!

Thanks for the info Kyra!

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Young Adult Pick of the Week:

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English

Nine year olds Jennifer and Cameron are the outcasts at their school. Jennifer is overweight, shy, and withdrawn, and Cameron, who comes from an abusive home is just well—different. Both are endlessly teased, and they somehow find each other and form a deep connection. Until one day Cameron doesn’t show up at school, and the teacher says he moved. To say Jennifer is hurt because he didn’t say goodbye is an understatement. She’s crushed and just doesn't understand. Then one day the bullies at recess tell her that Cameron died. When her own mother doesn’t tell her differently, Jennifer is devastated and decides that the only way she can survive is to bury the person she is with him.

Eight years later, Jennifer is now Jenna, and she’s completely reinvented herself. She’s in great shape, goes to a different school, and has lots of friends, including a boyfriend Ethan, the handsomest boy in school. Externally, she seems happy and seems to have the perfect life. Internally, she struggles to keep “Jennifer” inside and is haunted by a terrifying experience that occurred at Cameron’s house on her ninth birthday. On her seventeenth birthday, she discovers that Cameron did not die and that he’s in her town. Memories and suppressed feelings come flooding back as she struggles to cope with this news.

Has their connection remained strong after all these years? Why didn’t he try to contact her before? Why didn’t her mother tell her the truth? What exactly happened at Cameron’s house so many years ago? Do Jenna and Cameron still have such a strong connection after all these years? Will Jenna leave Ethan for Cameron? Can she keep Jennifer inside? Sara Zarr’s second novel Sweethearts answers all these questions through a profound and gut-wrenching story.

Zarr does an exceptional job of drawing you in and make you FEEL Jenna’s emotions. As I was reading, I felt a lump in the pitt of my stomach as Jenna relived the horrifying day at Cameron’s house. I felt anger, confusion, heartache, and fear as Jenna struggles with Cameron’s return and all of the emotions that come flooding in with it.

From the very first chapter I was hooked as I read the following passage:

“Other memories stick, no matter how much you wish they wouldn’t. They’re like a song you hate but can’t ever get completely out of your head, and this song becomes the background noise of your entire life, snippets of lyrics, and lines of music floating up and then receding, a crazy kind of tide that never stops.” (p. 5, Advanced Reader Copy).

In addition to resounding passages like this one, Zarr is careful not to make Jenna “too adult.” She expertly reminds us that Jenna is seventeen through carefully crafted scenarios that take us inside the head of a teenager. Jenna grapples with friendships, her weight and self-image, boyfriends, the pressure to have sex, the pressure to drink—things that many young adults can identify with.

It’s evident that Sara Zarr poured her heart and soul into this book, and I can’t even remember the last time I read a book that resonated with me as much as Sweethearts did. If you liked Story of a Girl,you will love Sweethearts.

Note: Sweethearts goes on sale February 1, 2008. I got the exciting opportunity to interview Sara Zarr about this book, so look for this interview on February 4^th as I take part in the Sweethearts blog tour.

Sara Zarr is also going on a mini-tour to promote Sweethearts. If you live near San Francisco, Salt Lake City, or Phoenix/Tempe, visit her blog for dates and locations!

New York Times Bestselling Picture Books of the Week

Wow…lots and lots of changes this week. We say goodbye to:

• The Night Before Christmas
• Winter in White: A Mini Pop-up Treat
• Santa's Reindeer
• How to Find Flower Fairies
• Great Joy

While last week I lamented about there being only one type of book on the list, this week there is a nice variety. A wordless graphic novel even makes the list.

1. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Bookwritten and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder

This book gallops its way to the top in its ninth week on the list! This book is amazing! By flipping through you book you can see a horse galloping, an eagle soaring, and many other animals in movement. The content rhymes and has funny replies that will leave your child laughing.

2. High School Musical: All Accessby N. B. Grace

Down one spot in it's 8th week on the list, this book would be a great gift for a High School Musical fan in your life. It looks like a scrapbook made by someone who goes to the school with ticket stubs, pictures, notes in lockers, etc. It would be especially good for a reluctant pre-teen reader.

3 . Smash! Crash! by Jon Scieszka. Illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon.

The newest book from our National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature debuts in the number three spot this week. Smash! Crash! kicks off Scieska’s Trucktown series for preschool/kindergarten-aged children. If you have a child in your life who loves trucks and who loves to smash things together, he/she will be delighted as Jack Truck and Dump Truck Dan smash and crash through the town.

4. Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxyby Matthew Reinhart


This collective moved down one spot in its 13th week on the list. If you have a Star Wars fan in your life (or you are one), this is a great collectible. Sabrina at Breeni Books says, "...It's pretty darn cool. I'd say it's well worth the money and has earned its rank. "

5. The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up: Based on the Books by C. S. Lewis (Narnia)by C. S. Lewis. Pop-ups by Robert Sabuda

In its seventh week on the list, this gorgeous pop-up moves down a spot. I'm a huge Narnia fan, so this book is right up my ally. It features a stunning pop-up spread of each of the seven books in the series.

6. The Three Snow Bears written and illustrated by Jan Brett



Hanging in there at number 6, Jan Brett’s newest book makes its seventeenth appearance.This is a spin on Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Al-ooki, an Inuit girl in the Artic visits the home of a polar bear family. If you haven't seen this book that was just published in September, I highly recommend it. As always, Jan Brett's illustrations are gorgeous, and I always love a retell of an old classic, especially one that features different cultures.


7. Fancy Nancy by Jane O;Connor. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

I have a confession…this is the first time I’ve ever heard of Fancy Nancy (GASP!). Double gasp since this is the 98^th time it’s been in the top ten! In the story, Fancy Nancy is determined to fancy-up her family and take them out to a fancy dinner. Since, I haven’t seen the book, so I can’t recommend or um…un-recommend it.

8. The Arrival by Shaun Tan

I am becoming a fan of graphic novels, and I can’t believe it. Making its second appearance in the top 10, the only words in this book are from an invented alphabet. In the book, an immigrant leaves his family behind to start a new life in a new country. Haunting, emotional, hopeful…these are only a few words to describe this captivating book.

9. Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy) by Jane O’Connor. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

I don’t know who this Fancy Nancy girl is, but she sure is popular. Making its 34^th appearance on the list, this book chronicles Fancy Nancy’s quest to find the perfect dog for a fancy girl. I’m totally going to have to check this girl out and see what all the hoopla is about.

10. Hug Time written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell

McDonnell’s cute story of Jules the kitten who goes around the world hugging people makes its second appearance on the list in the number 10 spot this week.

This week's rankings reflect book sales for the week ending January 12, 2008. Check out the New York Times' Children's Book Page for this week's bestselling children's chapter, paperback, and series books.

Baby Lamb Finds a Friend

Baby Lamb Finds a Friend by Laura Gates Galvin

• Board book: 16 pages
• Publisher: Soundprints (October 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592497462
• ISBN-13: 978-1592497461

There are not many kids I know who don’t love baby animals…puppies, kittens, tigers, elephants. In fact, whenever there’s a new baby animal at the zoo near us, families come in droves to visit the newest addition, so I think your child will be enchanted with Soundprints’ and the Smithsonian Institution’s lovable Baby Animals Series.

Suitable for preschoolers, this series of board books by Laura Gates Galvin features four stories about different baby animals, including a baby dolphin, a baby koala, a baby duck, and a baby lamb.

