Bibliography:
Kerley, Barbara. (2008). What to do About Alice? Ill. by Edwin Fotheringham. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439922319.
Summary:
What to do About Alice? is a picture book biography about Alice Roosevelt. The book byline reads, "How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy!" Alice is a dreamer and seems to always be getting into some sort of mischief. Once her father was in office, Alice was a hot topic for the press. The book ends with the pending question: "What to do about Alice?" along with an author's note about Alice Roosevelt's life.
Critical Analysis:
From taking the first look at this book's cover, one wants to read the book. The illustrations on the cover and the title beckon you to open up and learn more about the life of Alice Roosevelt. The back cover of the book has a quote from Teddy Roosevelt saying, "I can be president of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both." This sets the tone for this picture book biography.
The illustrations throughout the book are detailed. From the way the illustrator depicts motion to the detailed initials on Alice's handkerchiefs, as the reader I felt very connected to the text. The actual printed text of the book is interesting. Some words are in bold type, some words are capitalized, and others are in different fonts or italicized. It was interesting to see what words the author wanted the reader to pay extra attention to. For example, when Teddy Roosevelt says Alice is, "RUNNING RIOT" and Alice says she is, "eating up the world." These two phrases are in two different fonts, larger than the other text to really stand out.
The book was accurate to what I have researched. A "special thanks" is given to Carol Felsenthal at the end of the book for her fact-checking. In the back of the book there are also references and more information about Alice Roosevelt's life.
Awards:
Sibert Honor Book
Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book
Irma Black Award Honor Book
Parents Choice Award
Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
California Collections
Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Review Best Book of the Year
ALA Notable Book
Capitol Choices
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Nominated for Young Reader Awards in TX, IL, TN
"Kerley's text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject's antics .... Fascinating." -School Library Journal
"It's hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves Alice Roosevelt." -Publishers Weekly
Connections:
*History Connection: Read the book aloud during the study of Teddy Roosevelt or women throughout history.
*Note: This book is perfect for a read aloud with the great artwork and text.
*Geography Connection: Use the book to study the different places in the book, historical and countries.
*Author Study: Barbara Kerley: Other books by Kearley include award-winning The Extraordinary Mark Twain. See http://barbarakerley.com/MyBooks.html for a complete list and teacher guides.
*Language Arts: Have children write their own biography so far in their lives and make up future plans and write about them.
Source:
Children's Book Author Barbara Kerley. "What to do About Alice?" Retrieved on March 28, 2012 from http://barbarakerley.com/Alice.html.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Book Review: Never Smile at a Monkey by Steve Jenkins
Bibliography:
Jenkins, Steve. (2009). Never Smile at a Monkey* and 17 Other Important Things to Remember. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. ISBN 9780618966202.
Summary:
This book takes a look at seemingly innocent acts that become dangerous when certain actions are done in their presence. Never Smile at a Monkey highlights acts to avoid when face-to-face with 18 different animals.
Critical Analysis:
When first looking at the outside of the outside of the book, I found myself very shocked by the ferocious image of the rhesus monkey on the back cover. Inside the book you find 18 animals throughout the pages each with a command. "Never clutch a cane toad" or "Never touch a tang" are examples of the commands given throughout the book. Each animal also has an explanation of the command. This information text is a perfect book for 1st - 3rd grade. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. Again, I was surprised by the photo on the back cover of the book! Regarding accuracy, the text is correct to my knowledge. There were no sources cited.
The author uses alliteration on almost every page. For example, "Never harass an hippopotamus." or "Never cuddle a cub." The illustrations are realistic and detailed. The only picture that really startled me was the illustration on the back cover. In the back of the book you will find bonus information on each of the 18 animals talked about in the book. Readers can learn more about a particular animal they are interested in or use the book in a mini-research project. The book is comical in some sense, but practical at the same time.
Awards & Reviews:
Society of Illustrators Original Art Show
Junior Library Guild Fall 2009 Selection
NDLA Flicker Tale Children's Book Award 2011
The Original Art Show 2010
2010-2011 Horned Toad Tales List
"Steve Jenkins taps into the faux pas of the natural world giving us his standard cut paper lusciousness alongside a text that is funny, furious, and furry all at once." -Review of the Day at School Library Journal by Elizabeth Bird
"Eighteen alliterative rules showcase the dangerous defense mechanisms of animals found in the wild. ....... Another stunning environmental lesson from an aficionado of animal behavior." -Kirkus
Connections:
*Language Arts: Study alliteration using the text. Find different examples of literary devices in the book.
*Art: Use different mediums to illustrate one page/animal/action from the book.
