Welcome Calvert!

Hi Calvert Teachers--

Keep watching for new posts about books we have in the library. I'll post about interesting books I've read.

While shelving this week, I found some wonderful poetry books. Mr. Abudo related that he used poetry to promote fluency. Poetry is also a great way for students to practice rhyming. Have some fun with word play. Stop by and pick up a poetry book!

Module 10--Free Choice Book

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale is another graphic novel that caught my attention. Rapunzul is not your traditional damsel in distress. She lives in the American Wild West and does not require any rescuing. She comes across Jack, yes from the beanstalk, to join her in her quest. This is not your mother’s fairy tale! The beautiful artwork helps to tell a story that will become a sure fire favorite!

I am beginning to enjoy graphic novels, as long as they are written and illustrated as well as this! I enjoyed this book because of the empowerment of Rapunzel and the inferences to traditional fairy tales.

Review: The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after.–Cara von Wrangel Kinsey, New York Public Library --Cara von Wrangel Kinsey (Reviewed September 1, 2008) (School Library Journal, vol 54, issue 9, p214)

What a great book to compare and contrast with the original Rapunzel tale. The illustrations can also be studied and appreciated. This is a book that would attract both boys and girls. Students could use this story as an inspiration to write or draw their own versions of characters from other fables and fairy tales.

Module 9---Poetry and Story Collections

A Kick in the Head by Paul Janeczko explores the world of poetry. The book provides a collection of different types of poems, from shape poems to haiku.

What a delight to read! I enjoyed every page and laughed out loud.

This book is a wonderful teaching tool for younger and older students. Younger students can simply enjoy the poetry and play with different types of oral language. The older students can also enjoy the poetry orally, but extend their learning by trying their hands at writing different types of poetry. This book would be a good model for teachers to use while writing with this form.

Review: Readers will have the good fortune to experience poetry as art, game, joke, list, song, story, statement, question, memory. A primer like no other.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library --Wendy Lukehart (Reviewed March 1, 2005) (School Library Journal, vol 51, issue 3, p230)

The poems in this book are great for a lower grade storytime, but also for writing with the older grades. This book explores the types of poetry and the forms of each. Students can use their language skills to develop poetry on their own, modeled after this book. Students could also use math skills by voting on their favorite type of poem or favorite poem.

Module 8--Graphic Novels and Censorship Issues

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel with three tales that are interwoven. The first tale is a of the Monkey King which comes from a familiar Chinese fable. The second tale is of Jin, a Taiwanese born émigré. The third tale is of Danny and unexpected origin. All three are uncomfortable with who they are. The mixings of their stories provide a good life lesson.

I am not one to read graphic novels, but after getting over the influx of visual information, I began to appreciate the genre more. This cultural story provides a look at stereotypes that can open up a discussion between students. The illustrations and colors of the book make the story come alive.

Review: As alienated kids go, Jin Wang is fairly run-of-the-mill: he eats lunch by himself in a corner of the schoolyard, gets picked on by bullies and jocks and develops a sweat-inducing crush on a pretty classmate. And, oh, yes, his parents are from Taiwan. This much-anticipated, affecting story about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood; it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggle to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive. Even when Yang slips in an occasional Chinese ideogram or myth, the sentiments he's depicting need no translation. Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others. (Sept.) --Staff (Reviewed June 12, 2006) (Publishers Weekly, vol 253, issue 24, p36)

American Born Chinese can be used in a variety of ways. Research on Chinese cultural and immigration to the United States, Chinese fables, and even anime’ could be done in the library and enhanced by this book. Character education could also be taught with this book. Getting comfortable with who you are is one typical topic for teens. Because of some of the language and stereotypical themes, I would use this book with middle school and higher.

Module 7--Mysteries and Series

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd is set in London, England in the present day. Ted, who has a special kind of brain, and his sister Kat are expecting a visit from their cousin Salim. The three are waiting in line to board the London Eye, the large ferris wheel in the city. Salim is offered a free ticket and a jump to the front of the long line. He takes the ticket and boards which is an action Salim, Ted and Kat come to regret because Salim does not get off the Eye. Ted is left wondering what happened to Salim and eventually is able to solve the mystery, quicker than the police. But, is it too late for Salim?

The action in this story moved a little slow for my taste, but it was a good just the same. Ted and his literal translation of words made for quite humorous moments. I would like to read another book by this author to get a better idea of her style.

Review: This is a well-constructed puzzle, and mystery lovers will delight in connecting the clues, but what makes this a riveting read is Ted's voice. He is bright, honest, brave and very funny about his "syndrome" (his teacher has given him a cartoon code for recognizing the five basic emotions). The message, grippingly delivered, is that kids, even differently abled ones, are worth paying attention to. (Fiction. 9-14) (Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2007)

The language in this story would be perfect to study. Ted’s character does not understand metaphors, colloquialisms and slang. What a perfect opportunity for all learners to explore these literary elements more.

Module 6--Historical Fiction

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko is a tale of Moose and his family who happen to live in an extraordinary place: the infamous Alcatraz. Moose’s father works at the prison and his whole family is moved to live on the island with the prisoners. This story chronicles Moose, his autistic sister Natalie, his new found friends and their adventures living with some of the most notable criminals of the 1930’s.

I was surprised about many of the facts that are contained in this book. I never knew that prison guards, workers, and their families were required to live on Alcatraz Island. The setting made the story more interesting. Moose and his adventures with his friends would not have been so memorable, but add in Natalie, and the story comes alive. Autism was a misunderstood disease and is finally being more widely studied and researched now. It is interesting to see how children with that disease were thought of and cared for at that period of history.

Review: With its unique setting and well-developed characters, this warm, engaging coming-of-age story has plenty of appeal, and Choldenko offers some fascinating historical background on Alcatraz Island in an afterword. -- Ed Sullivan (BookList, 02-01-2004, p976)

This is another story that would work well with non-fiction texts. This young adult story contains many avenues for research. Research could be done on Alcatraz, the criminals that were housed there, the Great Depression and even autism.

Module 5--Fantasy and Science Fiction

Surviving Antartica Reality TV 2083 by Andrea White explores the future of our society, education and entertainment. Five teenagers are chosen to explore Antarctica in order to re-enact the 1910 journey to the South Pole by Robert Scott. These teenagers soon realize in order to survive; they must rely on themselves and work together as a team. They feel all alone in the frozen tundra, but secretly a Department of Edutainment employee is working to ensure their safety.

I loved this book. I bonded with the characters and rooted them on every step of the way. I thought it was insightful and a little scary. Reality TV is becoming a mainstay of the American television market. This book, in a clever way, explores the problematic question of how “real” reality tv needs to be. Combined with the fact that television was required viewing because it was education adds to the problem.

Review: Brisk action, interesting characters, and intriguing (sometimes gruesome) details make this a compelling story, while television's pervasive presence in our lives and the undeniable popularity of the “reality” format give a rather frightening timeliness and believability to the tale.–Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library --Mara Alpert (Reviewed July 1, 2005) (School Library Journal, vol 51, issue 7, p110)

This young adult novel can be paired with non-fiction texts about Robert F. Scott, his crew, and his expedition to the South Pole from 1910-1913.