The Wielded Pen - Children's Corner

Elephants - A Storytime Outline

2012-01-26T13:30:00.000-06:00

Elephants. Can't go wrong, right? They are truly one of my favorite animals. Believe it or not, when I was planning an elephant storytime in fall 2011, I had a little difficulty finding inspiration. However, the end result was so much fun, and I love my Special Activity and so did everyone else!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

I Love My Mama written by Peter Kavanagh and illus. Jane Chapman (T)
I Dream of an Elephant written and illus. by Ami Rubinger (T)
(Ask the children what color is on each page)
Elephants Can Paint Too! written and pictures taken by Atya Arnold (T)
(I shared the pictures but didn't read the text)
How to Catch an Elephant written and illus. by Amy Scwartz (P)
(It was fun to ask the children if they knew how to catch an elephant and what did elephants liked to eat.)
"Stand Back," Said the Elephant, "I'm Going to Sneeze" written by Patricia Thomas and illus. by Wallace Tripp (P)
(You should read this dramatically!)
How the Elephant Got It's Trunk originally written by Rudyard Kipling (P)

(This is my fun moment of storytelling using a flannel board)

SONGS & RHYMES

(follow actions)

Touch your nose

Touch your chin

That's the way this game begins

Touch your eyes

Touch your knees

Not preteen you're going to sneeze!

Aaachooooo!

Touch your hair

Touch one ear

Touch your two red lips right here

Touch your elbow where it ends

And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARDS

Five Elephants in the Bathtub (T, P)
How the Elephant Got It's Trunk (P)
(see flannel board below!)

CRAFT

Elephant Ear Headbands (T)
Each set was made with different color construction paper as it was inspired by I Dream of an Elephant book. The ears were so large and flappy even my boss thought they were a cute colorful herd!

"How to Catch an Elephant" Kits (P)
A kit of all the items needed to catch and elephant printed on cardstock and can be placed in a construction paper folded suitcase. I even had a wonderful dad draw and color a tiny little elephant for his daughter to put into her kit. Awesome!


"How the Elephant Got It's Trunk" flannel board created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012. Fold under the elephant trunk to simulate its short stump before it's snapped and stretched by the crocodile!

SPECIAL ACTIVITY
I showed an amazingly adorable video of newborn elephant Kenzi from the St. Louis Zoo. I remember seeing her daddy, Raja, when he came out to visit the public! The video can be viewed on YouTube here or below!

I just :: love :: the music. It's perfect!

Down on the Farm - A Storytime Outline

2012-01-26T13:06:00.002-06:00

How fun is it to just play around with farm animals?! Loads! I mean it! I've done a farm storytime for all ages a number of times over the years, and it never, never, ever gets old for me. There are so many good books out there to begin with, but the general concept of animal noises and the fun nature of it all makes this theme a classic!

T = Toddler Storytime
B = Baby Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS

Clip, Clop written and illus. by Nicola Smee (B, T)
(For Baby Storytime, have the guardian gently bounce the baby on their laps while we "clip-clop". For Toddler Storytime have the children clap their hands or pat their knees to the different speeds.)
Rosie's Walk written and illus. by Pat Hutchins (B)
Cows in the Kitchen written by June Crebbin and illus. by Katharine McEwen (T, P)
(One of my favorite books! It's so fun that you can't help but sing it!)
Barnyard Banter written and illus. by Denise Fleming (T)
Cock-a-Doodle Quack! Quack! written by Ivor Baddiel and illus. by Ailie Busby (P)
Z-Z-Zoink! written and illus. by Bernard Most (P)
(This book is really funny, especially if you can get the children to go "z-z-zoink!" with you!)

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
(follow actions)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Sometimes I am Tall (B)
(for Baby Storytime have the guardians help the baby stretch and bend.)
Sometimes I am tall (stand at full height)
Sometimes I am small (bend down close to the floor)
Sometimes I am very, very tall (stretch on tiptoes)
Sometimes I am very, very small (bend close to the floor)
Sometimes tall, sometimes small (stretch high, bend low)
Sometimes I'm just me (stand normally)
Source: Angie's Toddler Storytime Blog

Row, Row, Row Your Boat (B)
(gently row you baby back and forward)
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

(gently rock your baby from side to side)
Rock, rock, rock you boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.

Trot, Trot to Boston (B)
(trot your baby on your lap)
Trot trot to Boston
Trot trot to Lynn.
Watch out baby you don't fall in!

Trot trot to Boston.
Trot trot to Dover.
Watch out baby you don't fall over!

Trot trot to Boston.
Trot trot to Town.
Watch out baby you don't fall down!
Source: King County Library System

The Itsy Bitsy Spider (B, T, P)
(follow actions with your fingers and arms)
The itsy bitsy spider
went up the water spout.
Down came the rain
and washed the spider out!
Out came the sun
and dried up all the rain.
And the itsy bitsy spider
went up the spout again!

Old McDonald Had a Farm (B, T, P)
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O
With a "moo-moo" here and a "moo-moo" there
Here a "moo" there a "moo"
Everywhere a "moo-moo"
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O

Continue with other farm animals:
Sheep, Chicken, Pig,

BINGO (T, P)
There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O, B-I-N-G-O
and Bingo was his name-o.

(Clap with you see an *)
There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
*-I-N-G-O, *-I-N-G-O, *-I-N-G-O
and Bingo was his name-o

(Continue to repeat until you are now
clapping for all the letters)

There was a farmer had a dog
and Bingo was his name-o.
*-*-*-*-*,*-*-*-*-*, *-*-*-*-*
and Bingo was his name-o.

Touch Your Nose (T, P)
(follow actions)
Touch your nose
Touch your chin
That's the way this game begins
Touch your eyes
Touch your knees
Not preteen you're going to sneeze!
Aaachooooo!
Touch your hair
Touch one ear
Touch your two red lips right here
Touch your elbow where it ends
And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARDS

Old McDonald Had a Farm (B, T, P)
BINGO (T, P)
(see flannel board below!)

POEM

"Baby Chick" written by Aileen L. Fisher from the book The Bill Martin Jr. Book of Poetry edited by Bill Martin Jr. (P)

CRAFT

Peek-A-Boo Farms (T, P)
Children got to glue images of animals behind the flap doors of a barn.

BINGO flannel board created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012.
Used the hands to help everyone know when it's time to clap!

Happy Lunar New Year - A Storytime Outline

2012-01-24T22:09:00.000-06:00

We celebrated the Lunar New Year in storytime this week! For a "special holiday" type theme this is one that has a good number of books that work, which is exciting! A huge recommendation for Lunar New Year storytimes is to incorporate that year's zodiac animal into the stories, which is what I did for 2012, the Year of the Dragon. Here's what we did!

T = Toddler Storytime
P = Preschool Storytime

BOOKS
Red is a Dragon written and illus. by Roseanne Thong (T)
This book was great for the children to call out the different colors!
Ten Mice for Tet written by Pegi Deitz Shea and Cynthia Weill, illus. by Ngoc Tran To and embroidery by Viet Dinh
A great counting book that is for celebrating the Vietnamese lunar new year.
There is No Such Thing as a Dragon written and illus. by Jack Kent (P)
This Next New Year written by Janet Wong and illus. by Yangsook Choi (P)

SONGS & RHYMES

Opening Rhyme: Open, Shut Them (T, P)
(follow actions)
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a little clap
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap
Creep, creep them up to your chin
Open your mouth wide, but don't put your fingers in!
Open, shut them
Open, shut them
Give a big clap
Open, shut them
Lay them in your lap.

Celebrate the New Year (T, P)
Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Cheer, cheer, cheer the year,
A new one just begun.
Celebrate with all your friends,
Let's go have some fun!

Clap, clap, clap your hands,
A brand new year is here.
Learning, laughing, singing, clapping,
Through another year.
Source: thebestkidsbooksite.com via Talk Story

Dragon, Dragon (T)
Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Dragon, dragon, dance around.
Dragon, dragon, touch the ground.
Dragon, dragon, shake your head.
Dragon, dragon, tongue so red.
Dragon, dragon, stamp your feet.
Dragon, dragon, coming down the street!
Source: thebestkidsbooksite.com via Talk Story

Five Green Dragons (T)
Five green dragons making such a roar.
One danced away and then there were four.
Four green dragons dancing around a tree.
One danced away and then there were three.
Three green dragons dancing around you.
Once danced away and then there were two.
Two green dragons dancing in the sun.
One danced away and then there were one.
One green dragon having lots of fun.
She danced away and then there were none.
Source: OSM Library Blog

Five Little Firecrackers (T)
Five little firecrackers standing in a row.
One gets lit and off it goes!
It zips up high with a zoom, zoom, ZOOM!
Here it goes BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

(repeat until down to one firecracker)

One little firecracker standing all alone.
It gets lit and off it goes!
It zips up high with a zoom, zoom, ZOOM!
Here it goes BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
Source: HCPL - Kidsite - Story Time
In addition to the fire crackers I added little yellow starbursts that I had the children place on each firecracker when it goes boom! Even the shy ones eventually wanted to do it!

Closing Rhyme: Touch Your Nose (T, P)
(follow actions)
Touch your nose
Touch your chin
That's the way this game begins
Touch your eyes
Touch your knees
Not preteen you're going to sneeze!
Aaachooooo!
Touch your hair
Touch one ear
Touch your two red lips right here
Touch your elbow where it ends
And that's the way this touch game ends.

FLANNEL BOARDS

Five Green Dragons (T)
(See flannel board below!)
Five Little Firecrackers (T)
The Legend of the Zodiac Animals story (P)
(This was my favorite part of the program. Check out my flannel board for it below!)

CRAFT

Year of the Dragon coloring page (T)
Let them color to their hearts content and let them glue on bits of cotton balls for puffs of dragon smoke! Any dragon image would work; however, for toddlers, I picked Activity Village's dragon since it was super cute! (Activity Village link will open as a PDF).

Chinese dragon hand puppets (P)
These were easy folded sheets of construction paper with fun embellishments (eyelashes, googly eyes, teeth, and tongues). This was inspired by Craft Ideas for All.

"The Legend of the Zodiac Animals" flannel board
created by Dorothy, WP-CC, 2012

Five Green Dragons created by Dorothy, WP-CC, 2012

OTHER FUN TIDBITS

If you're looking for more ideas for Lunar New Year, in 2010, I shared red envelopes containing stickers that looked like coins as a way to tie into the story of lucky money.

Need more Lunar New Year book recommendations? Check out my short bibliography post!