*Science: Use this as a reference when studying sea life (fish, shells and stingrays are all in the book)
*Author Study: Other books by Steve Jenkins - Actual Size, Bones, How to Clean a Hippopotamus. For full list see http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/books.html.
*Use the book to introduce animals before going on a field trip to the zoo OR create an in-class "field trip" through the zoo discussing each of these animals and the dangers they may present.
Sources:
School Library Journal. "Review of the Day: Never Smile at a Monkey by Steve Jenkins." Posted by Elizabeth Bird on September 21, 2009. http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2009/09/21/review-of-the-day-never-smile-at-a-monkey-by-steve-jenkins/
Steve Jenkins Books. "Books." Accessed on March 29, 2012. http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/books.html
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Book Review: What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
Bibliography:
Sones, Sonya. (2001). What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140.
Summary:
The book is written from the perspective of Sophie, a young girl in high school. The novel in verse follows Sophie as she dates different boys and finds happiness in an unexpected mate. The author walks you through some trials and errors Sophie encounters, including a cyber-romance and an exciting new relationship turned sour. Her two friends and their lives are discussed in this diary-type novel, along with Sohpie's relationship with her mother. In the end, Sohpie falls for her "masked man" - an unlikely partner - where she finds happiness (for now at least).
Critical Analysis:
This book was a very interesting read. As my first experience with novel in verse, I was very surprised with how well the book's plot flowed. The book is written from Sophie's perspective, and would be very easy for high school girls to relate to. One thing to note is the lack of a male's point of view in this story. High school males may not find this book interesting.
The book has a nice plot and teaches about growing and accepting yourself and others. I can remember struggling to accept myself as an adolescent, and I see other young girls going through the same thing. Sophie's character does a wonderful job of demonstrating growth and acceptance in What My Mother Doesn't Know. She learns to overcome her own insecurities and the end of the novel hints that she will be very happy in her new state of mind.
The book is very controversial and has been challenged in many ways. I can understand why this is so, as some of the subject matter in the novel is questionable. However, I feel strongly that it is important for young girls to understand and be knowledgeable about dealing with the opposite (or same) sex in terms of relationships and friendships. This versed novel does a fine job of bringing to light issues that today's teens deal with in everyday life. Perhaps this is a great novel for parents of teen girls to read as well!
Awards:
ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2002
ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2002
Top Ten Editor's Choice by Teenreads.com 2001
ALA Top 100 Most Banned Books of the Decade 2000-2010
ALA Top Ten Most Challenged Books 2004 & 2005
See all awards at www.sonyasones.com/books/whatmymother/honors.html
Review excerpt from TeenReads: "Sones's lovely poems are so good that I'd say she must be a poet first and a storyteller second -- except that her story is also that good!" (Note: For the controversy that goes along with this book, I was surprised that I was unable to locate a hearty review on School Library Journal or Booklist.)
Connections:
Use the book to talk to young women about relationships
Literature Connection: Use the book to open up conversation about perspective and point of view
Speak to students about cyber safety after reading
Use specific poems to study organization and layout of poems (Deleted, Bit by Bit, I Check My E-Mail)
Use the novel in a mother-daughter book club or teen book club
Use in a unit study about writing your own poetry about everyday life
Talk about challenged and/or banned books
Other books by Sonya Sones: Stop Pretending, Sixteen, Love & Sex, Nexessary Noise
Sources:
Sonya Sones. "My Books for Teens." Accessed March 1, 2012. http://www.sonyasones.com/books/books.html.
TeenReads.com. "Review: What My Mother Doesn't Know." Last modified October 1, 2001. http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/what-my-mother-doesnt-know.
Sones, Sonya. (2001). What My Mother Doesn't Know. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140.
Summary:
The book is written from the perspective of Sophie, a young girl in high school. The novel in verse follows Sophie as she dates different boys and finds happiness in an unexpected mate. The author walks you through some trials and errors Sophie encounters, including a cyber-romance and an exciting new relationship turned sour. Her two friends and their lives are discussed in this diary-type novel, along with Sohpie's relationship with her mother. In the end, Sohpie falls for her "masked man" - an unlikely partner - where she finds happiness (for now at least).
Critical Analysis:
This book was a very interesting read. As my first experience with novel in verse, I was very surprised with how well the book's plot flowed. The book is written from Sophie's perspective, and would be very easy for high school girls to relate to. One thing to note is the lack of a male's point of view in this story. High school males may not find this book interesting.
The book has a nice plot and teaches about growing and accepting yourself and others. I can remember struggling to accept myself as an adolescent, and I see other young girls going through the same thing. Sophie's character does a wonderful job of demonstrating growth and acceptance in What My Mother Doesn't Know. She learns to overcome her own insecurities and the end of the novel hints that she will be very happy in her new state of mind.