Baby Lamb Finds a Friendtells the story of a little lamb who finds a playmate and has a day full of fun. The text is short and simple enough for a preschooler to understand, and the full-color photos of the adorable baby lambs will keep them engaged. The shots are perfectly chosen and make it seem like the little lambs are interacting with you. For example, there is one spread where Baby Lamb’s friend wants to play a game and hides behind the tree. The photo on that page shows a tiny little lamb peeking around a giant tree, looking right at the camera. Other photos feature little lambs playing and sleeping, and the final page features Baby Lamb’s cute little baby lamb behind as he goes home after a long day of fun.

Baby Lamb Finds a Friend would make a perfect addition to your child’s collection, but once you see how much your child love its, you’re going to want the other three books in the Baby Animal series, and at $6.95 a book, you won’t break your budget if you add a new book every now and then.

Other books in Baby Animal series:
Baby Koala and Mommy
Baby Duck Gets Lost
Baby Dolphin's Busy Day

Poetry Friday: Phenomenal Woman

The poetry I love most is the poetry that has had some sort of impact on my life, poetry that MEANS something to me. There are a few poems that have really made a lasting impact on me, and I’d mostly like to feature those in Poetry Friday.

When I was in high school, I got the amazing opportunity to see Maya Angelou speak at a college campus near my hometown. We had just finishing reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and I was ecstatic when my English teacher told us we were going to see Angelou speak. To be honest, I don’t even remember what she spoke about, but she recited a few of her poems, and when she began to recite “Phenomenal Woman,” a hush fell over the crowd, and I was entranced. Perhaps it was the confidence she exuded as she read the poem, her movements, her facial expressions that got to me. All I know is that many years later, this poem is one I keep coming back to—one that has really impacted my life.

Here’s an excerpt:

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Read the rest here:

For more Poetry Friday submissions, visit Farm School.

Children's Book Awards that Celebrate Diversity

When I taught middle school, I had students from many different backgrounds and cultures in my class. Each class was allowed to go to the library once a month to check out books. Even though I understood the reasoning (my school had over 2000 children), I thought it was a shame. So after much begging and pleading, I arranged a deal with our librarian to allow two kids from each of my classes to visit the library for 20 minutes each day. Kids would come back to my classroom and show me their choices, and I remember them being extremely excited when they found a book about their culture. The unfortunate thing was that there weren’t that many multicultural books in the library. It was also unfortunate that our librarians had very small budgets with which to purchase books, but that didn’t stop me from making suggestions and giving them multicultural titles that I would like to see in the library.

I learned very quickly that they were more likely to purchase titles which had won awards, so I relied heavily on book award lists to help me make my picks. Here are some I used back then, and more I recently found:

Carter G. Woodson Book Award and Honor
This award is given annually to the most distinguished social science books that depict ethnicity in the United States. Awards are given at the elementary, middle, and secondary levels.

The Américas Award
This award is given to books of all genres published in the United States in English or Spanish that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. Awards are given to different levels of children’s books from picture books to YA books.

The Correta Scott King Book Award
Given to African American authors and illustrator whose books promote understanding and appreciation of the culture of all peoples and their contribution to the realization of the American dream.


The Jane Addams Children's Book Award
This annual award is given to children’s books that promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races.

The Pura Belpré Award
This award is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.


The Sydney Taylor Book Award
This award is presented annually to outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience.

The Tomás Rivera Award
This annual award is given to authors and illustrating depicting the culture and values of Mexican Americans.


The Schneider Family Book Award
This award honors an author or illustrator for a book portrays some aspect of living with disabilities.


The Mildred L. Batchelder Award
This award is given to an American publisher for an outstanding children’s book that was originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and translated into English and published in the United State. The award promotes communication and understanding among people of different races, cultures, languages, etc.

And much thanks to Abby for pointing these out to me:

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APAAL)
"The goal is to honor and recognize individual work about Asian/Pacific Americans and their heritage, based on literary and artistic merit. "

Native American Youth Services Literature Award
"The children's book award was created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians. "

Are there others out there I’ve missed?

Be sure to check out Wizards Wireless this Monday for the January Carnival of Children's Literature. The theme? Book Awards!

The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell, illustrated by Connie McLennan

The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell, illustrated by Connie McLennan

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (April 30, 2007)

“On the ground, there fell a seed…the fluffiest seed that you ever did see…”

From that fluffy seed grows a tall Kapok tree, and in that tree grows a cat, and near the cat there was a vine…sound familiar? The Rainforest Grew All Around is based on the children’s song, “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” Through this song, we get a glimpse of the rainforest’s eco-system and see how everything is interconnected. Readers are introduced to a variety of rainforest plants and animals including a jaguar, an emerald tree boa, a sloth, and many many more.

On the sidebars of each two-page spread, readers can learn more about the plant or animal featured in the song; for example, “Sloths hang upside down in the trees and move very slowly.” Connie McLennan’s illustrations are vivid and detailed, and children will delight in finding the hidden rainforest insects within the book.

With very light messaging, children will have fun and simultaneously learn to respect and appreciate the rainforest and all of its creatures. The back of the book has expansion activities “For Creative Minds” and even a recipe for rainforest cookies. In addition, Sylvan Dell has a comprehensive list of teaching activities and learning links on their website. I highly recommend this book for any school or home library.

Note: Susan K. Mitchell's newest book, Kersplatypus, is being released on February 10th. Look for my review soon.

The Silk Princess: Expansion Activities

There are so many different approaches you can take if you want to expand upon The Silk Princess (Picture Book)with your child. Here are just a couple:

Legends, Myths, and Folktales

• If your child enjoys these types of stories, why not read more of them? Your public library probably has a lot of them, and as Marian the Librarian points out, kid’s lit is chock full of them Check out her post for a long list of recent books that feature mythological characters.
• Consider having a themed week where you read your favorite myths, legends, and folktales. You can even tell your own favorite stories
• Create a book with your child featuring his/her favorite characters or stories

Ancient China
The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to learning more about Ancient China. Here are a few ideas:

• Ancient Chinese Culture

Go to your local library, and check out a few books about the Ancient Chinese culture. Discuss religion, clothing, food, and customs. Kids may be interested in the history of China, the emperors and the dynasties. The Great Wall of China and the Silk Road may be interesting topics.

• Arts and Crafts

Here are some arts and crafts I found online. You and your child can make a circly snake or a Chinese lantern.

• Ancient China Month

A friend of mine sometimes has a themed month with her children. Along with her children, she chooses a country or culture to learn about for the month. They go to the library and check out different books, try different recipes a couple of nights during that month, and then try to find and visit local exhibits featuring that culture. Her kids seem to really enjoy it and have developed a deep respect for different cultures. The most impressive thing is that she makes it fun…the kids don’t feel like they’re in school. This could easily be scaled down to “Ancient China month.”

Books of Interest

Bound--A Chinese Cinderella story for Young Adults

Stories From The Silk Road--A collection of folktales from different countries along the Silk Road

Legend of the Chinese Dragon--Discusses the history, tradition, and role the Chinese dragon plays in China even today

Good Morning China--A very cute picture book of how people in China celebrate their mornings in the park.

Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes--The title speaks for itself and features five Chinese holidays

Deleted Scene from The Invention of Hugo Cabret

For all of you Hugo Cabret fans, I browsing around on Amazon and found a letter from Brian Selznick as well as a deleted scene from the book. This post at Wizard's Wireless convinced me that I had to get the book, and I scarfed up the last copy at the bookstore this afternoon. Thanks Susan...I can't wait to read it.