2012 Youth Media Awards Announced!

2012-01-23T22:13:00.004-06:00

It's always and exciting time see the books, authors, and illustrators who have reached the high achievement of earning an award. At the American Library Association Mid-Winter conference the 2012 Youth Media Awards have been announced! This announcement is almost relatable to the Oscars or Screen Actors Guild Awards! Here are the list of winners and honors! Drum roll.....

JOHN NEWBERY MEDAL
Winner

Dead End of Norvelt written by Jack Gantos. NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Honors

Inside Out and Back Again written by Thanhha Lai. NY: HarperCollins Children's Books.
Breaking Stalin's Nose written by Eugne Yelchin. NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.

RANDOLPH CALDECOTT MEDAL
Winner

A Ball for Daisy written and illus. by Chris Raschka. NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.

Honors

Blackout written and illus. by John Rocco. NY: Disney (Hyperion Books) Rocco's book is also on the 2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List!
Grandpa Green written and illus. by Lane Smith. NY: Roaring Books Press.
Me... Jane written and illus. by Patrick McDonnell. NY: Little Brown and Company. McDonnell's book is also on the 2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List!

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ
Winner

Where Things Come Back written by John Corey Whaley. NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Honors

Why We Broke Up written by Daniel Handler and art by Maira Kalman. NY: Little, Brown, and Company, LLC.
The Returning written by Christine Hinwood. NY: Dial Books.
Jasper Jones written by Craig Silvey. NY: Alfred A. Knopf.
The Scorpio Races writteny by Maggie Stiefvater. NY: Scholastic Press.

CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD (AUTHOR)
Winner
Kadir Nelson for:

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans written and illus. by Kadir Nelson. NY: Blazer + Bray).

Honors
Eloise Greenfield for:

The Great Migration: Journey to the North written by Eloise Greenfield and illus. by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.

Patricia C. McKissack for:

Never Forgotten written by Patricia C. McKissack and illus. by Leo and Diane Dillon. NY: Schwartz & Wade Books

CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD (ILLUSTRATOR)
Winner
Shane W. Evans for:

Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom written and illus. by Shane W. Evans. NY: Roaring Book Press.

Honors
Kadir Nelson for:

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans written and illus. by Kadir Nelson. NY: Blazer + Bray).

CORETTA SCOTT KING - VIRGINIA HAMILTON AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
Winner
Ashley Bryan, who is known for books such as

Let It Shine, CSK winner
Beautiful Blackbird, CSK winner

SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD
Middle School Winner(s)

close to famous written by Joan Bauer. NY: Viking.
Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words and Picture written and illus. by Brian Selznick. NY: Scholastics Press. Selznick's book is also on the 2012 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List!

High School Winner(s)

The Running Dream written by Wendelin Van Draanen. NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Note: There is an Schneider Award for Children's Books; however, the jury decided to not vote on a winning book due to none of the submissions were deemed worthy of the award.

MILDRED L. BATCHELDER AWARD
Winner

Soldier Bear written by Bib Dumon Tak and illus. by Philip Hopman. Translation by Laura Watkinson. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Original language: Dutch.

Honor

The Lily Pond written by Annika Thor. Translated by Linda Schenck. NY: Delacorte Press. Original language: Swedish.

PURA BELPRE AWARD (AUTHOR)
Winner
Guadalupe Garcia McCall for:

Under the Mesquite written by Guadalupe Garcia McCall. NY: Lee and Low Books, Inc.

Honors

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck written by Margarita Engle. NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC.
Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller written by Xavier Garz. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

PURA BELPRE AWARD (ILLUSTRATOR)
Winner
Duncan Tonatiuh for:

Diego Rivera: His Words and Ours written and illus. by Duncan Tonatiuh. NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Honors

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred written by Samantha R. Vamos and illus. by Rafael Lopez. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. Vamos' book is also on the 2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List!
Mariso McDonald Doesn't Match / Mariso McDonald no combina written by Monica and illus. Sara Palacios. NY: Lee and Low Books, Inc.

THEODORE SEUSS GEISEL AWARD
Winner

Tales for Very Picky Eaters written and illus. by Josh Schneider. NY: Clarion Books.

Honors

I Broke My Trunk written and illus. by Mo Willems. NY: Hyperion Books for Children.
I Want My Hat Back written and illus. by Jon Klassen. Somerville, Mass, Candlewick Press. Klassen's book is also on the 2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List!
See Me Run written and illus. by Paul Meisel. NY: Holiday House.

There are more awards and winners to explore that I couldn't possibly be able to include here! Please follow the links below to continue the exploration!

The New Lunar New Year!

2012-01-23T13:55:00.004-06:00

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chúc Năm Mới! Happy Lunar New Year!

In celebration of the Lunar New Year (the first new moon of the year), here are some books that I recommend for reading!

LUNAR NEW YEAR BOOKS

Bouchard, David. 1999. The Dragon New Year: A Chinese Legend. Illus. by Zhong-Yang Huang. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree. ISBN: 1561452106.
Chinn, Karen. 1995. Sam and the Lucky Money. Illus. by Carnelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. NY: Lee & Low Books, Inc. ISBN: 18800013x.
Compestine, Ying Chang. 2006. D is for Dragon Dance. Illus. by Yongsheng Xuan. NY: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823418871.
Compestine, Ying Chang. 2001. The Runaway Rice Cake. Illus. by Tungwai Chau. NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689829728.
Compestine, Ying Chang. 2011. The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale. Illus. by Sebastia Serra. NY: Dutton Juvenile (Penguin). ISBN: 9780525420682.
Katz, Karen. 2004. My First Chinese New Year. Illus. by Karen Katz. NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 0805070761.
Klein, Adria F. 2007. Max Celebrates Chinese New Year. Illus. by Mernie Gallagher-Cole. ISBN: 9781404831476.
Lin, Grace. 2008. Bringing in the New Year. Illus. by Grace Lin. NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375937453.
Shea, Pegi Deitz. 2003. Ten Mice for Tet. Illus. by To Ngoc Tran and Embroidery by
Pham Viet Dinh. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN: 0811834964.
Wong, Janet. 2000. This Next New Year. Illus. by Yangsook Choi. NY: Frances Foster Books (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). ISBN: 0374355037.

DRAGON BOOKS
The year 2012 is the year of the Dragon! Try out these books!

Kent, Jack. 1975. There's No Such Thing as a Dragon. Illus. by Jack Kent. NY: Golden Books Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN: 0307102149.
Schaefer, Carole Lexa. 2007. Dragon Dancing. Illus. by Pierr Morgan. NY: Viking (Penguin Group). ISBN: 9780670060849.
Steckman, Elizabeth. 1997. Silk Peony, Parade Dragon. Illus. by Carol Inouye. Honesdale, Penn.: Caroline House (Boyds Mills Press, Inc). ISBN: 1563972336.

MORE GOOD BOOKS

Thong, Roseanne. 2001. Red is a Dragon: A Book of Colors. Illus. by Grace Lin. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN: 0811831779.

I'm Not.

2012-01-20T15:13:00.001-06:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Smallcomb, Pam. 2011. I'm Not. Illus. by Robert Weinstock. NY: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN: 9780375861154.

BOOK REVIEW
"She's not one single big ordinary. And she's a little mysterious." A shy girl says at the beginning of this story. According to her, her best friend and fellow scaly crocodile (or are they little dinosaurs? I'm going with crocs!), Evelyn, can do anything. Evelyn is successful in quirky fashion, can tell amazing stories, is a decorator and artist extraordinaire, and so much more! All the while our nameless narrator says "I'm not.". However, one day she realizes that the things that Evelyn does not have the magic touch for, like spelling, karate and baking, she does has the touch for! The book ends with a perfect match of two friends, especially when they realize that Evelyn needs "A friend who is always by her side. Though thick and thin. A true-blue friend." and our own new crocodile friend yells, "I am! I am! I am!". To match the charming story is Weinstock's adorable illustrations detailing the differences between the two girls. If readers do not like crocodiles, wait till see these images! This is a amazingly great book to share with young readers (and even the adult readers) who are starting to notice the difference between them and others their age (friends and siblings alike!). This book will tell us all it is OK to be different and that opposites can make the best pair of friends (siblings) ever!

CONNECTIONS

Share the story with the readers then ask if they ever had felt the same the way before about a friend of a sibling.
Have the children list out what they can do different than their friend, and why it makes them awesome too.
Have the debate of whether the characters are crocodiles or dinosaurs!

Staircase to the Moon - A Poetry Break

2012-01-18T20:19:00.000-06:00

INTRODUCTION
I had the great misfortune to overhear a staff member tell a mother and daughter that if they cannot find a poem for a middle school project they could try downstairs in the adult nonfiction collection! :: Stop aching my heart! :: What made it worse was the shelver knew I (the Children's Librarian) was there and had never refer the transaction to me; but that is beside the point here. There are many, many, MANY children's poets out there and many of their poems can be perfect for a school project!

This poem, by the great Marilyn Singer, is from a collection of poems about the great orb in the night sky - the moon - as seen from around the world. Amazing work. This poem, and book, would be great for those in a Geography course or Multicultural course.

POEM

Staircase to the Moon
Broome, Australia
by Marilyn Singer

Under the sea, divers find pearls,
though non as big and round
....as that jewel up high.
Its glow builds a magic staircase
....from the mudflats to the sky.
Can someone climb and pluck that gem?
Our silly little cousins
....dare themselves to try.

EXTENSION

In the back of the book there is an explanation for each poem. Share the story behind the poem above.
For those learning about Australia share this poem and its story then explore more about the pearls that comes from this little town.
Have the children find something that makes their town/city/community unique and have them write a poem about the characteristic they picked.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singer, Marilyn. 2011. A Full Moon is Rising. Illus. by Julia Cairns. NY: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN: 9781600603648.

EXTRA TIDBIT
Here's an great extra tidbit for you folks! It's the story behind the poem. I thought it was so nifty cool that I had to share it! I really want to see this phenomenon now!

Broome, in the northwestern region of Australia, is a small town famous for its pearls and for a natural phenomenon called the Staircase to the Moon. Along Broome's coast are mudflats, lands that are left bare at low tides. When a full moon shines on the exposed mudflats, it creates the image of a staircase leading up to the moon through the sky. People from all over the world visit the town to view the "staircase," which can be seen for three nights each month from March to October. ~ Marilyn Singer, A Full Moon is Rising.

2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List

2012-01-13T20:00:00.000-06:00

It's finally here! Next to the Texas Bluebonnet Award, I :: HEART :: the Texas 2x2 Reading List. If you are already familiar with this list, skip the rest of this beginning paragraph and go straight to the list below! For those who don't know about the 2x2, let me share it with you! The 2x2 Reading List is created by Children's Round Table of the Texas Library Association, and provides 20 recommended books for children from age 2 up to 2nd Grade. 2x2, get it?

