Weeks, Sarah. 2004. SO B. IT. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN # 0064410472
Heidi and her mentally challenged mother exist on luck. It was luck that brought them their neighbor who has cared for Heidi and her mother since Heidi was about a week old. It is luck which allows them to win extra cash to get what necessities they need. And it is luck, along with Heidi’s good sense, which allows her to travel across the country to find the truth about their existences. Heidi is a normal child growing up in very abnormal circumstances. At first Heidi does not realize that living with and being cared for by a mentally ill mother and an agoraphobic neighbor is an abnormal life. As she grows she realizes differently. Despite these odds she grows into an intelligent and capable young woman. Heidi is a wonderful character who learns that she can be in control. This selection will show adolescents that they can be responsible young adults; that when it is necessary they can be in charge and effective. This story will keep children intrigued as answers to Heidi’s past are discovered through the bravery and capableness of Heidi herself
Friday, March 21, 2008
Review: THE ROAD TO PARIS, Module 5, Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Grimes, Nikki. THE ROAD TO PARIS. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN # 0399245375
Paris is a desperate young girl who is neglected and finally abandoned by her alcoholic mother. The only person she can count on is her brother, Malcolm. Eventually Malcolm is taken away from her as well. She ends up in foster care at the rural home of the Lincolns. Here she is shown a year of kindness. Paris learns to “keep God in her pocket” and she even forms some careful friendships. Through the patience and consistency of her foster family, Paris learns that not all people are awful. She grows from a scared child to a capable and thoughtful young woman. In the end she is given the opportunity to choose to return to her mother and brother. This story will show children that although there are harmful people in the world there are also worthwhile people, they may not always be obvious but they can be found. Each person must be judged as an individual. This story will show children that there is hope in any situation and that life can be good.
Paris is a desperate young girl who is neglected and finally abandoned by her alcoholic mother. The only person she can count on is her brother, Malcolm. Eventually Malcolm is taken away from her as well. She ends up in foster care at the rural home of the Lincolns. Here she is shown a year of kindness. Paris learns to “keep God in her pocket” and she even forms some careful friendships. Through the patience and consistency of her foster family, Paris learns that not all people are awful. She grows from a scared child to a capable and thoughtful young woman. In the end she is given the opportunity to choose to return to her mother and brother. This story will show children that although there are harmful people in the world there are also worthwhile people, they may not always be obvious but they can be found. Each person must be judged as an individual. This story will show children that there is hope in any situation and that life can be good.
Review: MARVIN REDPOST: CLASS PRESIDENT, Module 5, Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Sachar, Louis. 1999. MARVIN REDPOST: CLASS PRESIDENT. New York: Random House. ISBN # 0679989994
Marvin Redpost: Class President is a light and fun story about a fairly ordinary boy who has an extraordinarily special day. This special day begins as the school is observing “hole day”, a day in which everyone wears clothes which are full of holes. This day only gets better when the president of the United States actually visits his school and meets with Marvin’s class to discuss citizenship. Furthermore, Marvin is singled out by the president as a possible future president of the United States. His day is so special that he forgets that he has promised to meet his mother directly after school and finds himself in trouble for being irresponsible. This oversight is forgiven when the reasons behind the irresponsibility are revealed on the evening news. This book is written in short chapters which have support of black and white illustrations. This format is perfect for children whom are just beginning to move into chapter books. Children will enjoy the story and will learn about being good citizens.
Marvin Redpost: Class President is a light and fun story about a fairly ordinary boy who has an extraordinarily special day. This special day begins as the school is observing “hole day”, a day in which everyone wears clothes which are full of holes. This day only gets better when the president of the United States actually visits his school and meets with Marvin’s class to discuss citizenship. Furthermore, Marvin is singled out by the president as a possible future president of the United States. His day is so special that he forgets that he has promised to meet his mother directly after school and finds himself in trouble for being irresponsible. This oversight is forgiven when the reasons behind the irresponsibility are revealed on the evening news. This book is written in short chapters which have support of black and white illustrations. This format is perfect for children whom are just beginning to move into chapter books. Children will enjoy the story and will learn about being good citizens.