Oh, and after reading all of MotherReader's posts about Mo Willems, I bought Knuffle Bunny and Knuffle Bunny Too. I really had to practice self control and not buy all of his books. They ARE delightful!

"Children's Book Award Winners Break The Mold"

I was so pleased to find this article in the arts and living section of today's Washington Post.

The unconventionality of the Newbery and Caldecott winners are getting some mad press and bringing lots of attention to children's literature. This is the kind of buzz we need to get more people to pick up books and read.

I also hope it inspires authors out there who may be thinking about trying something different, and it seems apparent that people are looking for different things. On Sunday, I listed this week's NY Times Bestselling picture books and noticed that only three were traditional picture books while the remaining seven were either pop-up or interactive books.

So....
Parents: The choices are virtually endless. Ask a librarian or bookseller for help, and you're sure to find something your child will enjoy.

Authors: Dare to be different...you might just win a snazzy sticker for the front of your book.

Now, I'm off to the bookstore. Happy reading!

The Silk Princess by Charles Santore

The Silk Princess written and illustrated by Charles Santore
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (December 26, 2007)

I’ve always loved legends, folktales, fairytales, and myths. As a child, I loved reading about Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan. I had a big yellow book filled with fairytales, and I remember my favorite being Snow White and Rose Red. I also had a book of myths where I read stories of Zeus, Aphrodite, and Poseidon. The Furies and Medusa terrified me, and I felt so sad for Persephone when she was destined to a live in the Underworld. In college, I first read Beowulf and The Iliad. And don’t get me started about King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Some of my favorite books I’ve read in my adult life are Marian Zimmer Bradley’s Avalon series. (except for Ancestors of Avalon, which I couldn’t even finish…ugh).

I love traditional literature because I love the idea of oral histories—of stories being passed down through many generations. I love the magic, the stories, the mysterious and often larger than life characters, the dangerous situations, and the mostly happy endings.

I was very excited when I saw The Silk Princess, a legend about the discovery of silk in ancient China. Hsi-Ling Chi, the Emperor’s daughter, plays second fiddle to her brothers. Her father rarely notices her, and she spends most of her day in the palace gardens with her mother. It was on one of these days when she saw a silkworm’s cocoon fall into her mother’s tea, causing it to unravel. Her mother suggests that she find out how long it is, and the delighted Hsi-Ling Chi takes one end of the thread and begins to walk.. Soon she’s out of the gardens and eventually outside of the palace, where even her mother has never been. But Hsi-Ling Chi is not afraid and continues walking. It is during this dangerous journey that she discovers the magic of the silkworms and is finally able to win her father’s attention with beautiful silk fabric.

The Silk Princess is based on the legend of Chinese Emperor Huang-Ti, the Yellow Emperor whose wife discovers how to make silk when a cocoon falls into her tea, causing it to unravel. In the end notes, Santore explains that the wife was sometimes called Lei-Tsu and sometimes called Hsi-Ling Chi, so he decided to put both in his story and create two characters—the Empress Lei-Tsu and her daughter Hsi-Ling Chi.

The Silk Princess has everything I like in a good folktale—magic, mysterious characters, danger, and a happy ending. Santore’s striking water colors are full of detail and paint a beautiful picture of life in Ancient China, from the traditional clothing to the palace. There is one scene where Hsi-Ling Chi encounters a dragon on a bridge, and a tiny Hsi-Ling Chi is holding her shoes in her hand, running from the dragon. The enormous dragon looks just like how I would imagine a dragon in ancient China to look.

A longer picture book with complex sentences, this book is more suited as a read aloud for younger children. Children who are beginning readers may stumble over some of the language such as, “Regal in his bearing, he reigned in splendor,” but it’s this type of language that is only fitting to describe an Emperor. When we actually get into Hsi-Ling’s story, the vocabulary gets simpler, but there is still a lot of text.

If you’re looking for a good folktale or legend to read to your child, The Silk Princess is a good choice, and don’t let the title fool you—I think both boys and girls would be interested in the book, especially the part with the dragon.

ALA 2008 Media Award Winners

The ALA 2008 Media Award Winners were announced earlier this morning. And the winners are:

John Newbery Medal
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz (Candlewick)

Newbery Honor Books

Elijah Of Buxtonby Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic/Scholastic Press)
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion)
Feathersby Jacqueline Woodson (Putnam/GP Putnam's Sons)

Randolph Caldecott Medal

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Scholastic)

Caldecott Honor Books
Henry's Freedom Box, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine (Scholastic/Scholastic Press)
First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter)
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtainby Peter Sís (Farrar/Frances Foster)
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion)


I know there will be many happy people when they learn that Hugo Cabret won the Caldecott!

For a list of all the awards, visit the ALA here.

New York Times Bestselling Picture Books of the Week

Of the 10 books on the list this week, 7 are interactive or pop-up books, and only 3 are traditional picture books. I have mixed feelings about this.

On one hand, these types of books may be more appealing to kids who aren’t fans of reading. It could be a way to get books into the hands of more kids, and from the looks of it, more and more people are buying these types of books. Don't get me wrong...there's nothing WRONG with these books. I've seen all of them at our local bookstore, and they're great, but I guess I’m a "book traditionalist." I love reading a story from cover to cover.

I just wonder what this is telling us...are kids seeking more variety, excitement, and something a little different? Is it indicative of the interactivity of the internet that kids are used to these days? Do they want to become participants and users instead of viewers? Am I reading too much into this?

In any case, here’s this week’s list courtesy of the New York Times. We bid farewell to On the Night You Were Born,Santa Clausand Angela and the Baby Jesus.


1. High School Musical: All Accessby N. B. Grace

In its seventh week in the top then, this book is at the top of our list week. It is really neat and would be a great gift for a High School Musical fan in your life. It looks like a scrapbook made by someone who goes to the school with ticket stubs, pictures, notes in lockers, etc. It would be especially good for a reluctant pre-teen reader.



2. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Bookwritten and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder


In its eighth week on the list, Gallop! moved into the second spot. This book is amazing! By flipping through you book you can see a horse galloping, an eagle soaring, and many other animals in movement. The content rhymes and has funny replies that will leave your child laughing.







3. Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxyby Matthew Reinhart


In its 12th week, this book is holding steady at #3. If you have a Star Wars fan in your life (or you are one), this is a great collectible. Sabrina at Breeni Books says, "...It's pretty darn cool. I'd say it's well worth the money and has earned its rank. "






4. The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up: Based on the Books by C. S. Lewis (Narnia)by C. S. Lewis. Pop-ups by Robert Sabuda


In its sixth week on the list, this booked moved up 6 spots. I'm a huge Narnia fan, so this book is right up my ally. It features a stunning pop-up spread of each of the seven books in the series.








5. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore


In its 15th week on the list, this book moved from the top of the list to the number 5 spot. The New York Times doesn't list a specific publisher or illustrator as various copies were all over bookstores over the holiday season. I picked up Ted Rand's version for my daughter because I didn't have a copy of this classic poem for her library.





6. Winter in White: A Mini Pop-up Treat by Robert Sabuda


One of three pop-ups on the list, this book makes an appearance in the number six spot after being off for a couple of weeks. Robert Sabuda brings us gorgeous imagery of winter in a pop-up book format. As I looked through it, I sighed wishing that we would get at least one good snow this year. Please Mother Nature? Just one????