I am quite excited to say that the majority of the books on this 2012 list were already on my list of favorite new books that my library now owns! Enjoy, folks!

2012 Texas 2x2 Reading List

Ashman, Linda. 2011.No Dogs Allowed! Illus. by Kristin Sorra. NY: Sterling Children's Books. ISBN: 9781402758379.
Beaumont, Karen. 2011. No Sleep for Sheep! Illus. by Jackie Urbanovic. NY: Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152049690.
Chabon, Michael. 2011. The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man. Illus. by Jake Parker. NY: Balzer + Bray. ISBN: 9780061914621.
Crosby, Jeff. 2011. Wiener Wolf. Illus. by Jeff Crosby. NY: Disney Hyperion. ISBN: 97814234139836.
Crum, Shutta. 2011. Mine! Illus. by Patrice Barton. NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375867118.
Czekaj, Jef. 2011. Cat Secrets. Illus. by Jef Czekaj. NY: Balzer + Bray. ISBN: 978061920882.
Ehlert, Lois. 2011. Rrralph. Illus. by Lois Ehlert. NY: Beach Lane. ISBN: 9781442413054.
Gormley, Greg. 2011. Dog in Boots. Illus. Roberta Angaramo. NY: Holiday House. ISBN: 9780823423477.
Hall, Michael. 2011.Perfect Square.Illus. by Michael Hall. NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 9780061915130.
Hoppe, Paul. 2011.The Woods. Illus. by Paul Hoppe. NY: Chronicle Books. ISBN: 9780811875479.
Judge, Lita. 2011. Red Sled. Illus. by Lita Judge. NY: Atheneum. ISBN: 9781442420076.
Klassen, Jon. 2011. I Want My Hat Back. Illus. by Jon Klassen. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763655983.
Kosteciki-Shaw, Jenny Sue. 2011. Same, Same But Different. Illus. by Jenny Sue Kosteciki-Shaw. NY: Henry Holt. ISBN: 9780805089462.
McDonnell, Patrick. 2011. Me... Jane. Illus. by Patrick McDonnell. NY: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN: 9780316045469.
Neimann, Christoph. 2011. That's How! Illus. by Christoph Neimann. NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 9780062019639.
Ray, Mary Lyn. 2011. Stars. Illus. by Marla Frazee. NY: Beach Lane. ISBN: 9781442422490.
Rinker, Sherri Duskey. 2011. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. Illus. by Tom Lichtenheld. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. ISBN: 9780811877824.
Ricco, John. 2011. Blackout. Illus. by John Rocco. NY: Disney Hyperion. ISBN: 9781423121909.
Stevens, April. 2011. Edwin Speaks Up. Illus. by Sophie Blackall. NY: Schwartz & Wade. ISBN: 9780375853371.
Vamos, Samantha R. 2011. The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred. Illus. by Rafael Lopez. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN: 9781580892421.

Thankful Feasting - A Thanksgiving Reading List

2011-11-21T12:30:00.001-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It's only just a few days left till Thanksgiving Day is here and when the month of November comes to a close. This is holiday has become completely under appreciated as the years come and go, which is quite unfortunate. Keep the spirit alive of being thankful for what you have and get a good laughs in with these great books to share!

1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving! Written by W. Nikola-Lisa and Illustrated by Robin Kramer. 1991. Morton Gove, IL. ISBN: 0807561096. T
Alligator Arrived with Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast. Written by Crescent Dragonwagon and Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. 1987. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN: 0027330907. P
Happy Thanksgiving, Emily!. Written by Claire Masurel and Illustrated by Susan Calitri. 2004. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN: 014240201X. T
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie. Written by Alison Jackson and Illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner. 1997. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN: 0525456457. P
One Is a Feast for Mouse. Written by Judy Cox and Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. 2008. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 9780823419777. P, S
The Perfect Thanksgiving. Written by Eileen Spinelli and Illustrated by Joann Adinolfi. 2003. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 9780805065312. P, S
Setting the Turkeys Free. Written by W. Nikola-Lisa and Illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max. 2004. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 0786819529. P, S
Thanks for Thanksgiving. Written by Julie Markes and Illustrated by Doris Barrette. 2004. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 006051096X. T, P, S
Thank You, Thanksgiving. Written and Illustrated by David Milgrim. 2003. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618274669. T, P
Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks. Written by Margaret Sutherland and Illustrated by Sonja Lamut. 2000. New York: Grosset & Dunlap (Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers). ISBN: 0613317963. T
Thanksgiving at Our House. Written and Illustrated by P.K. Hallinan. 2006, Nashville, TN: Ideals Children's Books. ISBN: 9780824955342. T, P
Thanksgiving Mice! Written by Bethany Roberts and Illustrated by Doug Cushman. 2001. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618120408. T
Thelonius Turkey Lives (on Felicia Ferguson's Farm). Written and Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. 2005. New York: Borzoi Book (Alfred Knopf). ISBN: 0375931260.
A Turkey For Thanksgiving. Written by Eve Bunting and Illustrated by Diane de Groat. 1991. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0899197930. P, S
Thanksgiving Is Here! Written and Illustrated by Diane Goode. 2003. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0060515899. P, S
Turkey Trouble. Written by Wendi Silvano and Illustrated by Lee Harper. 2009. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. ISBN: 9780761455295. P, S

I have to say that Turkey Trouble is my all-time favorite from this list. I always read it at my preschool storytime! Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Reading Level Key:

T = Toddlers (ages 2-3)
P = Preschool (ages 3-5)
S = School Age (ages 6-8)

The Chicken Thief

2011-11-15T16:38:00.001-06:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rodriguez, Béatrice. 2010. The Chicken Thief. New York: Enchanted Lion Books. ISBN: 9781592700929.

BOOK REVIEW
It all started out on a country morning cottage where Bear, rabbit, and the chickens just got up. Then, all of a sudden, during breakfast, a fox who was peaking from the bushes at the edge of the forest, swoops up a chicken into his arms and runs! Dedicated friends, Bear, Rabbit, and another chicken chase after them to save their captured friend from a digested-doom! The pursuit winds through thick forests, a mountain, and torrents waters before we all discover that Fox and Chicken eloped! All of this is craftily presented in a narrow wordless picture book. With fine ink lines and colorful watercolor, the simple yet detailed illustrations are reminiscent of author/illustrator Peter Spier. Rodriguez wonderfully captures the mood of all the characters and the world around them in full page spreads. Though some older readers may over analyze and wonder if the chicken developed Stockholm Syndrome. However, beyond that it's quite a fun and almost romantic story. Readers of all ages will be delighted in the happy ending. A fun, unexpected-ending, storybook to include to your wordless collection.

CONNECTIONS

Ask the children what they thought was happening as they venture through the story.
Have the children create their own wordless storybook that has an ending that can be viewed as unexpected.

Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom

2011-10-25T11:09:00.001-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singer, Marilyn. 2011. Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom. Illustrated by Lee Widdish. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375867101.

BOOK REVIEW
"Do animals celebrate Valentine's Day?" is the question that one will find on the jacket cover flap. It continues on to say no one knows for sure. However, thanks to children's poet extraordinaire Marilyn Singer's creative little poems found in this book you would be come a firm believer that animals do celebrate love and companionship in their own world. In rhyming couplets, these poems are full of love, humor and puns that will make readers of all ages laugh and giggle. Ranging from household pets (dogs and cats) to wild animals found in your backyard to ones found in Africa (elephants) and to animals found in the sky and in the ocean, there is an poem for each animal lover. Some poems are quite easy to understand, "A sunny day. It's perfect weather / to go outside - and nap together" (Cats), while other poems can make a reader think and can be educational at the same time, "You and I could be a team, / if we agree on a color scheme" (Chameleons) and "I'm finding a leaf. You're taking a bite. / Wait a few weeks and our hearts will take flight." (Caterpillars). Lee Widdish's illustrations compliment the adorableness of the books theme. On each page, a poem has a vignette style picture. The overall presentation for Twosomes is a sweet little package, especially with the book being a small book that is perfect for little hands to hold. A must-have book for any poetry collection.

CONNECTIONS

Share this book in class or storytime for Valentine's Day or if you're celebrating animals.
When learning about animals, read the poems that may require a little more brain power (chameleons and caterpillars) and then explore info about each animal from nonfiction books. For example, after sharing the caterpillar poem, discuss its life cycle from being a caterpillar that goes into a cocoon that becomes a butterfly. You could even then read The Very Hungry Caterpillar!
If your studying poetry, after sharing some poems, have the children create their own two-liners about the animal of their choice.

Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List 2012-2013!

2011-10-23T16:44:00.000-05:00

This weekend (Oct. 22-23) in Austin was the Texas Book Festival! I had the great fun to explore the fest on Sunday, and got my hot little hands on the just announce master list of the Texas Bluebonnet Award list! I must say, that I recognize only a couple titles from the list, which means that I have some reading and review perusing in my future!

Here is the list of new books that will be voted on! Do you recognize any?

Arnosky, Jim. 2011. Thunder Birds, Nature's Flying Predators. New York: Sterling.
Cardillo, Margaret. 2011. Just Being Audrey. Illustrated by Julia Denos. New York: Balzer & Bray
Deedy, Carmen Agra and Randall Wright. 2011. The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale. Illustrated by Barry Moser. Atlanta: Peachtree.
Durango, Julia. 2010. Under the Mambo Moon. Illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
Fleming, Candace. 2010. Clever Jack Takes the Cake. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.
Hatke, Ben. 2010. Zita the Spacegirl. New York: First Second.
Jonell, Lynne. 2010. Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates. Illustrated by Greg Call. New York: Amulet Books.
Lupica, Mike. 2010. Hero. New York: Philomel Books.
McElligott, Matthew and Larry Tuxbury. 2010. Benjamin Franklinstein Lives! Illustrated by Matthew McElligott. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Ramsey, Calvin A. 2010. Ruth and the Green Book. Illustrated y Floyd Cooper. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
Selznick, Brian. 2011. Wonderstruck. New York: Scholastic Press. (Is anyone surprised to see Brian's book on the list? I'm not!)
Smith, Clete Barrett. 2011. Aliens on Vacation. Illustrated by Christian Slade. New York: Disney Hyperion Books.
Sternberg, Julie. 2011. Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell. New York: Amulet Books.
Swaim, Jessica. 2010. Hot Diggity Dog: The History of the Hot Dog. Illustrated by Elwood H. Smith. New York: Dutton Children's Books.
Taback, Simms. 2011. Postcards from Camp. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books.
Warner, Sally. 2011. EllRay Jakes is Not a Chicken. Illustrated y Jamie Harper. New York: Viking.
Weinstein, Muriel Harris. 2010. Play, Louis, Play: The True Story of a Boy and His Horn. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. New York: Bloomsbury.
Yohalem, Eve. 2009. Escape Under the Forever Sky. San Fransisco: Chronicle.