Review: ALL ABOUT SAM, Module 5, Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Lowry, Lois. 1988. ALL ABOUT SAM. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN # 0395486629
This story is “All About Sam” from birth to his toddler years told from his perspective. Readers will learn about babies from a baby’s point of view and this baby is capable and determined from the beginning. He appreciates the soft feel of powder on his bare bottom but hates the feel of a hat although soon appreciates its usefulness. This story includes some fun play with words such as the pan-tree which in not an actual tree and that Sam does not wish to be toilet trained but freight trained or passenger trained instead. Sam also figures that since nurses give shots he will be taught this skill when he attends nursery school. He is a bit concerned that the other children, whom will be learning this skill as well, will possibly require him as a guinea pig for practice. Sam also learns he has a conscience when he steals gum and feels compelled to admit his mistake. Through out the story he grows in body, intelligence, and character. This is a story of a happy innocence with grown up incite. Several black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the story to satisfy visual curiosity. The story is set in a safe and happy world with “no emergencies, no accidents, and no monsters”. This is a fun book which will have children thinking about their first years in a new light.
This story is “All About Sam” from birth to his toddler years told from his perspective. Readers will learn about babies from a baby’s point of view and this baby is capable and determined from the beginning. He appreciates the soft feel of powder on his bare bottom but hates the feel of a hat although soon appreciates its usefulness. This story includes some fun play with words such as the pan-tree which in not an actual tree and that Sam does not wish to be toilet trained but freight trained or passenger trained instead. Sam also figures that since nurses give shots he will be taught this skill when he attends nursery school. He is a bit concerned that the other children, whom will be learning this skill as well, will possibly require him as a guinea pig for practice. Sam also learns he has a conscience when he steals gum and feels compelled to admit his mistake. Through out the story he grows in body, intelligence, and character. This is a story of a happy innocence with grown up incite. Several black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the story to satisfy visual curiosity. The story is set in a safe and happy world with “no emergencies, no accidents, and no monsters”. This is a fun book which will have children thinking about their first years in a new light.
Review: JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL, Module 5, Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Gantos, Jack. JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL. 2000. New York: Scholastic. ISBN # 0439338980
Young Joey Pigza is getting his attention deficient order under control. He has finally been given the tools, some helpful medication, which along with his own intelligence, awareness, and self discipline, is enabling him to function quite well on a day to day basis. There are times when he may make a bad decision, such as when he plays darts indoors and his chihuahua’s ear ends up pierced, but he mostly he is in control. That is he is in control until he goes to spend his summer with his estranged, alcoholic father. Joey’s dad, Carter, also suffers from attention deficient disorder. Carter, unlike Joey, is in denial about his condition. He feels that he can cope on his own without help. He attempts to convince Joey that he is a man and does not need the “crutch” of medication. Joey wants to believe his father and tries it his way. This is a story of the maturity of Joey and the realization that help is OK. This story will help adolescents realize that they can be responsible for many aspects of their lives and that unfortunately adults do not know everything. Joey Pigza also lets children know that normal is a perception and that there are many types of “normal”.
Young Joey Pigza is getting his attention deficient order under control. He has finally been given the tools, some helpful medication, which along with his own intelligence, awareness, and self discipline, is enabling him to function quite well on a day to day basis. There are times when he may make a bad decision, such as when he plays darts indoors and his chihuahua’s ear ends up pierced, but he mostly he is in control. That is he is in control until he goes to spend his summer with his estranged, alcoholic father. Joey’s dad, Carter, also suffers from attention deficient disorder. Carter, unlike Joey, is in denial about his condition. He feels that he can cope on his own without help. He attempts to convince Joey that he is a man and does not need the “crutch” of medication. Joey wants to believe his father and tries it his way. This is a story of the maturity of Joey and the realization that help is OK. This story will help adolescents realize that they can be responsible for many aspects of their lives and that unfortunately adults do not know everything. Joey Pigza also lets children know that normal is a perception and that there are many types of “normal”.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Review: SCIEN-TRICKERY, Module 4, Poetry
Lewis, J. Patrick. 2004. SCIEN-TRICKERY. Ill. by Frank Remkiewicz. San Diego, California: Harcourt. Inc.
This is a fun and thought provoking collection of rhyming riddles. These scientific riddles are sure to get children to utilize higher level thinking skills; they may even lead to further inquiry and knowledge. The poems cover a variety of topics such as Albert Einstein, laser beams, and dinosaurs. The riddles and their solutions range from easy to more complex. There is something to satisfy all young scientists. Clues are given in rhyming verse and the answer is supplied at the bottom of each page. The bright and colorful illustrations give great support to the written material. These illustrations give visual clues and help with the solution of the riddles. A notes page at the end of the book is a great source for children who wish to learn more about the scientific concepts covered in the book. This choice is certainly a fun way to get children excited about science and verse!