7. Santa's Reindeer by Rod Green


Debuting at number 6 last week, this book dropped a spot this week. It's full of beautiful illustrations and tons of information about reindeer. Designed with lots of cool flaps and envelopes, this interactive book is entertaining for kids of all ages.









8. How to Find Flower Fairieswritten and illustrated by Cicely Mary Barker


Back on the list this week after a brief hiatus, the author of Fairyopolis brings us this pop-up book that features the many different hiding places of fairies. I think any young child who likes the magic of fairies would love this enchanting book, but make sure you give it to a child who is old enough to take care of the book. My daughter would rip off fairy heads and wings if I gave it to her.






9. The Three Snow Bears written and illustrated by Jan Brett



The Three Snow Bears dropped five spots in its 16th week. This is a spin on Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Al-ooki, an Inuit girl in the Artic visits the home of a polar bear family. If you haven't seen this book that was just published in September, I highly recommend it. As always, Jan Brett's illustrations are gorgeous, and I always love a retell of an old classic, especially one that features different cultures.


10. Great Joy



Rounding out the list is Kate DiCamillo's first picture book where she brings us a touching Christmas-themed story of an organ grinder and Frances, a compassionate little girl. Bagram Ibatoulline’s striking illustrations bring the story to life.









My prediction? The Night Before Christmas is going to continue moving down as is Santa's Reindeer.

This week's rankings reflect book sales for the week ending January 5, 2008. Check out the New York Times' Children's Book Page for this week's bestselling chapter, paperback, and series books.

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Cross-posted at The Newbery Project

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books (November 7, 2006)

With this year’s Newbery winner being announced on Monday, I figured I’d better get around to reading last year’s winner and also complete the first book in the Young Adult Challenge hosted at Thoughts of Joy.

The Higher Power of Lucky is set in Hard Pan, California, a destitute town where nearly everyone receives “Government Surplus commodities.” Even though the town may be lacking in money, it’s not lacking in interesting and eclectic people. First you have Short Sammy, a recovering alcoholic whose house is made of a water tank. Then there’s quiet Lincoln, Lucky’s friend who is fascinated with tying knots. His mother a librarian wants him to be president, and his father, a much older man spends his day driving around in a dune buggy looking for historic pieces of barbed wire he can sell on EBay. And then there’s Lucky Trimble a 10 year old girl whose mother was electrocuted by down power lines when she was eight. Her father, whom Lucky doesn’t even know wasn’t about to become a father when her mother died, so he somehow managed to get his first wife, Brigitte, to come all the way from France to be Lucky’s guardian. Lucky is consumed with the fear that Brigitte will go back to France and leave her. The book centers around this as we get a glimpse into Lucky’s everyday life and the people of Hard Pan.

When I first read this book, I thought, “THIS won the Newbery Medal?” I thought it was a good story, but I didn’t think it one of THE BEST young adult books I’d ever read and certainly not as good as Hattie Big Sky, which was named a Newbery Honor Book last year.

But as I kept thinking about the story and the characters, it grew on me. Patron does an exceptional job with characterization in the book. Lucky is extremely smart and creative. She loves to make up stories about the “Olden Days” where her companions, HMS Beagle (her real-life dog who is “not a ship or a beagle”) and Chesterfield, a mule, have all kinds of adventures. For a child of ten, she has had to deal with things that no adult would want to go through—the death of her mother and the abandonment of her father. These experiences give her a sense of maturity that many 10-year-olds don’t have, but Patron reminds us over and over again that she is a child. She carries around a “survival backpack” wherever she goes. Its contents include a survival blanket, half a tube of toothpaste, a bottle of Gatorade, tins for collecting her bug specimens, and much more. She puts mineral oil on her eyebrows so they’ll glisten (Brigitte won’t let her wear real makeup), and she has a bit of a crush on Lincoln. She eavesdrops on AA meetings and other “anonymous meetings,” and it’s apparent that she doesn’t understand what they’re really all about as she tries to search for her own “Higher Power.” These types of things made me chuckle and then I’d come across a passage like this that would tug at my heart: “Sometimes Lucky wanted to change everything, all the bad things that had happened, and sometimes she wanted everything to stay the same forever,” (p. 8).

Patron gives us a glimpse into what it feels like to live in constant fear that you’re going to be abandoned and not know where you’re going end up—the fear that is all too real for most foster children. Even little Miles, who lives with his grandmother, doesn’t know where his mother is and carries around a worn copy of “Are You My Mother?” I couldn’t help feeling empathy for him as Lucky refused to read it to him—again.

Even with all of the heart wrenching moments, Patron does a fine job of balancing them with humor and an engaging storyline. The book is not too heavy or depressing and has an uplifting ending.

I was surprised (well not really) to hear all of the hubbub about Patron’s use of the word “scrotum” on the very first page of the book—she’s retelling Short Sammy’s story of his lowest point with his alcoholism where his dog gets bit on the scrotum by a snake. There is nothing sexual or perverse, and in fact, Lucky is not even sure what a scrotum is—another example that she is just a child. My two cents—children have heard much far worse, and it is the proper name of a sexual organ. Patron could have used a number of alternative terms. It is not and should not be a focal point of the book, and the fact that it has been banned is completely ridiculous. But don’t get me started on what I think about censorship…even I am making this is the focal point of my review.

The Higher Power of Lucky is a good book with lovable characters, great and believable dialogue, and both poignant and funny moments. I personally would have picked Hattie Big Sky to win the top honor, but I’m not on the committee, so what can I do?

Correction: My sources were incorrect...The Higher Power of Lucky hasn't been banned although there was a lot of chatter about it being challenged or banned. Even so, I STILL think it's ridiculous that it would even be considered. Thanks to Susan at Wizards Wireless for setting me straight and pointing me to this article.

Princess Baby by Karen Katz

Princess Baby written and illustrated by Karen Katz.

Reading level: Ages 1-5

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random House Children’s Books (January 8, 2008)

In Karen Katz’s newly-released picture book, a little baby is frustrated because no one will call her by her real name. “Please don’t call me Little Lamb, and never ever Sweet Gumdrop. Please call me by my real name,” she pleads. But what is her real name? Let’s see…she has a shiny crown, a fancy dress, and sparkly shoes, and everyone in her stuffed-animal kingdom is happy. Can you guess?

With Karen Katz’s typical vibrant illustrations and round-faced cherubic characters, Princess Baby is a cute book that makes a great read aloud, especially if you have your own little princess. Kids will probably get a kick out of all the nicknames, and I’m sure some nicknames will sound very familiar. They’ll also have fun guessing her name as they go through the clues she gives us. As I was reading though, I couldn’t help thinking that Princess Baby sure was a little spoiled, but then again, aren’t all princesses?

Check out this link at Random House Kids for fun discussion questions and printable activities, including a printout where your little princess can make her very own crown!

Karen Katz has another Princess Baby book planned for 2009.

Reading is a nationwide effort

Jen Robinson has inspired a lot of chatter in the Kidlitosphere this week about what parents can do help their kids read.
Alice Thomson's article in the UK's Daily Telegraph reminds us that parents aren't the only ones who can make an impact. While she's talking about the British Government here, her points are just as relevant on this side of the Atlantic.

Parents: Be role models! Put down the remote, shut down the computer, and pick up a book.
Authors: Stop playing it safe; kids LIVE for danger, risk, death, and REAL issues.
Schools: Place less emphasis (and budget) on computer literacy and more on reading and stocking up libraries.
Government: Stop shutting down libraries and giving schools so many administrative tasks that take teachers' time away from reading to their students.