Andy Warhol's Colors

2011-05-28T21:09:00.012-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rubin, Susan Goldman. 2007. Andy Warhol's Colors. Art by Andy Warhol. San Fransisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC. ISBN: 9780811857215.

BOOK REVIEW
It's never too early to introduce Andy Warhol to your child. Humor aside, this little board book has some great elements that perfect for the beginning of exposing colors and animals to a baby. Rubin picks ten pieces of art from famed Andy Warhol to write her simple text around, like "small green cat just purrs meow," "purple horse is trotting fast", to provide a brief description of the illustration with a focus on the colors. The little pages are filled with bright colors and the art is large and clear enough for little eyes to focus and distinguish. The book ends with a great rhyming stanza, "See the colors bright and bold. Orange, yellow, green, and gold. Pink and blue and all the rest. Which of them do you like best?" that encourages second and third readings in one sitting. A great first book to include in any baby collection, including for parents who are Modern Art lovers.

CONNECTIONS

When reading the book remember to point at the pictures and the words and read over and over!
Share other board books with your baby that include art such as: Sharing with Renoir by Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober.

The Clock's Gone Cuckoo! - A Poetry Break

2011-03-20T20:45:00.003-05:00

INTRODUCTION
I don't know about you but Daylight Savings Time in the Spring (you know, when we have to spring forward one hour) throws me for a loop! This is an excellent poem to share with children who are learning about this time confusion (or may even be feeling it too!).

POEM

The Clock's Gone Cuckoo!
(A Daylight Savings Poem)
by Jenny Whitehead

They say we lost an hour.
I'm not sure where it went.
Our clocks are all mixed up-
My head feels like cement.

Down the stairs I stumble-
Hey, who turned on the sun?
Dad's newspaper is sideways,
His shave is halfway done.

Look! Mom's pouring cat food
In all our breakfast bowls.
My sister's twisted sweater
Has mismatched buttonholes!

Luckily, this strange time change
Starts quietly on Sunday.
Imagine what could happen
It it started on a Monday!

EXTENSION
Ask the kids what they think of the Daylight Savings Time, and what would they think would happen if it really did start on a Monday instead of Sunday. Remember to tell them that Benjamin Franklin came up the DST concept (wouldn't you love to see what the kids responses to that will be!?). Of course, also invite the children to write a poem about what their ideas are for DST!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Whitehead, Jenny. 2007. Holiday Stew: A Kids Portion of Holiday and Seasonal Poems. NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN: 9780805077155.

Yes, It Was My Grandmother - A Poetry Break

2011-03-05T22:50:00.004-06:00

INTRODUCTION
March is National Women's History Month! As part of the celebration of women throughout is the ages is to reflect on those who are closest to you. This is a great poem about knowing that you share characteristics as your own grandmother who did things that were not necessarily lady-like. Share this poem with some historical pictures of cowgirls and wild horses. Remember to bring a picture of your grandmas too!

POEM

Yes, It Was My Grandmother
by Luci Tapahonso

Yes, it was my grandmother
who trained wild horses for pleasure and pay.
People knew of her, saying:
.....................She knows how to handle them
.....................Horses obey that woman.

She worked,
skirts flying hair tied securely in the wind and dust.
she rode those animals hard and was thrown,
time and time again.
She worked until they were meek
and wanting to please.
.....................She came home at dusk,
.....................tired and dusty,
.....................smelling of sweat and horses.

She couldn't cook,
my father said smiling,
your grandmother hated to cook.

.....................Oh Grandmother,
.....................who freed me from cooking,
.....................Grandmother, you must have made sure
.....................I met a man who wouldn't share the kitchen.

.....................I am small like you and
.....................do not protect my careless hair
.....................from wind or rain - it tangles often,
.....................Grandma, and it is wild and untrained.

EXTENSION
Invite ahead of time children to bring a picture or two of their grandmas to share with everyone. After sharing the poem allow everyone time to share fun facts about their own grandmas and if they think they have similar characteristics. They can do this in poetic form or just in a list. Remember you can do it too!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hollyer, Belinda, sel. 2005. She's All That!: Poems About Girls. Illus. by Susan Hellard. Boston, Mass.: Kingfisher (Houghton Mifflin Company imprint). ISBN: 0753458527.

The Yellowstone Whale - A Poetry Break

2011-02-22T13:00:00.003-06:00

INTRODUCTION
National monuments, symbols, or and landmarks always appear in a child's school curriculum at one point or another. Why not through a little poetry into it as well? The Old Faithful geyser is an American landmark that many think about when one mentions the Yellowstone National Park. Share this poem with other poems that are about other landmarks or nature poems. Remember to have information and pictures of Old Faithful too.

POEM

The Yellowstone Whale
by Lisa Westberd

..................................Deep beneath
..............................the bubbling pools
..........................lives a big whale.

....................When it breaths,
................we snap pictures
.............of its spout.

.........When it flicks its tail,
.......the ground shakes
.....beneath our feet.

...Stay down deep,
.whale.
Stay down.

EXTENSION
Have the students explore other natural landmarks through books and other poems. Have them pick one so that they can create their own poem that provides a unique persepective on what the landmark is.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Westberd, Lisa. 2003. Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up. Illus. by Cathie Felstead. NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 0060292652.

Edgar Springs, Missouri? - A Poetry Break

2011-02-19T13:13:00.009-06:00

INTRODUCTION
Everyone needs to be exposed random facts everyone so often (or all the time!). The Edgar Spring, MO that is the subject of this poem is the "Center of the U.S. Population," and really is a little fact that isn't mentioned enough. This poem would be perfect for a geography lesson or a lesson on the U.S. Share this one with other poems found in the same book or from A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme, which is also by J. Patrick Lewis.

POEM

Edgar Springs, Missouri?
(Center of the US Population)
by J. Patrick Lewis

Smack-de-do-dab in the middle
Of America's a little
Hamlet by the name of Edgar Springs.

And I think I oughta mention
(Could I have y'all's attention?)
'Cause it may not have the most famous ring:

Hundred ninety (population)
Belly button of the nation,
One P.O.,
A general store,
A stop for gas.

It's a breadbox of a borough,
And the bloomin' Census Bureau
can't locate it with a magnifying glass!

EXTENSION
With this poem and any other geographical poem shared, have maps available and an images of the subject for the children to look at. Invite them to explore the maps to find a city or town they have never been to then have them research from the chosen to location. With the information in had have them share a poem (doesn't matter how long) about it.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, J. Patrick. 2007. Good Mornin', Ms. America: The U.S. in Verse. Illus. by Mark Clapsadle. Columbus, OH: Gingham Dog Press. ISBN: 0769631703.

How to Make a Valentine - A Poetry Break

2011-02-11T19:01:00.008-06:00

INTRODUCTION
It's that time of year again. Pull out that construction paper, those bottles of glue and glitter (or glitter glue pens, you're choice), white paper doilies, and the all the instruments needed to create those little cards to put in someone's decorated shoe box. Yes, it is Valentine's Day is just around the bend! This poem is for those who may be shy at heart or just plain do not want to give a valentine to anyone at school. Share this poem with other fun ones to get the full range for this little day.

POEM

How to Make a Valentine - by Bobby
by Jenny Whitehead

.....................Cut one red heart,
................. ...Sprinkle sprinkles,
...................Smooth out all of the
................ ..Glue-bump wrinkles.
.............. .....Stick some stickers,
........... ............. ...Scribble,
........... ............. .Swirl swirl.
.............. .... .Give to Grandma,
.............. .... .. .Not a GIRL girl.
................... .... . (No way!)

EXTENSION
Invite the kids to create their own poem about the process of creating their own valentine hearts or cards, and, if they are brave enough, to say who the cards are for. They could even create a secondary poem that could be the written sentiment for their recipients.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Whitehead, Jenny. 2007. Holiday Stew: A Kids Portion of Holiday and Seasonal Poems. NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN: 9780805077155.

A New Year Comes New Reading!

2011-01-07T09:18:00.019-06:00

Happy New Year to all readers out there in the blogosphere and beyond! Another year has come and gone, and we are now at the beginning of the next. Time to explore some highly recommended reading from the new award reading lists provided by the Texas Library Association (TLA)!

In the past month TLA have announced the following reading lists:

Texas 2x2 Reading List

The 2x2s are books that are perfect for readers from ages 2 to 2nd grade. There are picture books then the Easy Readers (aka Beginning Readers) chapter books. This is a collection of books that I always trying to use more because (1) it's always good to promote the award/reading list collections and (2) you know for sure that these books would fit into the required age limit.

Texas Bluebonnet Award

The Bluebonnet books are for readers in 3rd - 6th grade and range from picture books up to juvenile chapter books. These are generally great reads to recommend to people. Schools in Texas actually require students to read from the list.

A master list is created each year and one winning title will be announced by the end of January.

Note: I was very excited to see two great poetry books making the list this year:

Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse by Marilyn Singer and illus by Josée Masse

This is an amazing book of poems about the classic and well-loved fairy tales. Each tale has two poems. They are exactly identical to each other, except one has been flipped text-over-text to tell the story of another important character in the tale. Does that make sense? Look to my Poetry Break I created based off of one of the poems! I must say that this is a must-buy book to introduce poetry on a classic and fun subject.

Amazing Faces selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illus. by Chris Soentpiet

This books is a collection of poems that are about the amazing diverse range of people that we live with. Written by today's popular and some award-winning poets the poems include stories of a baby, a boy who wants to be friends the other boys on the street, a high school football hero, a girl in karate, and the love of an abuela. The book is perfectly diverse in the culture and includes a bilingual poem!

Lone Star Reading List

Lone Stars are for grades 6th - 8th and consist of juvenile and some young adult novels and occasional nonfiction (dependent on how your books are placed into collections, that is).

The first book from this list that I'm going to get my hands on is The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman. I saw this book a couple months back when it first arrived in the library; however, I had forgotten it on my many scraps of "To Read" papers until I saw it on the reading list.

This is about Elizabeth who just an after-school got a new job at the "New-York Circulating Material Repository," a library that circulates objects instead of books. She discovers a room that houses items from all the famous Brother Grimm fairy tales, which begin to disappear and it's up to Elizabeth to find out who.