The book is very controversial and has been challenged in many ways. I can understand why this is so, as some of the subject matter in the novel is questionable. However, I feel strongly that it is important for young girls to understand and be knowledgeable about dealing with the opposite (or same) sex in terms of relationships and friendships. This versed novel does a fine job of bringing to light issues that today's teens deal with in everyday life. Perhaps this is a great novel for parents of teen girls to read as well!
Awards:
ALA Best Book for Young Adults 2002
ALA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2002
Top Ten Editor's Choice by Teenreads.com 2001
ALA Top 100 Most Banned Books of the Decade 2000-2010
ALA Top Ten Most Challenged Books 2004 & 2005
See all awards at www.sonyasones.com/books/whatmymother/honors.html
Review excerpt from TeenReads: "Sones's lovely poems are so good that I'd say she must be a poet first and a storyteller second -- except that her story is also that good!" (Note: For the controversy that goes along with this book, I was surprised that I was unable to locate a hearty review on School Library Journal or Booklist.)
Connections:
Use the book to talk to young women about relationships
Literature Connection: Use the book to open up conversation about perspective and point of view
Speak to students about cyber safety after reading
Use specific poems to study organization and layout of poems (Deleted, Bit by Bit, I Check My E-Mail)
Use the novel in a mother-daughter book club or teen book club
Use in a unit study about writing your own poetry about everyday life
Talk about challenged and/or banned books
Other books by Sonya Sones: Stop Pretending, Sixteen, Love & Sex, Nexessary Noise
Sources:
Sonya Sones. "My Books for Teens." Accessed March 1, 2012. http://www.sonyasones.com/books/books.html.
TeenReads.com. "Review: What My Mother Doesn't Know." Last modified October 1, 2001. http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/what-my-mother-doesnt-know.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Book Review: You Hear Me? Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys edited by Betsy Franco
Bibliography:
Franco, Betsy, editor. (2000). You Hear Me? Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Summary:
This compilation of poems is written by teenage boys. The book consists of 73 poems and/or writings by teenage boys. Each poem or writing has a unique feel and pattern. The authors are listed with their age at the end of each contribution. Some authors have multiple writings in the book. Franco begins the book with background on how this anthology came about. Most writings are titled, but a few are untitled.
Critical Analysis:
This poetry book is filled with emotion. The poets are open, sharing their innermost thoughts with the world. The book is full of courage, sadness, heartfelt confessions, inspirations and honest anger. Each poem is one of a kind, like no others in the book. Franco prefaces the book with how this anthology came about. Before reading the poems, it was great to read the background.
With one poem, the fate of a poet is told after the text (Me, pgs. 37-38). The heartbreaking confession of this young poet's death made me stop and think about the lives these boys are living now, twelve years after publication. This really brings the fact that the poems are real stories, real feelings, real people, to light. Keeping the words, abbreviations and capitalization as the poet wrote them was also an important aspect of each poem. I believe the open and honest poems by teen boys helps make poetry attainable by other boys. Poetry is an outlet for expression, and this anthology truly shows how teenagers can use it.
With minimal experience with young adult poetry, You Hear Me? was not the fun, bouncy poetry I am used to hearing/reading. It was almost dark with emotion. I shared several poems with my own teenage brother who enjoyed them. I feel that this anthology would be a definite "must" in any high school classroom hoping to promote poetry to young boys. My only warning for the book is that it contains some very mature content and language.
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2001
ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults 2001
Booklist Top Ten Poetry Books For Young Adults
School Library Journal excerpt: "...honest, raw and sometimes tender selections..." (As quoted on betsyfranco.com)
Connections:
-Use the book to open a unit of poetry (to show students that poetry is not scary!)
-Open up conversation about how powerful poetry can be
-Use the book in a boy's book club
-Compare and contrast writing styles of different age groups
-Use poems like Carabao Dreams, My Pockets Ain't That Phat, Black Boy Blues, to talk about poem layout and orientation
-Use specific poems to open up conversation about issues like homosexuality, bullying, death, drug abuse, teen parenting, etc. (I Am, Being Beat Up, Me, Does My Mother Look Like This?, I Refuse)
-Also by Betsy Franco -- Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writings by Teenage Girls, 21 Monologues for Teen Actors.
Sources:
Betsy Franco, Children's Book Author/Actor. "You Hear Me? poems and writings by teenage boys Things I Have to Tell You, poems and writing by teenage girls." Accessed on March 2, 2012. http://www.betsyfranco.com/you_hear_me____poems_and_writing_by_teenage_boys______things_i_have_to_tell_you__27178.htm.