Increasing literacy rates and instilling the joy of reading in children is a team effort, and we need the support of some big time players.

Poetry Friday--Don't be a Grouch

Have you ever had one of those days where you're grumpy for no apparent reason? Well, I've been having one of those weeks, and today I'm just one grumpy bird. And when I'm grumpy, I turn to my favorite grouch friend, Oscar, who has a knack for making me smile with his grouchiness.

Today, I'm presenting song as poetry with Oscar's classic "Knock Three Times."

If you want to see me, I'll tell you what to do,
Knock three times on my trashcan lid, and then I'll know it's you.
Knock three times (knock, knock, knock sound)
Knock three times (knock, knock, knock sound)
Knock three times (knock, knock, knock sound while he sings:)
And here's what I'll do:
I'll yell, "GO AWAY!"
'Cause I don't wanna see you.

Read the rest HERE.

Thanks to The Book Mine Set for hosting Poetry Friday this week!

Louis Sockalexis: Discussion Opportunities

Whether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, or anyone else who enjoys reading books with kids, Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer is a great book that will inspire discussion.
It can be a short conversation or can be expanded into more in-depth learning activities or lessons. Here are just a few ideas.

Baseball

• Discuss the sport and its most prominent figures, past and present
  
• Tell your child Jackie Robinson's story who faced similar issues as Louis Sockalexis
• Compare and contrast the game today to the game back then; in the book, there are many obvious differences, both in the text and illustrations
• Talk about your favorite team or players
• If you or your child plays baseball, discuss an important game you or he/she played

Native Americans

• Talk about the Native American culture, their traditions, and the pride they have in their land and people; why was it important for Louis's father to accept him? What impact did Louis's achievements have on his people?
• Discuss a Native American tribe in your area if applicable
• Visit a museum or exhibit that features Native American culture, art, people
  
• Talk about other famous Native Americans...in the past and present. How are they portrayed in the textbooks and culture?
  

Racism and Prejudice

• Louis was treated poorly because he was a Native American...talk to your child about how he/she felt about this and how they think Louis felt. Talk about his strength and determination.
  
• What other groups are victims of racism? Discuss the Civil Rights Movement and the Trail of Tears.
• Have they witnessed or experienced racism first-hand? Have you?
  
• How should you respond when someone makes a racist remark or joke? What should you do if someone is being treated unfairly?
  
• What is the difference between racism and prejudice? What groups are victims of prejudice?
  

Any other ideas?

Helping Struggling Readers

The kidlitosphere ROCKS. You see, Jen Robinson at Jen Robinson's Book Page has this really cool, month-long gig at PBS Parents. She's the featured expert this month and is discussing reading, book recommendations, and more with parents. Yesterday, two parents asked for her advice with their kids who are struggling with reading. Jen gave some great advice but felt like she wanted to give them more, so she sent out a message to the Kidlitosphere members asking if we had any advice. (The kidlitosphere is a Yahoo discussion group for teachers, librarians, authors, and bloggers who read and write about children's books.)

Anyway, many many people gave wonderful suggestions, and Jen compiled all of it and posted it here and here.

When I decided to start my little 'ol blog a couple of months ago, I didn't realize that such a wonderful community of people existed, and I'm so glad to know that there are so many people out there who are so passionate about reading, and literacy, and children's books.

Jen is going to be at PBS for the rest of the month, so be sure to stop by and ask her a question, tell her about your favorite children's books, or leave a comment.

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer

This week's nonfiction choice

Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer

• Author: Bill Wise
• Illustrator: Bill Farnsworth
  
• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books (March 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584302690
• ISBN-13: 978-1584302698

The year is 1897, and Louis Sockalexis, a baseball player for the Cleveland Spiders is in New York getting ready to face Amos Rusie, the major league’s most formidable pitcher. Getting to this point was not an easy road for Louis, a member of the Native American Penobscot tribe in Maine. Confronted with callous racism and his own father’s disapproval, Louis’s passion for baseball prevent him from giving up his dream. Regarded by many as one of the best players in the league, this momentous game will change his life and the public’s view of him forever.

Bill Wise’s account of the first acknowledged Native American major league baseball player is nonfiction but reads like a story. We are taken back to Louis’s childhood when he plays his first baseball game and falls in love with the sport. We watch him grow into a man and a powerhouse slugger, and we witness the insults, the stinging words, and the prejudice he faced every day. As I was reading, I found myself feeling anger towards the people, empathy towards Louis, and great excitement as Louis stood at the plate. The sepia tones of Farnsworth’s illustrations take us back to the time period, but I hardly noticed the pictures as I was reading because I was so involved with the story. Much more than a book about baseball, Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer is a book about determination, hard work, adversity, and acceptance.

This would be a great pick for a baseball fan or someone who is interested in learning more about famous Native Americans. In addition, it’s a nice book to prompt discussion about prejudice and racism, but I’ll talk more about that tomorrow when discuss reading tips and discussion opportunities.

The Well-Read Husband?

A few nights ago, I was cooking dinner when I heard my husband’s voice coming from the living room: “In the light of the moon, a tiny egg lay on a leaf. See the egg on the leaf, Bella? And look…the moon is smiling.” I peeked around the corner and found my husband sitting in the floor with our daughter on his lap, reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar aloud and pointing out the pictures. My husband who is not a big reader (GASP!) hadn’t, up until then, been very involved with reading to her (DOUBLE GASP!). I have to admit that I’ve been monopolizing that gig, but apparently, he has been listening to me read to her all these months (TRIPLE QUADRUPLE GASP!) and decided to try it for himself. It was then I realized that reading was going to be something we will ALL enjoy together as a family and that it’s never too late to establish good habits.

I have to say I got a little lump in my throat as I saw our daughter looking at the book, then looking up at him, and following his finger as he pointed to the pictures. Then she reached up and honked his nose and started cackling…it doesn’t get better than this.

The Jewel Box Ballerinas: Reading tips and Discussion Opportunities

With the Jewel Box Ballerinas there are a number of opportunities for
discussion and learning, but I really think you and your child will
get the most enjoyment out of the pictures. I had so much fun going
back and examining each page, looking for more details…even the end papers are full of pictures. I know I keep mentioning how funny the two pugs look, but Ana Juan did such an excellent job of giving them hilarious facial expressions and poses. I do have a thing for pugs in real life, so perhaps I'm biased.

If you're reading with a young child, you can go through the book and point at the pictures, naming what you see. If your child is old enough, have him/her identify the objects and animals found on the page. Even if your child is too young to understand the story, some of the bright pictures will engage him/her for a little bit. When I read this to my daughter, she liked to touch the red dresses the ballerinas were wearing, and when I was tidying up her room, she kept picking up this bright yellow book from the pile of books on the floor.

Another tip for parents of young children…if you're reading traditional books to them (i.e. not board or cloth books), take off the book jackets, and save them somewhere safe until your child is old enough to properly take care of books. I unfortunately learned this the hard way with The Jewel Box Ballerinas when I heard a loud rip and then a delighted cackle emanating from my daughter's throat. I keep my books in excellent condition, so this hurt a little. The same goes for pop-up books. Luckily, I was able to save Alice's head in the Alice in Wonderland pop-up before my daughter ripped it completely off. She's violent.

Other discussion and learning opportunities:

Geography/Culture
Bibi visits Alaska and Africa, two very different places in term of climate, wildlife, and culture. Talk about each one of them and then discuss the differences. Your budding artists could even draw pictures or make a collage, showing the differences among the two places. Or they could choose a theme such as native animals and make a drawing, poster, or collage.