Tayshas Reading List

Tayshas are primarily young adult novel with the occasional nonfiction and adult reads. They're geared towards grade 9th - 12th grade.

The one book from this reading list that I truly liked looking through was Years of Dust: The Story Behind the Dust Bowl by Albert Marrin. This nonfiction title has amazing photographs from the Dust Bowl, and is a great book for teen readers to explore one of the US's moment of history.

Another nonfiction book that is worth reading is Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't Grow Weary by Elizabeth Partridge. This title is about fight to vote and the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. The story is told through the voices of men, women, children and teens. A very good read to explore and learn.

All in all, I was really happy to see quite a number of books that I'm familiar with make it onto all the lists. My "To-Reading" List just got longer! Follow any of the highlighted links to get to the websites to get the complete reading list!

Explore and enjoy!

Longing for Beauty - A Poetry Break

2011-01-06T10:03:00.005-06:00

I got the book from which these poems came from for Christmas (which I was very excited about!), and there were so many good poems to pick from it was hard to choose one for a poetry break!

INTRODUCTION
There are so many different styles of poems! Acrostic, haiku, concret, and more! Poet Marylin Singer has beautifully introduced the Reverse Poem in her new book Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse where she has taken the famous fairy tales and written two poems telling the story from two points of view. The "cool" affect of these poems is they are the exact same words, only one is in reverse. To introduce the a poem, ask the children if they are familiar with the fairy tale and briefly discuss reverse poems to them.

POEMS

Longing for Beauty
by Marilyn Singer

(poem 1)
A beast
can love
beauty.
A moist muzzle
can welcome
a rose.
A hairy ear
can prize
a nightingale, singing.
Beneath fur,
look!
A soft heart
stirs,
longing.

(poem 2)
Longing
stirs
a soft heart.
Look
beneath fur.
A nightingale singing,
can prize
a hairy ear.
A rose
can welcome
a moist muzzle.
Beauty
can love
a Beast

EXTENSION
After reading the poems as the children if they know which poem is about which character: Beauty or the Beast? (Note, if you show the book's illustrations this could help them decide as the artwork generally shows the characters standing on the left or right side of the page just like the poems are.) When the children know what reversible poems, they can create their own simple reversible poems about nature or a single object. If someone wants to be ambitious and try to write their own reversible poem stories based on a fairy tale or beyond let them try!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Singer, Marylin. 2010. Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse. Illus. by Josée Masse. NY: Dutton Children's Books (imprint of Penguin Group Inc.). ISBN: 9780525479017.

Daddy Fell Into the Pond - A Poetry Break

2010-11-14T22:41:00.003-06:00

INTRODUCTION
To add a special touch to your discussions or celebrations of families read this poem by the famous poet Alfred Noyes. For younger groups of children you can include a picture or a flannel board props to help illustrate the poem's story. I read this poem for my "My Family" preschool storytime and had made a simple "daddy" with a surprised face and hands up and a pond to help illustrate. The children and their parents LOVED it! Make sure you read the poem with a dramatic voice!

POEM

Daddy Fell Into the Pond
by Alfred Noyes

Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond
THEN,
Daddy fell into the pond!

And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight.
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed." - Click!

Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft
And is sounded as if the old drake laughed.

O, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!

EXTENSION
For the younger groups ask them if they have ever fallen into a pond or a giant puddle? Ask them if they ever knew someone who did. For the older children invite them to share a story (real or made up) about a similar family incident.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrew, Julie and Emma Walton Hamilton. 2009. Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies. Illus. by James McMullan. NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group. p. 32. ISBN: 978316040495.

The Mad Scientist - A Poetry Break

2010-11-01T00:12:00.008-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Happy Halloween! Time to bring out the cute, the scary, the funny costumes and the candy bucket. This is a great poem from a great book of Halloween poetry to share with a class or share with the group of kids at a party. If you can manage it, do some special effects with a flannel board or just in the way you present the poem. Pair this poem with any more from Sklansky's book Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans.

POEM

The Mad Scientist
by Amy E. Sklansky

He used-

nails
and screws
and nuts
and bolts,

plugs
and wires
with lots of volts,

ceiling fans
and pots
and pans,

toasters,
roasters,
old tin cans.

Then lightning somehow struck the tower
right before the midnight hour.

A spark! A sizzle!
A shock! A stir!

All parts at once began to whirr.

And at long last, his grand design
sprang to life. Meet

FRANKENSTEIN!

EXTENSION
After sharing this poem have the kids describe their own monster. They can also draw pictures of Frankenstein monster described in the poem or a monster of their own creation. For those who want to, they can also write their own poem in describing it.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sklansky, Amy E. 2004. Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans. Illus. by Karen Dismukes. NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 080507046X.

Look for Me By Moonlight

2010-10-20T22:58:00.007-05:00

WP-CC Note: This is one of my most favorite books of all time. In fact, as a teenager, this is was the first book that I started reading one night and stayed up into the wee hours to finish. I couldn't put it down!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hahn, Mary Downing. 1995. Look for Me By Moonlight. NY: Clarion Books/A Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 978035698433.

BOOK REVIEW
When her mother and stepfather were moving to Italy, sixteen-year-old Cynda rebelled and she went to stay with her father and his new family at their bed-and-breakfast inn on the frigid winter coast of Maine. While adjusting to the family dynamics of her father, who she rarely saw before then, his second wife, Susan, who is now pregnant and stepbrother Todd, Cynda struggles to find her place in the family as she realizes that her father has truly moved on since the divorce years ago. On top of that, there is possibility of the inn being haunted by a young girl who was murdered, drained of blood, and thrown into the ocean right near the inn during the 1930s. Though, after starting her home studies, making friends with Will, an artistic teen who is a friend of the family, and having fun moments with Todd, things take a twist when a very mysterious stranger named Vincent who has all the good looks and sophisticated characteristics arrives on their doorstep. Cynda takes an immediate attraction to him as does he. Little does she know that Vincent has a long history that is as old as the inn and its legends and just as frightening. Soon Cynda finds her need for love and attention has become dangerous and had spread to family, and has to fight to save her and her family and friends' lives from Vincents dark powers. Masterly weaving in Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman," Hahn has created a suspenseful story involving murders, ghosts, and a vampire with wonderfully developed characters and storyline. A perfect read for middle schoolers who are into mystery, horror and the ever popular vampires.

CONNECTIONS
*Read more vampire books like: Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde and The Silver Kiss by Annette Klause.
*For older readers try The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast.

Chasing Vermeer - Audiobook

2010-10-15T00:02:00.011-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Balliett, Blue. 2004. Chasing Vermeer. Read by Ellen Reilly. NY: Random House Audio Publishing Group. Compact Disc - Unabridged, 5 CDs. ISBN: 9780307206732.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
When a mysterious person claims that some of the paintings claimed to be created by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer are, in fact, not from his brush, then ultimately steals the painting A Lady Writing to make his point, two sixth-graders, Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee are on the case. Mystery and intrigue is around every corner as Calder and Petra become friends and begin to find a connection between their free-spirited schoolteacher, a used bookstore owner, an old woman, and even Calder’s friend Tommy. Putting together the history and art of a famed 17th century painter, a book about unusual phenomena, use of pentominoes, and codes, Balliett’s first novel successfully captures the excitement of a crime solving with a smart and detectives that remind readers of K.L. Konigsburg’s classic From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Reader Ellen Reilly does a good job at presenting each character with a different voice. Though at times Calder's voice, at times, comes across as a nasal and ignorant, the latter of which this main character is not, and, she pronounces Petra's name differently through out. However, as you get wrapped up in Balliet story of mystery, puzzles, and intrigue, you will begin to gloss over these minor faults. A great fun, mysterious and exciting choice to for those who want to read-a-long with the book or to listen on its own.

Recommended Storytime Books

2010-10-13T23:43:00.019-05:00

I've started doing storytimes again! So, as I am delving into the world of awesome pictures perfect for the programs I thought I share some of my favorites!

Note: In parentheses I have the initials for which storytime I've used the book for as well as for storytimes that I think they would be good for.

B - Baby Storytime
T - Toddler Storytime
P - Preschool Storytime

All Aboard the Dinotrain written by Deb Lund and illus. by Howard Fine (P)
Bark, George written and illus. by Jules Pfieffer (B, T, P)
Bear Wants More written by Karma Wilson and illus. by Jane Chapman (T, P)
Bear Snores On written by Karma Wilson and illus. by Jane Chapman
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See written by Bill Martin Jr. and illus. by Eric Carle (B, T, P)
Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault and illus. by Lois Ehlert (B, T, P)
Clip-Clop written by Nicola Smee (B, T, P)
Cows in the Kitchen written by June Crebbin and illus. by Katharine McEwen (B, T, P)
Duck on a Bike written and illus. by David Shannon (P)
Falling for Rapunzel written by Leah Wilcox and illus. by Lydia Monks (P)
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed written and illus. by Eileen Christelow (T)
Fran's Flower written by Lisa Bruce and illus. by Rosalind Beardshaw (P)
Good Night Gorilla written and illus. by Peggy Rathmann (T, P)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? written by Jane Yolen and illus. by Mark Teague (P)
It Looked Like Spilt Milk written and illus. by Charles G. Shaw (T, P)
Jump, Frog, Jump! written by Robert Kalan and illus. by Byron Barton (T, P)
Mouse Paint written and illus by Ellen Stoll Walsh (B, T)
Mouse was Mad written by Linda Urban and illus. by Henry Cole (T, P)
Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! written by Candace Fleming and illus. by G. Brian Karas (P)
One Duck Stuck written by Phyllis Root and illus. by Jane Chapman (P)
Pete's A Pizza written and illus. by William Steig (P)
Planting a Rainbow written and illus. by Lois Ehlert (T)
Rain written and illus. by Manya Stojic (T, P)
The Seals on the Bus written by Lenny Hort and illus. by G. Brian Karas (T, P)
Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day written by Jamie Lee Curtis and illus. by Laura Cornell (P)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar written and illus. by Eric Carle (T, P)
The Very Busy Spider written and illus. by Eric Carle (T, P)

These are just of the few titles! I'll be planning another page that will have a more organized bibliography. Stay tuned!

Banned Book Week

2010-09-27T22:29:00.011-05:00

It's Banned Book Week, people! From September 25 to October 1 it's time that we need to celebrate our 1st Amendment Rights freely read what we want to read (though we should do it every single day of our lives)! Every year books for children and adults face the risk of being challenged if they one small element that is not agreeable to one person or to a whole group. This when I truly love working in a public library where I can be surrounded by books that match the interest and beliefs of every one who have all types of walks of life. This does not mean that the library does not receive book challenges, but the right to Intellectual Freedom is on our side!