This is a fun and thought provoking collection of rhyming riddles. These scientific riddles are sure to get children to utilize higher level thinking skills; they may even lead to further inquiry and knowledge. The poems cover a variety of topics such as Albert Einstein, laser beams, and dinosaurs. The riddles and their solutions range from easy to more complex. There is something to satisfy all young scientists. Clues are given in rhyming verse and the answer is supplied at the bottom of each page. The bright and colorful illustrations give great support to the written material. These illustrations give visual clues and help with the solution of the riddles. A notes page at the end of the book is a great source for children who wish to learn more about the scientific concepts covered in the book. This choice is certainly a fun way to get children excited about science and verse!
Review: THE NEIGHBORHOOD MOTHER GOOSE, Module 4, Poetry
Crews, Nina. 2004. THE NEIGHBORHOOD MOTHER GOOSE. Greenwillow Books. ISBN # 0060515732
This modern book of poetry is a collection of favorite, familiar and not so familiar rhymes. This collection is unique in that the illustrations are true photographs which portray real children in a city setting. The photographs have been manipulated with cutting, pasting, shrinking and enlarging to elaborate on the whimsical rhymes. In THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL, the girl with the curl has a sweet face with a small cute curl in the middle of her forehead. Her expression does seem to show that she can be very good, but her actions are proving that “when she was bad, she was horrid”. She is cutting all the hair off of a Barbie doll! In RIDE A COCKHORSE there is a very fine lady upon a white horse, a white carrousel horse. She is very brilliant in colorful authentic African clothing and layers of jewelry. She does seem to shine and bring “music wherever she goes”. In HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE, all the characters are present. A real cat is holding a real fiddle; there is a larger than life dish and spoon frolicking behind a wooden fence and in the background a cow is leaping over a beautiful full moon. In rhyme after rhyme children are portrayed with common objects which bring additional meaning to the rhymes. Children will recognize familiar objects and see children just like themselves. They will connect with these rhymes like never before.
This modern book of poetry is a collection of favorite, familiar and not so familiar rhymes. This collection is unique in that the illustrations are true photographs which portray real children in a city setting. The photographs have been manipulated with cutting, pasting, shrinking and enlarging to elaborate on the whimsical rhymes. In THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL, the girl with the curl has a sweet face with a small cute curl in the middle of her forehead. Her expression does seem to show that she can be very good, but her actions are proving that “when she was bad, she was horrid”. She is cutting all the hair off of a Barbie doll! In RIDE A COCKHORSE there is a very fine lady upon a white horse, a white carrousel horse. She is very brilliant in colorful authentic African clothing and layers of jewelry. She does seem to shine and bring “music wherever she goes”. In HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE, all the characters are present. A real cat is holding a real fiddle; there is a larger than life dish and spoon frolicking behind a wooden fence and in the background a cow is leaping over a beautiful full moon. In rhyme after rhyme children are portrayed with common objects which bring additional meaning to the rhymes. Children will recognize familiar objects and see children just like themselves. They will connect with these rhymes like never before.
Review: HUMMINGBIRD NEST, Module 4, Poetry
O’Connell George, Kristine. 2004. HUMMINGBIRD NEST. Ill. by Barry Moser. San Diego, CA: Harcourt. ISBN # 0152023259
This journal of poems is Kristine O’Connell George’s story of two months of observations of a compelling hummingbird. This hummingbird made itself at home on her porch and proceeded to lay two eggs. The recollections are told through flowing, rhythmic poetry. The selections are informative and beautiful. The information follows the arrival of the hummingbird, the construction of the nest, the appearance of two eggs, the hatchlings and the guarding of the hatchlings, and the first flight of the new birds. The hummingbird becomes a major focal point for the family, the daughter checks frequently as in NEST CHECK, “Can’t resist, have to check just once more today- while the mother is away”. These events are certainly a learning and growing experience for this family member. The family dog and cat are even pulled into the events, inconveniently. In THE DOG COMPLAINS the dogs feelings are made known, “That bird is making a mess-splashing, flapping…swimming hole? Out, bird! That’s my bowl!”, and in THE CAT REMARKS, “I’m locked in jail, can’t go outside. (I certainly tried.) I’m a prisoner- because of a bird. How absurd.” The verses are full of sound and action from the beginning as in VISITOR, “Bright flits, brisk zips, a green-gray blur, wings, zings, and whirr”. Warmth, imagery, and feeling are also included as in JUST HATCHED, “Each new breath a shudder as he huddles down deep in the nest, head tucked in, his body softly rounded, warmly molded to the form he once knew so well, the smooth curved shell”. These wonderful verses are supported by beautiful illustrations which accompany each poem. These illustrations solidify the visual elements of the poetry, the spiders’ webbing in the nest, the curiosity of the child, the frustration of the dog, and the helplessness of the newly hatched chick. Together the poetry and illustrations create a beautiful true tale of new life. This book is enhanced further by the author’s note and humming bird facts which appear at the end.