Materialism
While you may not use the word materialism, you could talk about how Bibi realized that people and friends were much more important than any possession in the world. Ask your child if this reminds him/her of any other stories. The story of King Midas and Ebenezer Scrooge immediately come to my mind. What comes to yours?

Friendship
Talk to your child about your friends and the activities you like to do together. Ask your child to do the same. When I was young, I always loved to hear my parents tell stories about their childhood and their childhood friends, but what I loved the most was to hear my grandmothers' and uncles' and aunts' stories about my parents.

Emotions
Talk about the different feelings in the story. Who was happy, who was sad…what made everyone happy in the end. Talk about a time you felt happy, sad, excited, etc. Have your child tell his/her own story.

Each time I write about reading tips and learning activities, I strive to give a variety of ideas you can use to start conversations and help children make real-world connections with the books they read. I don't intend for you use them all at once or even all of them for that matter. My intent is to give you ideas for having nice dialogues and bonding experiences with your children and to give your children opportunities to think about the world around them through the literature they read. It's amazing at what some children have to say once you get a conversation going. We often forget that they are little humans, and they often have some profound things to say.

I'd also recommend that you don't always talk about books right after you read them and turn every book into a lesson. Kids just want to read sometimes for pure enjoyment. I know I do. While I love a good book discussion, sometimes I just want to read. If you make every reading session seem like school, they'll get turned off. Just let them read, but know that there are often many opportunities throughout the day or week to talk about the characters or stories in the books they're reading. For example, at dinner you could say something like, "Remember how Bibi loved spending time with Miranda and Mathilda? My friend Sara and I used to spend the whole day picking blueberries by her house. We'd eat most of them right off the bush and come home with purple hands and mouths."

Whatever you decide to do, use reading and talking about books as opportunities to bond and spend quality time with your children. You'll help them grow into thinkers and lifelong readers and give them lots of fond memories.

Awards and Finalists and Grants...Oh My!

ALA 2008 Awards
It's that time of year when the air is buzzing with the excitement of the upcoming ALA awards. The ALA Midwinter conference begins held this weekend in Philadelphia, and the 2008 Newbery and Caldecott winners (among many others) will be announced a week from today. Can't make it? Listen to their live webcast, starting at 7:45 AM on the 14th.

As you can imagine, the kidlitosphere is swarming with predictions and commentary...I can't wait to see what it's like on Monday! Check out Ms. Bird's predictions at A Fuse #8 Production. Have you ever wondered what this time of year is like for small, independent booksellers? Check out Susan's post at Wizards Wireless who gives us some insight and also a list of books that she will have stocked on her shelves on Monday.

The Cybils
The Cybils finalists for the following categories have been announced. I can't wait to get my hands on some of the nonfiction picture books!

• YA Fiction
• Nonfiction Picture Books
• Graphic Novel
• MG/YA Nonfiction

The Big Read Grant
The National Endowment for the Arts is awarding grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 to community arts, cultural, literary, and civic organizations such as libraries, museums, and local arts agencies. The Big Read is an initiative designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. It brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment. The 2008 application deadline is February 12, 2008, but applicants are encouraged to submit an "Intent to Apply" by January 11, 2008. Get more information here.

The Verizon Tech Savvy Awards
The deadline is quickly approaching for the Verizon Tech Savvy Awards (JANUARY 11, 2008!). The awards honor programs that promote computer/technological literacy among children and their parents. Four $5,000 regional scholarships and one $25,000 national scholarship are up for grabs. Learn more here.

The Jewel Box Ballerinas by Monique De Varennes, Illustrated by Ana Juan

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (September 11, 2007)

In The Jewel Box Ballerinas, Bibi Branchflower is so rich that she has two of everything—two houses, two limos, and two little pugs that, in the book, look kind of cute and insane at the same time. The only thing Bibi doesn’t have is a friend. One day she happens upon a tiny little shop and finds a beautiful jewel box that contains two tiny ballerinas. Before she buys them, the shopkeeper warns her that the box is cursed and everyone who has previously bought it has ended up returning it. Bibi, who would never believe in such rubbish as curses, buys it anyway and names the ballerinas Miranda and Mathilda. But Miranda and Mathilda look extremely sad, so Bibi sets upon a mission to cheer them up. When all of the gifts and entertainment in the world won’t even produce a smile from the ballerinas, Bibi thinks a change of scenery will do the trick. It’s on this journey that something magical truly happens, changing Bibi’s life forever.

My favorite part in the book is when Bibi decides to kiss the ballerinas in an effort to cheer them:

“‘Is that a smile?’” she asked, for it seemed that their faces brightened. Then she shook her head. ‘Oh, piffle, it’s only my old eyes making a fool of me. All the same, dear dancers, I’ll kiss you often, for that felt wonderful indeed.’”

Here, we realize that Bibi is not the cantankerous old spinster others may make her out to be. She does have feelings, and she’s lonely. The ballerinas are not the only ones in need of cheering up.

Juan’s striking and detailed illustrations make Bibi’s quirkiness come to life. Each time I read the book, I find a new illustration I hadn’t noticed before, from two snow globes atop Bibi’s sled in Alaska to the hilarious expressions on Bibi’s pugs’ that will have your child (and you) laughing with glee.

This enchanting picture book reminds us that people are more important than things but in a lighthearted way that won’t make kids think they’re being taught a lesson. They’ll be too focused on Bibi’s wild hair and her pugs jumping with merriment at the end of the book to notice.

This Week's Bestselling Picture Books from the New York Times

There was quite a bit moving around on the list last week, and How to Find Flower Fairies and The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z! didn't make this week's cut. This week's rankings reflect book sales for the week ending December 29th.

Here are this week's top-selling picture books, courtesy of the New York Times. Check out their Children's Book Page for this week's bestselling chapter, paperback, and series books. (The Harry Potter Series is number #4 in its 170th week!)


1. The Night Before Christmasby Clement C. Moore.

In its 14th week on the list, it edged into the number one spot this week. The New York Times doesn't list a specific publisher or illustrator as various copies were all over bookstores over the holiday season. I picked up Ted Rand's version for my daughter because I didn't have a copy of this classic poem for her library.





2. High School Musical: All Accessby N. B. Grace

This book has been on the list for six weeks and moved up a spot this week. It is really neat and would be a great gift for a High School Musical fan in your life. It looks like a scrapbook made by someone who goes to the school with ticket stubs, pictures, notes in lockers, etc. It would be especially good for a reluctant pre-teen reader.



3. Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxyby Matthew Reinhart

Themed pop-up books seemed to be the trend in 2007. In its 11th week, this book moved down from number one to number three this week. If you have a Star Wars fan in your life (or you are one), this is a great collectible.


4. The Three Snow Bearswritten and illustrated by Jan Brett

Holding steady at number 4, Jan Brett's newest book has been on the list for 15 weeks. This is a spin on Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Al-ooki, an Inuit girl in the Artic visits the home of a polar bear family. If you haven't seen this book that was just published in September, I highly recommend it. As always, Jan Brett's illustrations are gorgeous, and I always love a retell of an old classic, especially one that features different cultures.




5. On the Night You Were Bornwritten and illustrated by Nancy Tillman

This book remains at number five in its 16th week on the list. The rhythmic language, beautiful illustrations, and touching content make this a must-have for any new or expectant parent. I also have a copy of Debra Frasier's On the Day You Were Born which complements On the Night You Were Born well.