Check out the Office of Intellectual Freedom's video about the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged books of 2009. This is an excellent and simple video to illustrate what is being challenged:

Want to learn more about Banned Book Week? Check out the American Library Association (ALA) web pages that share all sorts of information about Intellectual Freedom and explore their lists of books that are challenged (and not necessarily banned). ALA tabulates the most challenged books every year. If you don't have the time to view the video above here what has made Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged books of 2009:

1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series) by Laurent Myracle
Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

2. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoints, suicide, unsuited to age group

4.To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious veiwpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

6. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

7. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence

8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

9. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit unsuited to age group

1o. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group

To learn how ALA tabulates these titles please visit their web page Frequently Challenged Books. Also, to learn about some of the reason and history of these books being challenged, ALA also has a page detailing the Reasons for Challenges to Classic Books like Catcher in the Rye.

Though technically many of the books listed in the past during Banned Book Week have only been challenged; however, you would be surprised or even intrigued that learn that many of the books appear on the lists do to it being banned in other countries or were burned either in the USA or during the Nazi book burnings.

The majority of the books challenged on this list as well as the ones that I have faced in my profession have been for teens of all ages and younger children. Just because one person does not agree what the story is about or how a situation handles, or how one family/neighborhood is portrayed in a book does not mean that it is completely fictional and needs to be challenged. There are so many walks a lives that all these books will be of interest and could create a connection to anyone and everyone.

Celebrate our freedom to read and READ A BANNED BOOK!

"Think for yourselves and let other enjoys the privilege to do so too" ~ Voltaire, Essay on Tolerance

Barry the Fish with Fingers

2010-09-15T20:42:00.007-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hendra, Sue. 2010. Barry the Fish with Fingers. Illus. by Sue Hendra. NY: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9780375989261.

BOOK REVIEW
What could a fish do if it had fingers? Many things! - according to a round and blue fish named Barry that is. Readers are initially introduced to Sea Slug and all the different type of fishes under the sea, but that story changes focus when Barry appears with bright orange fingers at the end of the fins. With his new phalanges, Barry can play with finger puppets, knit a scarf, play the piano, finger paint and tickle. But perhaps the most important thing that he could do was point and shout a saving warning of "Look out!" when a large box landed on the sea floor. After being saved from being squished, one little green fish ask the question on everyone's mind - "...where can we get some of these fingers?" As it turns out, Barry's amazing digits were not spontaneous fin growth, but fish sticks, and the box that floated down to their world was a crate of "Pirate Jack's Tasty Fish Sticks." Now everyone can have some fun. The overall plot is nothing too deep, and fact that Sea Slug has seen all kinda of fishes under the sea is incidental as the book more for pure entertainment and use of our silly imagination. The colorfully bright and clear gouache illustrations fill the pages. The contrast of a blue Barry and his bright orange and crispy looking fingers is wonderfully humorous, and the children will like all the different type of fishes. Be prepared or the one child in the group to say, "But fish sticks are made from fishes!". A fun read nonetheless for storytime or just during some silly time. Remember to read it with some gusto!

CONNECTIONS
*Have the children share what other things a fish could do with fingers.
*Invite the children to create their own fish with fingers picture
*While reading to a group like in storytime, remember to ask the children questions like "Do fish have fingers?" and etc.
*If you are allowed food in your room, share a small meal of fish sticks (along with some fruit!) *after reading the book.

September - A Poetry Break

2010-09-09T23:20:00.008-05:00

INTRODUCTION
The month of September marks a number of things in the life of everyone. After Labor Day marks the end of summer and the beginning of schools and there will be now holidays until Thanksgiving. September is also when we will find the first day of Autumn, which is very much a welcomed season after a hot summer. Everyone, especially for all the Texas folk right now after our hot, hot, HOT summer and the soggy week so far, love and savor the words and images in this poem from a classic poet.

POEM
September
by John Updike

The breezes taste
...Of apple peel.
The air is full
...If smell to feel-

Ripe fruit, old footballs,
...Drying grass,
New books and blackboard
...Chalk in class.

The bee, his hive
...Well-honeyed, hums
While Mother cuts
...Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean
...With suds, the days
Are polished with
...A morning haze.

EXTENSION
After sharing this poem have the children volunteer to share what they think of the month of September and what it means to them. They can present their thoughts in poetic form or it could be just a list. It could even be both - a list poem!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Andrew, Julie and Emma Walton Hamilton. 2009. Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies. Illus. by James McMullan. NY: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers/Hachette Book Group. p. 32. ISBN: 978316040495.

August 30th: National Toasted Marshellow Day - A Poetry Break

2010-08-30T00:03:00.002-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Time to put some white fluffy goodness on a stick and toast 'em! August 30 is National Toasted Marshmallow Day. To share this poem and celebrate this confectionery delight, bring a supply of large marshmallows and other necessities to toast them and enjoy their gooey-ness!

POEM

Toasting Marshmallows
by Kristine O'Connell George

I am a careful marshmallow toaster,
a patients marshmallow roaster,
turning my stick oh-so-slowly,
taking my time, checking often.
This is art-
a time of serious reflection
as my pillowed confection
slowly reaches golden perfection.

My brother
............grabs 'em with grubby hands
.........................shoves 'em on the stick
...................................burns 'em to a crisp
................................................cools 'em off
..........................................................flicks soot
.....................................................................eats quick.

I'm still turning my stick.
He's already eaten six.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:
George, Kristin O'Connell. 2001. Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems. Illus. by Kate Kiesler. NY: Calrion Books. ISBN: 061804597X.

EXTENSION
After sharing the poem invite the children to toast their own marshmallows (with adult supervision!) over a candle flame or simply pop them into a microwave to make s'mores or straight off the stick. Ask them to share what they think of the treat and what else they could toast or roast over the campfire. Encourage them to write their response in poem form. For a fun game, see who can stack the tallest marshmallow or s'mores tower.

August 19th: National Aviation Day - A Poetry Break

2010-08-19T11:12:00.005-05:00

INTRODUCTION
August 19 is National Aviation Day and the 139th birthday of Orville Wright of the Wright Brothers. Proclaimed as a national observance by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1939, National Aviation Day is a day to make tribute to the Wright Brothers and all other pioneers, heroes and heroines aviation (National Parks Service 2006). The following two poems celebrate Orville and Wilbur Wright and Amelia Earhart. Prepare for reading these poems by collecting a series of books and facts (complete with photographs) about some of the famous pilots, lesser known but also important pilots, and pioneers of aviation, like The Wright Brothers: First Flight by Tara Dixon-Engle and Up in the Air: The Story of Bessie Coleman by Philip S. Hart. The first poem, "The First Airplane," is perfect for reading in two voices. Invite volunteers to help read the poem, one individual/group as Orville and another individual/group as Wilbur.

POEMS

The First Airplane
by Bobbi Katz

I'm Orville.
.................................................I'm Wilbur.
I'm younger
.................................................I'm older Two brothers...........................Two brothers.
One team.................................One team.
We both love mechanics.........We both love mechanics.
Even as boys............................Even as boys.
we made pocket money
.................................................by inventing toys.
And always one question:.......And always one question:
What makes it tick?.................What makes it tick?
Then we worked together........Then we worked together.
Two brothers............................Two brothers.
One team..................................One team.
Bicycle builders
..................................................Self-taught engineers Our minds seemed to fit...........Our minds seemed to fit
like a set of oiled gears..............like a set of oiled gears.
When I caught typhus
...................................................I feared you might die. We grew even closer,
Perhaps that is why
We both were possessed............we both were possessed.
Two brothers
One vision...................................One vision
.....................................................Two brothers
One quest:...................................One quest:
A machine to defy
.....................................................the whims of the sky.
A machine with control
.....................................................and the power
to fly!............................................to fly!
A machine that was light
......................................................but weighed more than air.
A mechanical puzzle....................A mechanical puzzle.
with the question we share:.........with a question we share:
What makes it tick?......................What makes it tick?
I'm Orville
.......................................................I'm Wilbur
Two bodies....................................Two bodies.
One mind......................................One mind.
Thoughts merging
.......................................................thoughts meshing
new answers..................................new answers
to find............................................to find.
Building gliders
.......................................................becoming sky riders.
not resting
just testing.....................................just testing
and testing and testing..................and testing and testing...
and testing and testing..................and testing and testing...
designing...
........................................................combining...
rethinking...
........................................................refining...
then building the Flyer...................then building the Flyer
exactly to plan.................................exactly to plan
and known for certain.....................and knowing for certain
it would carry...................................it would carry...
a man!..............................................a man!
And we were.....................................And we were
both right.........................................Both Wright.
Yes, we were.....................................Yes, we were
Wright!.............................................right!
I'm Orville.
..........................................................I'm Wilbur.
Two brothers....................................Two brothers.
One team..........................................One team.
I'm Orville.
..........................................................I'm Wilbur.
Two brothers....................................Two brothers.
One dream........................................One dream.

Amelia Cramped
By Monica Kulling

......................Amelia Cramped

..............................inthe
............................cockpit
......................likeabirdinabox
theicecakedwings...........theicecakedwings
.....................shebringsjuice
...................toothbrush&comb
......................couragethewill
..........................tofly15hrs.
............................without
...............................stop
...................throughdarkdanger
................................the
............................Atlantic
................................sky

BIBLIOGRAPHY
These poems are from:
Katz, Bobbie. 1998. We the People. Illus. by Nina Crews. NY: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins Publishers). ISBN: 9780688165321.

Janeczko, Paul. B. 2005. A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Form. Illus. by Chris Raschka. Cambridge, Mass. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0763606626.

EXTENSION
Invite the children to explore the many well-known and not-so-well-known pilots of American History. Have them write a poem, concrete poem, or a bio-poem about their favorite pilot and what they love about airplanes and flying. As a fun craft have them make paper airplanes of different shapes and sizes like the ones found in the book Making Paper Airplanes that Really Fly by Nick Robinson.

August 16th: National Tell A Joke Day - A Poetry Break

2010-08-16T11:03:00.003-05:00

INTRODUCTION
National Tell a Joke Day is August 16! Time to share the old favorites and learn some new jokes to tell everyone. In preparation of the poem reading bring a collection of joke books as well as humorous poetry books like Jack Prelutsky's For Laughing Out Loud: Poems to Tickle Your Funny Bone and The Hopeful Trout and Other Limericks by John Ciardi, and bring your own favorite jokes to share. Remember to read this poem with some vocal attitude!