Franco, Betsy, editor. (2000). You Hear Me? Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Summary:
This compilation of poems is written by teenage boys. The book consists of 73 poems and/or writings by teenage boys. Each poem or writing has a unique feel and pattern. The authors are listed with their age at the end of each contribution. Some authors have multiple writings in the book. Franco begins the book with background on how this anthology came about. Most writings are titled, but a few are untitled.
Critical Analysis:
This poetry book is filled with emotion. The poets are open, sharing their innermost thoughts with the world. The book is full of courage, sadness, heartfelt confessions, inspirations and honest anger. Each poem is one of a kind, like no others in the book. Franco prefaces the book with how this anthology came about. Before reading the poems, it was great to read the background.
With one poem, the fate of a poet is told after the text (Me, pgs. 37-38). The heartbreaking confession of this young poet's death made me stop and think about the lives these boys are living now, twelve years after publication. This really brings the fact that the poems are real stories, real feelings, real people, to light. Keeping the words, abbreviations and capitalization as the poet wrote them was also an important aspect of each poem. I believe the open and honest poems by teen boys helps make poetry attainable by other boys. Poetry is an outlet for expression, and this anthology truly shows how teenagers can use it.
With minimal experience with young adult poetry, You Hear Me? was not the fun, bouncy poetry I am used to hearing/reading. It was almost dark with emotion. I shared several poems with my own teenage brother who enjoyed them. I feel that this anthology would be a definite "must" in any high school classroom hoping to promote poetry to young boys. My only warning for the book is that it contains some very mature content and language.
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2001
ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults 2001
Booklist Top Ten Poetry Books For Young Adults
School Library Journal excerpt: "...honest, raw and sometimes tender selections..." (As quoted on betsyfranco.com)
Connections:
-Use the book to open a unit of poetry (to show students that poetry is not scary!)
-Open up conversation about how powerful poetry can be
-Use the book in a boy's book club
-Compare and contrast writing styles of different age groups
-Use poems like Carabao Dreams, My Pockets Ain't That Phat, Black Boy Blues, to talk about poem layout and orientation
-Use specific poems to open up conversation about issues like homosexuality, bullying, death, drug abuse, teen parenting, etc. (I Am, Being Beat Up, Me, Does My Mother Look Like This?, I Refuse)
-Also by Betsy Franco -- Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and Writings by Teenage Girls, 21 Monologues for Teen Actors.
Sources:
Betsy Franco, Children's Book Author/Actor. "You Hear Me? poems and writings by teenage boys Things I Have to Tell You, poems and writing by teenage girls." Accessed on March 2, 2012. http://www.betsyfranco.com/you_hear_me____poems_and_writing_by_teenage_boys______things_i_have_to_tell_you__27178.htm.
Book Review: Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle
Bibliography:
Schertle, Alice. (2009). Button Up! Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, NY: Harcourt Children's Books. ISBN 9780152050504.
Summary:
Button Up! is a children's poetry book. The collection is poems by Alice Schertle. The poems are about different articles of clothing. Poems are written from the point of view of the article of clothing. Overall, Button Up! is very fun book of poems for children with many opportunities to connect to other subjects besides poetry!
Critical Analysis:
The poems in Button Up! rhyme and have nice rhythm. The rhyming in most of the poems does not feel forced in any way and flows naturally. Some words are repeated (See Emily's Undies for an example of repetitive words - seen). The rhythm of each poem seemed to flow naturally when read aloud. A few times while I read the poems allowed I added in a word without much thought, then went back to reread and find out why I said the word. In many cases, I was just in a "groove" of rhythm, but the poem was written differently. One poem that stuck out as different from the others was Clyde's Costume. The rhythm of this poem wasn't intuitive like many of the other poems.
All poems portray a natural, bouncy emotion. The poems are fun and sometimes a little silly. For example, Rick's Wool Sweater was a funny poem talking about the itchy sweater that Rick wore. The sweater talks about how sometimes it is nice to prickle poor Rick. This silly, bouncy fun is sure to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Most of the poems display a traditional format. A few poems show an interesting orientation, with stanzas in different places (all in an intuitive flow). Others show bold words. See Wanda's Swimsuit or Violet's Hiking Hat for examples of each.
The illustrations are lovely watercolor. Each illustration does a fine job of bringing each poem to life. One specific poem where I felt the illustrations were imperative to the poem was Joshua's Jammies. The poem describes how Joshua's jammies are only good for Joshua, not for any of his animal friends. The illustration shows alligator (or crocodile, perhaps?) Joshua being carried to bed by his mother with all of his friends in the floor. The friends mentioned in the poem (penguins, whales, tigers, etc.) are Joshua's stuffed animal toys. In many cases, Mathers' illustrations really bring the poems to life.