6. Santa's Reindeer by Rod Green

This book debuts at number six this week, and is the first of two of Rod Green's books on the list. This book is full of beautiful illustrations and tons of information about reindeer. Designed with lots of cool flaps and envelopes, this interactive book is entertaining for kids of all ages.





7. Santa Claus by Rod Green

After a short hiatus, Rod Green's second book on the list makes it back. Designed like Santa's Reindeer, this interactive books with hidden flaps and envelopes reveals all you ever wanted to now about the mysterious jolly old elf and much more. It even includes the one and only "Naughty and Nice" list. Rod Green's creativity and originality would make a fine addition to any child's library.





8. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Bookwritten and illustrated by Rufus Butler Seder

In its seventh week on the list, Gallop! moves down a spot. This book is amazing! By flipping through you book you can see a horse galloping, an eagle soaring, and many other animals in movement. The content rhymes and has funny replies that will leave your child laughing.




9. Angela and the Baby Jesus (Children's Edition) by Frank McCourt

Staying in the number nine spot, this book has been on the list for 5 weeks. I've been a Frank McCourt fan since he told his raw and heart wrenching account of his childhood in Angela's Ashes, but I'm always skeptical when an author of adult books branches out in the world of children's literature. Luckily, I was not disappointed with Angela and the Baby Jesus. It's a wonderful, heartwarming story of six-year old Angela in Ireland.





10. The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up: Based on the Books by C. S. Lewis (Narnia)by C. S. Lewis. Pop-ups by Robert Sabuda

Also on the list for five weeks, this book dropped two spots this week. I'm a huge Narnia fan, so this book is right up my ally. The book features a stunning pop-up spread of each of the seven books in the series.





Last week I predicted that The Night Before Christmas would drop off the list...shows what I know. But I wonder how many of the three Christmas books will stay on next week.

Poetry Friday...Mountain Folks

This is my first Poetry Friday....yay! Thanks to Mary Lee and Franki at A Year of Reading for hosting this week's roundup.

So, last week I was in my hometown of Tazewell, VA, a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Even though I'm a "big city girl" now in DC, I miss the beauty and the quiet life of the region where I'm from. I'm an avid reader of Appalachian literature, and one of my favorite authors, Jo Carson, has a well loved book of poetry, called, Stories I Ain't Told Nobody Yet. Whenever I miss my home or family, I open this book up and read a piece or two from this collection of "oral histories." Some make me laugh, some make me cry, and some just fill me with warmth and nostalgia.

One of my favorites from the collection is about negative stereotypes of mountain folks, and it's the one I'd like to share today in honor of my fellow mountain peeps:

Mountain people
can’t read,
can’t write,
don’t wear shoes,
don’t have teeth,
don’t use soap, and don’t talk plain.
They beat their kids,
beat their friends,
beat their neighbors,
and beat their dogs.
They live on cow peas,
fatback, and twenty acres
straight up and down.
They don’t have money.
They do have fleas,
overalls,
tobacco patches,
shacks,
shotguns,
foodstamps,
liquor stills,
and at least six junk cars in the front yard,
Right?
Well, let me tell you:
I am from here,
I’m not like that
and I am damned tired of being told I am.
~ Jo Carson



When I was teaching English to high school juniors, I used this poem as an introduction to a lesson about stereotypes, and it led to some amazing discussions. Graycie over at "Today's Homework," has a great post about using this poem in her remedial English class and having students model it to write a poem called "Teenagers Can."


Also be sure to check out the rest of the Poetry Friday submissions at A Year of Reading!

Refocusing for 2008

So, here’s the dealio…I started this blog a couple of months ago and have been quite obsessed with it since (in a good way). At first I did random reviews of books that I particularly liked then realized I needed some structure and started reviewing one book each week with a different focus each day. That has seemed to work for me up until NOW, and over the past couple of weeks, I have to admit that by Thursday, I’ve become quite bored with my blog and have been struggling with things to say about a 42 page picture book. And if I’M bored, I can only imagine what you poor poor readers are feeling (if I even have any left by the end of the week besides my mom who has become my number one fan and supporter…Hi Mom! ).

I still need a structure for this blog…must have structure. I’ve also made a commitment to myself to post at least every weekday, but to do that, I have to be having fun, right? Here are my conclusions after days and days and days and days of serious brain churning (you should see the smoke coming out of my ears):

1. I get the most joy out of Mondays and Tuesdays, when I review the book and then give reading tips and ideas for learning activities. That’s really the foundation of my blog—helping kids read and make real-world connections through books and giving anyone who cares about reading with the kids in their lives tips for making this happen—so that part has got to stay.

2.By covering just one book a week, I’m only giving 52 books suggestions in a year…that’s not cool. Plus, I have a pile of books in my living room desperately waiting to be read and reviewed. So, I have to do more than one book a week…I just HAVE to.

3. I want to give recommendations for a variety of books because kids have so many different tastes and you never know what book will make that first but oh so crucial impact. It’s important for me not to pigeonhole myself into only reviewing one certain type of book for one certain age group. It’s also important for me not to get overwhelmed with too many books to review, so I have to somehow narrow my focus. (I work full time and have a family, so while I could easily spend 24/7 reading and blogging, I just can’t. My baby’s gotta eat!)

For anyone who is still with me here, you have just caught a small glimpse of what goes on in my head everyday (pretty scary, huh?)

Here’s how I’ve decided to refocus and restructure my blog: (fanfare and drum roll)

1.I will now review at least three, yes you heard right, THREE books a week.

Here’s the breakdown: On Monday, I will feature a fiction book, and on Tuesday, I will give reading tips and ideas for learning activities for that book. On Wednesday, I will feature a non-fiction book and give reading tips and ideas for learning activities for that book on Thursday. Finally, on Friday, I will review a book of my choice. I could be a board book I'm reading to my daughter, a young adult novel, a nonfiction book, or anything else I feel like reviewing.

That will bring my total from 52 books a year to 156, but I really like numbers with zeros in them, so I will challenge myself to read and review 200 books.

2.At least two books I feature a month will be middle grade or young adult books, either fiction or nonfiction. I initially wanted to do at least one a week, but I also want to set realistic goals that won’t overwhelm me. (Remember, my baby’s gotta eat!).

3. I will limit the types of book I review to the following categories: multicultural, educational, environmental, or social awareness. I will NOT feature books that are preachy though…they have to subtly convey the message through strong characters and a strong storyline.
Disclaimer: If I find a book that doesn’t fit into these categories but that I absolutely love, I will review it. You’ll probably find these books in the “What Isabella’s Reading” feature.

4.I will read and review at least 10 educational books for adults this year that focus on helping teachers and caregivers promote literacy.

Ta-dah…I am refocused and oh so relieved. With this new structure, I’ll be able to review more books and hopefully reach more people. Plus, there’s NO WAY I can get bored. If I do, I can always change it again, because it’s my blog…so there!

What do you think? (Dish it out…I write for a living and live for feedback. Plus, I’m made of tough stuff. I CAN handle the truth! )

Verizon Tech Savvy Awards: Call for Nominations

Librarians, teachers, and 501(c)(3)s....The National Center for Family Literacy just issued a call for nominations for the 2008 Verizon Tech Savvy Awards, an award that honors programs that improve parents and children's understanding and use of technology. Four $5,000 regional awards, and one $25,000 national award are up for grabs.