POEM

The Joke
by Anonymous

The joke you just told isn't funny one bit.
It's pointless and dull, wholly lacking in
........wit
It's so old and stale, it's beginning to
........smell!
Besides it's the one I was going to tell.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:
Prelutsky, Jack. 1983. The Random House Book of Poetry of Children: A Treasure of 572 Poems for Today's Child. Illus. Arnold Lobel. NY: Random House. ISBN: 0394850106.

EXTENSION
Invite the children to share their favorite jokes and humorous poems. Encourage them to create their own joke books that include jokes that they were told by their friends and that they found in books as well as funny poems, including limericks, that they discover while exploring the poetry books.

August 1st: International Friendship Day - A Poetry Break

2010-08-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

INTRODUCTION
International Friendship Day is the first Sunday of August, which for the year 2010 is August 1st! The value of friendship is important to everyone and needs to be celebrated not just one day but also every day of the year. Share these two poems with others from books like Very Best (Almost) Friends: Poems of Friendship by Paul Janeczko and Myra Cohn Livingston's A time to Talk: Poems of Friendship.

POEMS

Oath of Friendship
by Anonymous, Translated by Arthur Waley

SHANG YA!
I want to be your friend
Forever and ever without break or decay.
When the hills are all flat
And the rivers are all dry.
When it lightens and thunders in winter,
When it rains and snows in summer,
When Heaven and Earth mingle-
Not till then will I part from you.

Best Friend
by Judith Nicholls

When there's just one square
of chocolate left...
she shares,
she gives me half.

When thunder growls like an angry bear
and I shiver and shake
beneath my chair...
she won't laugh.

when I'm grumpy or cross
or spotty or sad,
when I whine or boss...
she stays.

When things aren't fair
and I just want to hide...
she's there,
always

BIBLIOGRAPHY
These poems are from:
Nicholls, Judith. 2000. Someone I Like Poems About People. Illus. by Giovanni Manna. NY: Barefoot Books. ISBN: 1841480045.

EXTENSION
Invite the children to share what friendship means to them. Have them write a poem about friendship or about their best friend(s). Also, spread the joy of friendship by creating friendship letters or poems that can be given to everyone in the class, school, or home.

August 1st: Francis Scott Key's Birthday - A Poetry Break

2010-08-01T21:46:00.006-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Born in 1780, August 1, 2010 is the 230th birthday of Francis Scott Key, the man who wrote the poem that ultimately became the national anthem of the United States of America. When sharing the poem, invite the children to help read the last line of each stanza, "O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." In addition, bring other poetry books like We the People by Bobbi Katz and some facts about the Star-Spangle Banner to celebrate Key's birthday and history of the American Flag.

POEM

The Star-spangled Banner
By Francis Scott Key

Oh, say can you see by the dawns early light
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the must of the deep,
Where the foes haughtly host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, have discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream.
'Tis the star-spangle banner, oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grace.
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh, thus be it ever when freeman shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation!
Blest with vict'ry and peace ma the heav'n-rescued land
Praised the power that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
The conquer we must, when our caused it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1994. Hand in Hand: An American History Through Poetry. Illus. by Peter M. Flore. NY: Simon & Schuster/Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 067173315X.

EXTENSION
After reading the poem, invite the children to sing the entire poem to the music of the national anthem. For a fun craft, have them make a historically accurate American Flag (15 stars and 15 stripes) flags form, and have them write the entire poem or their favorite stanza or two on the back or have them write the national anthem (the first stanza) with colored pens/markers/pencils so that it looks like the 1814 American flag.

July 24th: National Day of the Cowboy - A Poetry Break

2010-07-24T21:38:00.004-05:00

INTRODUCTION
July 24, 2010 marks the sixth annual National Day of the Cowboy. Cowboy Day was created by the Nation Day of the Cowboy organization as a way to celebrate and keep alive the cowboy heritage and their contribution to America's western history and culture. Celebrate the rich cultural spirit of cowboys and cowgirls with a collection of books like Back Cowboy, Wild Horses: A True Story by Julius Lester and other poems from Home on the Range.

POEM

Hats off to the Cowboy
by Red Steagall

The city folks think that it's over.
The cowboy has outlived his time-
An old worn-out relic, a thing of the past,
But the truth is, he's still in his prim.

The cowboy's the image of freedom,
The hard-ridin' boss of the range.
His trade is a fair one, he fights for what's right,
and his ethics aren't subject to change.

He still tops his hats to the ladies,
Let's you water first at the pond.
He believes a day's pay is worth a day's work,
And his handshakes and words are his bond.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Janeczko, Paul B. 1997. Home on the Range: Cowboy Poems. Illus. by Bernie Fuchs. NY: Dial Books. ISBN: 0803719116.

EXTENSION
Have fun celebrating the cowboy heritage by creating personally designed bandanas created by cutting used, clean bed sheets that are cut into triangles and providing color markers. Invite the children to share what they think about cowboys and what their life is like, and invite them to share it in poem form.

July 16th: Arnold Adoff's Birthday - A Poetry Break

2010-07-16T21:28:00.006-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Children's poet and NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children honoree Arnold Adoff's birthday is July 16! Bring a collection of Adoff's poetry books and your list of favorite poems to share along with the following poem. For the poem "There is A Wading Pool in Our Park," described where and how you cool off during the heat of summer.

POEM

There is A Wading Pool in Our Park
by Arnold Adoff

There is a wading pool in our park,
a swimming pool for the bigger kids,
and a bathtub full of cool water
later on when...I get back home

But right now the hydrant
is open and this stream
of water gu..ch..es out in an arc
of
ice
wet
fun
so cold we shiver in the steaming
.........................................summer
................................................sun.

There are rainbows
though the highest
splashes of water,
through of water,
through the highest
reaches of water,
through the highest
curves...of...spray.

Cold wet colors this hot day.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Adoff, Arnold. 1995. Street Music: City Poems. Illus. by Karen Barbour. NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0060215224.

EXTENSION
Invite the children to share how they like to keep cool during the hot summer. Have them write a poem that describes their swimming pool or yard sprinkler and hot it feels to be wet and cool.

Nonfiction: Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

2010-07-12T21:04:00.005-05:00

This is a reposting of the review for the book Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow, which was originally published October 26, 2007 for a course during my MLS degree. This is a great book and I hope that you find it informational!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. (2005). HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER’S SHADOW. NY: Scholastic Nonfiction/Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 0439353793.

PLOT SUMMARY
Through the lives of twelve teenagers involved in the Hitler Youth, author Susan Bartoletti tells the powerful and detailed story of how Germany’s children were used to strengthen the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler’s rise to power during the twelve years of the Third Reich.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In her Author’s Note at the end of the book author Susan Bartoletti tells the story of how an article stating that Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party “‘rode to power on the shoulders of the politically active youth’” had fueled her strong and deep interest in the story of the children living in Germany during the Third Reich. For two years, she visited museums and libraries to pour over books, articles, diaries, and letters to learn more. She even visited Germany to see Berlin and other sites where the Hitler Youth did many of their activities. To finalize her research, Bartoletti interviewed many former members of the organization to hear their personal accounts. To gather further insight of this riveting history, she found stories of Jewish children and youth who lived during the Third Reich. Her goal, she states, is “an attempted to” gain an understanding and to “make sense of the fact that adults taught young people to hate, to kill, and to feel superior over others. After all, the Hitler Youth weren’t born Nazis; they became Nazis” (Bartoletti, p.161-62).

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow is an extremely well organized. After providing a table of contents, which list the chapter headings, Bartoletti introduced the twelve young people who are in the book by providing their photographs and a brief biographical tidbit that gave their birth year, where they were born and how they were involved in the Hitler Youth. The life of the organization from its beginning to its end is wonderfully illustrated and organized through the ten chapters, which hit on the major events during the twelve years of its existence, for examples the murder of Herbert Norkus, who became a Hitler Youth martyr, the change of the school system, the beginning of the Holocaust, which also includes the discrimination against Germany’s own mentally and physically “unfit” citizens (Bartoletti, p. 93), when Hitler made all remaining eligible children join the Hitler Youth under threat of hard labor at a concentration camp, and when the Allies invaded Germany in 1945.

The chapters also illustrate the progression of the twelve young people’s, as well as hundreds of other children, feeling towards the organization. For example, Helmuth Hubener, Karl-Heinz Schnibbe, and Rudolph (Rudi) Wobbe eagerly joined the Hitler Youth, as did all the children; however, they soon grew tired of the regime and began to listen to the illegal foreign radio stations and began to distribute anti-Nazi leaflets. Another resistance group called the White Rose was lead by another Hans Scholl when he became a medical student at the beginning of the war (Bartoletti, p. 118-19).

The text reads like a story; however it is full of information. To add personal anecdotes to the already gripping information, actual pieces of dialogue from the interviews and correspondence of former members of the organization are included to give the readers a clear insight into the thoughts and feelings of the children as well as their parents. A good example of this is when the Scholl children, Inge, Hans and Sophie, joined the Hitler Youth despite the disapproval of the father, Inge states that they “‘entered into the Hitler Youth with body and soul, […] and we could not understand why [their] father did not approve, why he was not happy and proud…. Sometimes he would compare Hitler with the Pied Piper of Hameline, with his flute, led the children to destruction’” (Bartoletti, p. 30). Despite all of the factual details, having been written in a story-like format with actual pieces of dialogue the book has a constant ease of crystal clear understanding and smooth flow from chapter to another.

Through out the entire book, with at least one on every page, Bartoletti provides black and white photographs depicting what life was like during Nazi Germany. There are pictures of children in uniforms performing all sorts of duties and activities, there are pictures showing the destruction that the Third Reich had caused, as well as members at the time of being captured by American soldiers and pictures of the children performing their punishment labor. The use of these photographs provides the visuals to the at time chilling text, and allows the readers to see the faces and environment that the members live in, letting them know that the Hitler Youth was only made of up children.

The final element to the story of the twelve young people who are in the book is the Epilogue. This rare glimpse into the lives of these people allows the readers to learn what happened to the young people who survived the war and provides their thoughts and feelings of their actions while being members of the Hitler Youth.

There are several of ways to access the information found in this amazing book. The chapter headings and the table of contents is one way for readers to find a specific time or event that is discussed. In the back of the book there is an Index, which provides the page of numbers of various topics within the book. Bartoletti also provides an index of where her quotes came from, a time of the Hitler Youth, and finally a note about the photographs used, explaining that the photographs in the book is only a “sampling of the millions taken during the Third Reich,” and recommends the readers who would like to view more photographs to visit the online collections at the Library Congress and at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (p. 163).