This journal of poems is Kristine O’Connell George’s story of two months of observations of a compelling hummingbird. This hummingbird made itself at home on her porch and proceeded to lay two eggs. The recollections are told through flowing, rhythmic poetry. The selections are informative and beautiful. The information follows the arrival of the hummingbird, the construction of the nest, the appearance of two eggs, the hatchlings and the guarding of the hatchlings, and the first flight of the new birds. The hummingbird becomes a major focal point for the family, the daughter checks frequently as in NEST CHECK, “Can’t resist, have to check just once more today- while the mother is away”. These events are certainly a learning and growing experience for this family member. The family dog and cat are even pulled into the events, inconveniently. In THE DOG COMPLAINS the dogs feelings are made known, “That bird is making a mess-splashing, flapping…swimming hole? Out, bird! That’s my bowl!”, and in THE CAT REMARKS, “I’m locked in jail, can’t go outside. (I certainly tried.) I’m a prisoner- because of a bird. How absurd.” The verses are full of sound and action from the beginning as in VISITOR, “Bright flits, brisk zips, a green-gray blur, wings, zings, and whirr”. Warmth, imagery, and feeling are also included as in JUST HATCHED, “Each new breath a shudder as he huddles down deep in the nest, head tucked in, his body softly rounded, warmly molded to the form he once knew so well, the smooth curved shell”. These wonderful verses are supported by beautiful illustrations which accompany each poem. These illustrations solidify the visual elements of the poetry, the spiders’ webbing in the nest, the curiosity of the child, the frustration of the dog, and the helplessness of the newly hatched chick. Together the poetry and illustrations create a beautiful true tale of new life. This book is enhanced further by the author’s note and humming bird facts which appear at the end.
Review: BIG BAD AND A LITTLE BIT SCARY: POEMS THAT BITE BACK!, Module 4, Poetry
Zahares, Wade. 2001. BIG BAD AND A LITTLE BIT SCARY: POEMS THAT BITE BACK! New York: Penguin Putnum Books. ISBN # 0670035130
Big, Bad and a Little Bit Scary is a collection of poems which focus on nature’s more wild and dangerous animals. Children are curious about dangerous animals and they will not be disappointed with these poems. Each poem is quick and fun to read. The selections are full of great vocabulary, rhyme, alliteration, and cleverness such as in VIPER, by Eve Merriam: “viper…virulent villain, venomous, vile” and in THE PANTHER, by Ogden Nash, “if called by a panther, Don’t anther.” Each poem is displayed on two facing pages. The illustrations are magnificent. They portray the animals as very large and menacing. The eyes are bulging and the teeth are giant, sharp, and protruding. In THE SPARROW HAWK, by Russell Hoban, the shadow of a hawk is so large that it covers many times over the tiny field mouse which it is soaring over, and in OCTOPUS, the multiple rolling arms are covered with giant suction cups. The colors are dark and give an ominous feel. This selection goes beyond normal animal topics; it gives the readers a bit of spice and danger!
Big, Bad and a Little Bit Scary is a collection of poems which focus on nature’s more wild and dangerous animals. Children are curious about dangerous animals and they will not be disappointed with these poems. Each poem is quick and fun to read. The selections are full of great vocabulary, rhyme, alliteration, and cleverness such as in VIPER, by Eve Merriam: “viper…virulent villain, venomous, vile” and in THE PANTHER, by Ogden Nash, “if called by a panther, Don’t anther.” Each poem is displayed on two facing pages. The illustrations are magnificent. They portray the animals as very large and menacing. The eyes are bulging and the teeth are giant, sharp, and protruding. In THE SPARROW HAWK, by Russell Hoban, the shadow of a hawk is so large that it covers many times over the tiny field mouse which it is soaring over, and in OCTOPUS, the multiple rolling arms are covered with giant suction cups. The colors are dark and give an ominous feel. This selection goes beyond normal animal topics; it gives the readers a bit of spice and danger!
