February 19, 2004
In this issue:
Crutcher reminder.
My new favorite.
"Some Friend" by Marie Bradby.
Four new books for littles.
For high school girls...and boys too.
Two teaching aids.
Greetings:
Hope you had a love-ly Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day ranks up there with
New Year's Eve on my list of "Bound to be Failures." Too much hype and
never enough delivery. You know how the grocery stores put those displays
of house plants just inside the doors for desperate husbands who haven't a
clue? My plant this year is a cyclamen.
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We are already receiving reservations to our Literary Feast with Chris
Crutcher on April 1 at 6:00. Be sure to let me know if you would like to
attend. Don't forget the reading and signing which begins at 7:00.
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I haven't finished this first book yet, but I have to share it anyway. I've
been looking for a new favorite, and I've found it in E. L. Konigsburg's
"The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place." In this book, Margaret Rose Kane from
"Silent to the Bone" looks back on her memorable twelfth summer, the summer
in which she fought city government to save the giant towers which her
beloved great uncles had erected in their back yard over a period of
forty-five years. This book has it all. Lessons in individuality (a
Konigsburg hallmark), lessons in art, lessons in historical preservation,
lessons in city government, lessons in how to affect change, even lessons in
math and vocabulary. And lessons in family. All tied up in such a
delightful package that kids will never suspect they're getting Lessons.
"Outcasts" is good literature. It can be read and savored as the rousing
tale that it is; but it can also be used as a springboard for many avenues
of research and discussion. There are so many possibilities here. (ages
10-15)
Read more about "The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place" at
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA371193?display=searchResults&s
tt=001&text=outcasts+of+19+schuyler+place
and
here:
http://www.simonsays.com/content/content.cfm?sid=33&pid=425450&agid=2
(There are two excerpts here; also click on the Q&A link to read an interview
with Konigsburg.)
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Choosing between two friends is a dilemma that nearly every child faces at
one time or another. This is 11-year-old Pearl's dilemma in "Some Friend"
by Marie Bradby. Set against the backdrop of turbulent Washington D.C. in
1963, this story of friendship and forgiveness is drawn from the author's
memories of growing up during the Civil Rights movement amid the great
sounds of Motown. (ages 9-12)
More info at:
http://www.bookpage.com/0402bp/children/some_friend.html and
http://www.simonsays.com/content/content.cfm?sid=183&pid=420155&agid=2
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Greg Tang is a busy guy. His latest, "Math Fables," is for his youngest
audience yet. "Math Fables" is a counting book in which he uses fables to
introduce children first to the concept of counting, but then encourages
them to think of numbers in more creative ways. (We call this creative way
of thinking "addition" but we won't tell the kids.) Heather Cahoon's
illustrations are perfect for little ones. (ages 3-6)
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"Aunt Lucy Went to Buy a Hat" by Alice Low is just a fun, silly read-aloud.
Told in raucous rhyme, this is the story of Aunt Lucy's many attempts to buy
a hat. She just keeps getting sidetracked by the craziest things. Laura
Huliska-Beith's whimsical illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to
this happy tale. Sure to bring forth a giggle or two. (ages 3-6)
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The first line in Lisa Campbell Ernst's new book is "The winter was long,
and cold." Amen! "Wake Up, It's Spring!" may be written for the very
young, but we all need this book right now. This very simple text
celebrates the awakening of nature--from the earthworm to the people in the
house--as spring approaches. I can envision a little pre-school role
playing with this story. Have fun. (ages 3-6)
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Many of our long-time favorites have new books this spring. Janet Stevens
and Susan Stevens Crummel have collaborated once again, this time on
"Plaidypus Lost," a story about a little girl and her special friend made
from her grandpa's old plaid shirt. Problem is, our little girl is so busy
and so rambunctious that she keeps losing Plaidypus and then the search is
on. Kids will want to join in on the recurring "chorus"--"Plaidypus lost.
Plaidypus found. This story goes around and around." (ages 3-6)
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Let's leap from pre-schoolers to high schoolers. From Penguin and gurl.com
comes "Where Do I Go From Here? Getting a Life After High School" by Esther
Drill, Heather McDonald, Rebecca Odes. I love this book. Meant to be used
as a supplement to the more traditional resources for colleges and jobs,
this little paperback is fun, hip and very informative. It is full of
resources for helping students narrow the options that await them after the
big day. Also included are many practical tips for becoming a grown-up.
Even the student who has already chosen a path will find helpful information
here. Although written primarily for girls, most of the information is
universal. One just has to get by the girl with the Medusa hairstyle on the
cover. I'll be taking a copy of this book to my two teens. (high school)
Check it out at:
http://www.gurl.com/more/wherebook/
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Scholastic has revised its "Candidates, Campaigns & Elections" resource
guide, a good tool for teaching election basics. This guide contains
projects, activities, literature links and...a poster. It helps students
build vocabulary, understand the electoral college, analyze media coverage,
simulate an election and track events on election night. It also contains a
good bibliography of resources--books and organizations--for students.
(grades 4-8)
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I know that many of you teach your students to write and illustrate their
own books. Now we have a source for children to read about how to do just
that. "Look at my Book: How Kids Can Write & Illustrate Terrific Books" by
Loreen Leedy is the perfect way to start a "written and illustrated"
project. This little book covers tips from brainstorming to binding and all
points in-between. Teachers, you'll get some new ideas, too. Included at
the end are resources for children for learning to write and illustrate,
research skills, bookmaking and getting published. (grades 2-5)
Look at the web site; there are ideas here too:
http://www.loreenleedy.com/pages/02Look.html
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You will notice that this is a day late. Yesterday I was frolicking at
Exploration Place with the Cat in the Hat at the Seussentennial Celebration.
I had asked Beth to proof Teacher Feature and hit "send" in my absence, but,
duh, I took my computer with me.
We are finally getting a break on our weather, so get out and soak up some
sunshine. And have a good week.
Carolyn