Awards:
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award 2010
Review excerpt from School Library Journal: "Alice Schertle's Button Up: Wrinkled Rhymes is "light fare" but exquisitely so. Schertle writes true and perfect "verse"-it rhymes, it has internally logical rhythm, it is funny, good to read aloud, and memorable."
Connections:
Also by Alice Schertle -- Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes, Little Blue Truck, Very Hairy Bear.
Science Connection -- Introduce a weather unit with several poems
Physical Education Connection -- Introduce a unit on safety (Bob's Bicycle Helmet) or other units on sports (Wanda's Swimsuit, Jack's Soccer Jersey)
Language Arts connection -- Literary elements: onomatopoeia
Writing connection -- Use to enhance word-to-visual images and ideas
Music Connection: Use to teach about rhyme and rhythm
Use for vocabulary and fluency
Use the poems to teach about syllables in words
Use the book to introduce clothing articles to young children
Sources:
Goodreads. "Books by Alice Schertle." Goodreads. Accessed February 26, 2012. http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/191218.Alice_Schertle.
School Library Journal. "Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog." Posted by Nina Lindsey on October 22, 2009. http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/heavymedal/2009/10/22/poetry-2/.
Schertle, Alice. (2009). Button Up! Ill. by Petra Mathers. New York, NY: Harcourt Children's Books. ISBN 9780152050504.
Summary:
Button Up! is a children's poetry book. The collection is poems by Alice Schertle. The poems are about different articles of clothing. Poems are written from the point of view of the article of clothing. Overall, Button Up! is very fun book of poems for children with many opportunities to connect to other subjects besides poetry!
Critical Analysis:
The poems in Button Up! rhyme and have nice rhythm. The rhyming in most of the poems does not feel forced in any way and flows naturally. Some words are repeated (See Emily's Undies for an example of repetitive words - seen). The rhythm of each poem seemed to flow naturally when read aloud. A few times while I read the poems allowed I added in a word without much thought, then went back to reread and find out why I said the word. In many cases, I was just in a "groove" of rhythm, but the poem was written differently. One poem that stuck out as different from the others was Clyde's Costume. The rhythm of this poem wasn't intuitive like many of the other poems.
All poems portray a natural, bouncy emotion. The poems are fun and sometimes a little silly. For example, Rick's Wool Sweater was a funny poem talking about the itchy sweater that Rick wore. The sweater talks about how sometimes it is nice to prickle poor Rick. This silly, bouncy fun is sure to be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Most of the poems display a traditional format. A few poems show an interesting orientation, with stanzas in different places (all in an intuitive flow). Others show bold words. See Wanda's Swimsuit or Violet's Hiking Hat for examples of each.
The illustrations are lovely watercolor. Each illustration does a fine job of bringing each poem to life. One specific poem where I felt the illustrations were imperative to the poem was Joshua's Jammies. The poem describes how Joshua's jammies are only good for Joshua, not for any of his animal friends. The illustration shows alligator (or crocodile, perhaps?) Joshua being carried to bed by his mother with all of his friends in the floor. The friends mentioned in the poem (penguins, whales, tigers, etc.) are Joshua's stuffed animal toys. In many cases, Mathers' illustrations really bring the poems to life.
Awards:
Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award 2010
Review excerpt from School Library Journal: "Alice Schertle's Button Up: Wrinkled Rhymes is "light fare" but exquisitely so. Schertle writes true and perfect "verse"-it rhymes, it has internally logical rhythm, it is funny, good to read aloud, and memorable."
Connections:
Also by Alice Schertle -- Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes, Little Blue Truck, Very Hairy Bear.
Science Connection -- Introduce a weather unit with several poems
Physical Education Connection -- Introduce a unit on safety (Bob's Bicycle Helmet) or other units on sports (Wanda's Swimsuit, Jack's Soccer Jersey)
Language Arts connection -- Literary elements: onomatopoeia
Writing connection -- Use to enhance word-to-visual images and ideas
Music Connection: Use to teach about rhyme and rhythm
Use for vocabulary and fluency
Use the poems to teach about syllables in words
Use the book to introduce clothing articles to young children
Sources:
Goodreads. "Books by Alice Schertle." Goodreads. Accessed February 26, 2012. http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/191218.Alice_Schertle.
School Library Journal. "Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog." Posted by Nina Lindsey on October 22, 2009. http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/heavymedal/2009/10/22/poetry-2/.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)