Review: THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST, Module 4, Poetry
Prelutsky, Jack. 1997. THE BEAUTY OF THE BEAST: POEMS FROM THE
ANIMAL KINGDOM. Ill. by Meilo So. ISBN #0679070584
This large collection of poems is sure to satisfy animal lovers of all ages. Included in this collection are over 100 poems on all types of living creatures. The poems have been divided into sections of similar animal types. Each section is introduced by a poem which was written by Prelutsky himself. “In Trillions we Thrive” (insects), “Jubilant we Swim” (fish), “Dragons in Miniature” (reptiles and amphibians) “Hollow-Boned Singers” (birds), and “Wrapped in Coats of Fur” (mammals), are the titles which introduce the well rounded sections. From the first page the poems let the reader feel the essence of animals. The ant’s path is an easy jumbled visual in ANT, by Barry Wallenstein, “around…upside down…buffets…crashes…circle…heads the wring way…drops…finds his path home”. Patricia Hubblell captures the sights and sounds of caterpillars eating in CATEPILLAR with “the cricket-crackling of their mandibles Grates on the night.” In FISH by Mary Ann Hoberman, fish move, “flit, Lickety-split, Wiggling, Swiggling, Swerving, Curving, Hurrying, Scurrying, Chasing, Racing, Whizzing, Whisking, Flying, Frisking, Tearing around, with a leap and a bound.” Tougher readers will enjoy reading about the blazing sun which can “bake brains” in THE SPADE-FOOT TOAD by Eve Ganson. In PIGEONS, by Richard Kell, the description of a pigeon “strutting like a fat gentleman” is easy to visualize and the statement by Lilian Moore about the urban pigeon in PIGEONS, “what a waste of wings” makes great sense when compared to rural country birds. Animal descriptions are often clever as in CAMEL by Sylvia Cassedy where a camel is compared to an automobile: “tan, leather seats; optional fur. Sun roof. Runs on no gas. Stalls seldom. Steers…four-leg drive”. Shaped poems like SEAL by William Jay Smith show the reader the flowing movement of the seal. Fabulous vocabulary is abundant in the poem THE MONKEY by Robert S. Oliver, the monkey is mischievous, cantankerous, raucous, crude, argumentative, rancorous, crafty, deceitful, and activities prankerous. Finally the book nears the end with pet poems about man’s best friends, cats and dogs. Each page includes multiple poems which are supported with various vibrant watercolor illustrations. The illustrations bring additional color and motion to these selections. This animal anthology of poetry includes most any animal imaginable. It would be difficult for any reader to not find his favorite. These selections are full of thought, rhyme and rhythm, great vocabulary, and clever comparisons. This is a great choice for animal and poetry lovers alike.
ANIMAL KINGDOM. Ill. by Meilo So. ISBN #0679070584
This large collection of poems is sure to satisfy animal lovers of all ages. Included in this collection are over 100 poems on all types of living creatures. The poems have been divided into sections of similar animal types. Each section is introduced by a poem which was written by Prelutsky himself. “In Trillions we Thrive” (insects), “Jubilant we Swim” (fish), “Dragons in Miniature” (reptiles and amphibians) “Hollow-Boned Singers” (birds), and “Wrapped in Coats of Fur” (mammals), are the titles which introduce the well rounded sections. From the first page the poems let the reader feel the essence of animals. The ant’s path is an easy jumbled visual in ANT, by Barry Wallenstein, “around…upside down…buffets…crashes…circle…heads the wring way…drops…finds his path home”. Patricia Hubblell captures the sights and sounds of caterpillars eating in CATEPILLAR with “the cricket-crackling of their mandibles Grates on the night.” In FISH by Mary Ann Hoberman, fish move, “flit, Lickety-split, Wiggling, Swiggling, Swerving, Curving, Hurrying, Scurrying, Chasing, Racing, Whizzing, Whisking, Flying, Frisking, Tearing around, with a leap and a bound.” Tougher readers will enjoy reading about the blazing sun which can “bake brains” in THE SPADE-FOOT TOAD by Eve Ganson. In PIGEONS, by Richard Kell, the description of a pigeon “strutting like a fat gentleman” is easy to visualize and the statement by Lilian Moore about the urban pigeon in PIGEONS, “what a waste of wings” makes great sense when compared to rural country birds. Animal descriptions are often clever as in CAMEL by Sylvia Cassedy where a camel is compared to an automobile: “tan, leather seats; optional fur. Sun roof. Runs on no gas. Stalls seldom. Steers…four-leg drive”. Shaped poems like SEAL by William Jay Smith show the reader the flowing movement of the seal. Fabulous vocabulary is abundant in the poem THE MONKEY by Robert S. Oliver, the monkey is mischievous, cantankerous, raucous, crude, argumentative, rancorous, crafty, deceitful, and activities prankerous. Finally the book nears the end with pet poems about man’s best friends, cats and dogs. Each page includes multiple poems which are supported with various vibrant watercolor illustrations. The illustrations bring additional color and motion to these selections. This animal anthology of poetry includes most any animal imaginable. It would be difficult for any reader to not find his favorite. These selections are full of thought, rhyme and rhythm, great vocabulary, and clever comparisons. This is a great choice for animal and poetry lovers alike.
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