Find more information and the nomination form here.

The deadline is January 11, so hurry! Be sure to spread the word to others who might be interested, and good luck!

Hattie Big Sky Out in Paperback

Author: Kirby Larson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 283

Kirby Larson’s Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky was released in paperback last week. I received a copy from the publisher right before I left to visit family over the holidays, and I was just able to pick up over the weekend to read it. I know, I know…I must be the last person in the world to read this book, but I’ve just started reacquainting myself with the world of young adult literature, and my TBR list is huge. However, if every book on it is as good as Hattie Big Sky, I’m going to have a lot of fun tackling it. But I have to be careful not to have too much fun…I literally couldn’t put Hattie Big Sky down and was up until 3:00 in the morning finishing it.

If you haven’t read it, here are some snippets from the publisher’s summary:

For most of her life, sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks has been shuttled from one distant relative to another. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she summons the courage to leave Iowa and move all by herself to Vida, Montana, to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim.
Under the big sky, Hattie braves hard weather, hard times, a cantankerous cow, and her own hopeless hand at the cookstove. Despite daily trials, Hattie continues to work her uncle’s claim until an unforeseen tragedy causes her to search her soul for the real meaning of home. This young pioneer’s story celebrates the true spirit of independence.

And if you want to hear what some other great kid lit bloggers have to say, check out their reviews:
Jen Robinson’s Book Page
A Fuse #8 Production
Big A little a


Also, Hattie Big Sky is the focus book in this month’s issue of Readergirlz and will be discussed all month long on the Readergirlz MySpace Group. You should definitely check it out!

Spotlight on Lisa Humphrey and David Danioth

Lisa Humphrey is a literacy coach in Los Angeles and an advocate for peace and women's rights. She decided to write A Mother's Promise when a close friend wondered whether the world was too frightening to bring a child into it. I know I had the same question when I was pregnant and was able to find some comfort by reading A Mother's Promise and being reminded that there are many beautiful things in the world (along with all of the scary stuff). A Mother's Promise is Humphrey's only children's book.

A faculty member at the Art Insitute of Seattle, David Danioth illustrates not only picture books but also for media such as video production and the gaming industry. His first book, The Tree,written by Dana Lyons, received the "Earth Hero Award", "Skipping Stones Honor Award", and Foreword Magazine's "Book of the Year".


Sources: http://www.daviddanioth.com/
http://www.illumin.com/books/mp.html

The Cybils Finalists!

The finalists in four of The Cybils categories have been announced! Here they are. Visit the Cybils for a brief description of each one and links to panelist reviews.

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY FINALISTS

Teen/Young Adult:
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale (Bloomsbury USA Children's Books)
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (Hodder Children's Books (UK))
Northlander (Tales of the Borderlands)by Meg Burden (Brown Barn Books)
Repossessed by A. M. Jenkins (HarperCollins)
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum)


Elementary/Middle Grade:
The Chaos King by Laura Ruby (HarperCollins/Eos)
Into the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst (Penguin/Razorbill)
The Land of the Silver Apples by Nancy Farmer (Simon & Schuster/Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (HarperCollins)
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex (Disney/Hyperion)


PICTURE BOOK FINALISTS
Pssst! by Adam Rex (Harcourt Children's Books)
Go to Bed, Monster! by Natasha Wing (Harcourt Children's Books)
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County By Janice N. Harrington (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Leaves by David Ezra Stein (Putnam Juvenile)
Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn William & Khadra Mohammad (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers)
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems (Hyperion)
The Incredible Book-Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel)


POETRY FINALISTS
Animal Poems by Valerie Worth (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux)
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz (Candlewick Press)
Here's a Little Poem: A Very First Book of Poetry edited by Jane Yolen
(Candlewick Press)
Poems in Black and White written and illustrated by Kate Miller (Front Street/Boyds Mills Press)
This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman (Houghton Mifflin)
Twist: Yoga Poems by Janet S. Wong (Margaret K. McElderry Books)
Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath by Stephanie Hemphill
(Random House Children's Books)

MIDDLE GRADE FINALISTS
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban (Harcourt)
Cracker: The Best Dog In Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum)
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis (Dial)
Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Dial)
Leepike Ridge by Nathan D. Wilson (Random House)
Louisiana's Song by Kerry Madden (Viking)
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller (Atheneum)
Wild Girls by Pat Murphy (Viking)

Wow! What a great list. I haven't read many of these, but Four Feet, Two Sandalssounds right up my ally.

Thanks to all of the panelists for their hard work. They had so many books to review, and I'm sure it wasn't easy narrowing it down.

The rest of the finalists will be announced by January 7th, and winners will be announced on February 14th!

Do you have any favorites?

A Mother's Promise, Learning Activities

Each time I read A Mother's Promise, I think of another learning activity or reading tip to help children enhance their reading skills and make connections to the world around them through reading. Here's what I've come up with so far...

DISCUSSION OPPORTUNITIES

Promises: What is a promise? What does it mean to promise something to someone? What kind of promises have you made? Have you ever broken a promise? How do the think the other person felt? Has someone ever broken a promise to you? How did it make you feel? What do you think the mother in the story is promising to her child? How do you think she will keep her promises?

Your Child's Birth Story: Tell your child about your pregnancy with him/her and about his/her birth. What promises did you make to him/her before and after he/she was born? How did you feel when your child was born? What were the first few days/months/years like?

LANGUAGE ARTS
Personification: In the book, Humphrey personifies the desert, the ocean, and all of the other places she mentions. Go through the book and have your child guess what the desert's warm breath and the ocean's beating heart are. (You don't have to even use the word personification and turn it into a lesson).

GEOGRAPHY
This book could be an excellent jumping off point for discussing different places in the world. Identify different oceans, mountains, deserts, forests in the world. Discuss the characteristics of each one, the different animals you find in each place. You could even do a compare/contrast activity.

Another idea is to discuss different places you've been either with your child or places you traveled before your child was born. Where did you go? What did you do? What were some of the most memorable moments? Use this as an opportunity to create an oral history with your child.

In the book, the mother also promises the world's most sacred places to her child. Based on the illustration of a magnificent waterfall, we can imply that Humphrey is talking about the earth's sacred places that we should honor and preserve. Talk about some of the world's sacred places. Have you visited a place that you would consider sacred? One that immediately comes to my mind is the Iguacu Falls in Parana, Brazil. I was fortunate enough to visit these cascades in 1999, and I have never experienced anything quite like it in my life. I remember feeling awestruck and very small and powerless as I listened to powerful roar of the falls while standing over the “Garganta del Diablo” (The Devil's Throat), the spray hitting my face. I also remember feeling an extreme sense of peace as I was surrounded by such beauty.

ASTRONOMY
The mother promises her child the stars in the book. Discuss the stars and constellations with your child. If you're like me and need to brush up on your astronomy, I found this site for kids that teaches the basics. I'm sure there are many others out there.

CONSERVATION
Through the book, we learn to appreciate the wonders of nature and the beauty of earth. A Mother's Promise can help you teach the importance of conservation, of preserving and protecting the earth. The EPA has a nice site with all kinds of information and games about protecting the environment. Kids in grades K-4 can also join the EPA Environmental Kids Club for free and get a certificate in the mail and access to special projects on the site. And then I found this list of websites that teach kids how to "be green."


That's all I can think of right now, but as you can see, this short book provides a number of opportunities for you to build bonds and connections with your child, and it opens the door to learning about a ton of different things in the world.