With all these amazing educational details and personal anecdotes of the lives of the children during the power of the Third Reich Bartoletti’s Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow is a powerful and captivating book that allows readers of to truly learn about the Hitler Youth through the eyes of its members that were the exact same age. This book will provoke critical thinking and powerful discussions.

BOOK REVIEWS
PUBLISHER WEEKY
Bartoletti (Kids on Strike!) offers a unique and riveting perspective on WWII by focusing on the young people who followed Hitler from 1933-1945. The narrative primarily focuses on members of the Hitler Youth, but also profiles some of the group's dissidents and its Jewish targets. Hitler began his quest for dominance with young people, recognizing them as "a powerful political force" and claiming, "With them I can make a new world." Bartoletti describes how the propaganda of the Hitler Youth attracted children: "The overnight camping trips, campfires, and parades sounded like a great deal of fun," said one 12-year-old. But the organization also emphasized loyalty to the Third Reich above all (including family-one eight-year-old, Elisabeth Vetter, turned in her parents to the Nazis). The author personalizes the war by placing identifiable individuals at the center of the events, such as Sophie Scholl, who moved away from Nazi ideas as a teen and in college joined the "White Rose" group that published pamphlets detailing Nazi evils and urging resistance-a crime for which she and others were executed. Powerful black-and-white photographs testify to the lure and also the cruelty of the Nazis. Bartoletti's portrait of individuals within the Hitler Youth who failed to realize that they served "a mass murderer" is convincing, and while it does not excuse the atrocities, it certainly will allow readers to comprehend the circumstances that led to the formation of Hitler's youngest zealots. Ages 7-10. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. (May 23, 2005)

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
Gr 5-8-Hitler's plans for the future of Germany relied significantly on its young people, and this excellent history shows how he attempted to carry out his mission with the establishment of the Hitler Youth, or Hitlerjugend, in 1926. With a focus on the years between 1933 and the end of the war in 1945, Bartoletti explains the roles that millions of boys and girls unwittingly played in the horrors of the Third Reich. The book is structured around 12 young individuals and their experiences, which clearly demonstrate how they were victims of leaders who took advantage of their innocence and enthusiasm for evil means. Their stories evolve from patriotic devotion to Hitler and zeal to join, to doubt, confusion, and disillusion. (An epilogue adds a powerful what-became-of-them relevance.) The large period photographs are a primary component and they include Nazi propaganda showing happy and healthy teens as well as the reality of concentration camps and young people with large guns. The final chapter superbly summarizes the weighty significance of this part of the 20th century and challenges young readers to prevent history from repeating itself. Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. (June 1, 2005)

CONNECTIONS
*Read more books like The Way People Live: Life in the Hitler Youth by Jennifer Keeley to learn more about the Hitler Youth
* Learn about the lives of children during the Second World War with books like Remember World War II: Kids Who Survived Tell Their Stories by Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson.
*For those who are interest, learn about the Holocaust with books like A history of the Holocaust by Yehuda Bauer and Nili Keren, and Ten Thousand Children: True Stories Told by Children Who Escaped the Holocaust on the Kindertransport by Anne Fox and Eva Abraham-Podietz
*Open up an opportunity for the young people to have a discussion where they can share their thoughts and opinions on the subject.

July 11th: Babe Ruth's Major League Baseball Debut - A Poetry Break

2010-07-10T21:14:00.004-05:00

INTRODUCTION
On July 11, 1911, ninety-nine years ago, George Herman "Babe" Ruth was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to the Boston Red Socks, marking his debut to the Major Leagues and the beginning of his career as one of the most famous baseball players in American history. Prepare for sharing this poem by also sharing other poems from the book At the Crack of the Bat, collecting poetry books about America's favorite pastime like Lee Bennett Hopkin's Extra Innings: Babseball Poems and That Sweet Diamond by Paul Janeczko, as well as books about Babe Ruth and other great ball players.

POEM

Along Came Ruth
by Ford Frick

You Step up to the platter
And you gaze with flaming hate
At the poor benighted pitcher
As you dig in at the plate.
You watch him cut his fast ball loose,
Then swing your trusty bat
And you park one in the bleachers-
Nothing's simpler that that!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Morrison, Lillian. 1992. At the Crack of the Bat. Illus. by Steve Cieslawski. NY: Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 1562821768.

EXTENSION
After sharing the poem and exploring some facts about Babe Ruth and baseball, invite the children to write their own poem, such as bio-poem, about the "Great Bambino" and the sport itself. Invite them to share what they love about baseball and if they have their own favorite player or team. For a fun snack, have cracker jacks!

Beat the Heat with Some Cool Summer Reads!

2010-07-01T00:13:00.012-05:00

We're all about to be right smack in the middle of Summer. Especially for those in Texas! Beat the heat with some awesome books. These are some of my favorite books and some new ones that I have passed my desk and peaked my interest. Check them out at your local library! And don't miss out on the Summer Reading Program!

Easy Picture Books

Dinosaur Starts School by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Possum Magic by Mem Fox
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
The Dot by Peter Reynolds
Ish by Peter Reynolds
A Chair for Mother by Vera B. Williams
Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems

WP-CC's All-Time Most Favorite Author: Mary Downing Hahn
From the moment I read The Doll in the Garden I was hooked to her novels. Her books are perfect for any season, but her ghost stories are the best during summer. They are scary, but not too scary - a perfect mixture. The Doll in the Garden still gives me chills and I really love time For Andrew. Explore her awesome books that I've listed below by genre:

Ghost Stories

All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story
Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story
The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story
The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story
Time for Andrew: A Ghost Story
Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story

Historical Fiction

Anna All Year Round
Anna on the Farm
As Ever, Gordy (sequel to Following My Own Footsteps)
Following My Own Footsteps (sequel to Stepping on Cracks)
The Gentleman Outlaw and Me - Eli
Hear the Wind Blow
Promise to the Dead
Stepping on Cracks

Mysteries

Closed for the Season: A Mystery Story
The Dead Man in Indian Creek
Following the Mystery Man

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Daphne's Book
December Stillness
Janey and the Famous Author
The Jellyfish Season
The Sara Summer
The Spanish-Kidnapping Disaster
Tallahassee Higgins
The Wind Blows Backwards

Fantasy

Look for Me by Moonlight
The Time of the Witch
Witch Catcher

JF and YA Books for All!!!

Great Mysteries to Solve

Who Stole the Wizard of Oz by Avi
A great trilogy by Blue Balliett

Chasing Vermeer
The Wright Three
The Calder Game

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Kongsburg
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatly Snyder

Need a Little Action with Your Greek Mythology?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief
The Sea of Monsters
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Last Olympian
The Demigod File

Ooh, Vampires! (beyond Twilight!)

Look for Me By Moonlight by Mary Downing Hahn
The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde
The House of Night series by P.C. and Kristin Cast:

Marked
Betrayed
Chosen
Untamed
Hunted
Tempted
Burned
Get ready for the next book Awakened coming January 2011!!!
Also get ready for the House of Night Fledgling Handbook 101 that's being released October 26, 2010!!!!!

"Swish and Flick!" - What is summer would it be without some Harry Potter?
by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Great Guy Read

The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
The Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
The Hounds of Baskervilles
The Valley of Fear
His Last Bow
The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
the Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
The Long Way Home by Andrew Klavan (sequel to The Last Thing I Remember)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

Girls Have Adventures and Misadventures Too!

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Hunger Games by Susanne Collins
Catching Fire by Susanne Collins (sequel to Hunger Games) (get ready for the next book Mockingjay coming August 2010!!!)
The Gentleman Outlaw and Me - Eli by Mary Downing Hahn

Can't Mess with the Classics!!!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (and the remaining original Oz books)
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
The Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Beowulf translation by Seamus Heaney (Heaney's translation is the best out there, plus you can see the Old English text along with the English translation!)
The Nancy Drew mysteries by Caroline Keene
The Hardy Boys mysteries by Franklin B. Dixon
The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis

The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe,
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (get ready for the new movie coming December 2010!!!)
The Silver Chair
The Horse and His Boy
The Magician's Nephew
The Last Battle

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

What would Summer be
Without a little
Poetry?

Shout! Little Poems that Roar by Brod Bagert
Give Yourself to the Rain: Poems for the Very Young by Margaret Wise Brown
Don't Step on the Sky: A Handful of Haiku by Miriam Chaikin
Fold Me a Poem by Kristine O'Connell George
Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems by Kristine O'Connell George
Honey, I Love and Other Love Poems by Eloise Greenfield
Behind the Museum Door: Poems to Celebrate the Wonders of Museums by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Pocket Poems by Bobbie Katz
I Once Ate a Pie by Patricia and Emily MacLachlan

Cats Don't Care What You Wear - A Poetry Break

2010-04-10T21:57:00.009-05:00

INTRODUCTION
For anyone who has a cat at home will understand when you say that you feel like you're being watched. Cats are funny creatures. They love you, dislike it when you're gone a long time, playful, and they have the poker face with eyes that says it all. This is a funny poem about a cat who watches the poet. Share it was enthusiasm!

POEM

Cats Don't Care What You Wear
By Karla Kuskin

Cats don't care
what you were.
they never are rude
if you're nude.
they may give you a look
with a quizzical purr
as if to say, "Really,
poor creature, no fur.
How awfully embarrassing
looking like her."
And then add a poker-faced
lingering stare.
"Not that I care," it says.
"Not that I care."

EXTENSION
Have the kids write a poem about their pet and what they do that they think is funny. What would they say when they just sit there and watch you? Let their imaginations run!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kuskin, Karla. 2005. Toots the Cat. Illus. by Lisze Bechtold. NY: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 9780805068412.

The Best Paths - A Poetry Break

2010-04-09T23:27:00.006-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Who says walking or taking a hike can be boring or too much exercise? By walking a familiar path or a new one there is much that you might have not noticed before. This poem is a beautiful and peaceful. Share this before a walk with the kids or during a little break. Make sure that you pick a nice path to take them down!

POEM
The Best Paths
By Kristin O'Connell George

The best paths
are whispers
in the grass,
a bent twig,
a token, a hint,
easily missed.

The best paths
hide themselves
until the right
someone
comes along.

The best paths
lead you
to where
you didn't know
you wanted to go.

EXTENSION
When you take the kids one a walk down a path make it a quiet experience. Let them observe the world around them. Let them create their owns paths and invite to share about them at the end of the trip.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
George, Kristin O'Connell. 2001. Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems. Illus. by Kate Kiesler. NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780618045976.

Weeping Willow - A Poetry Break

2010-04-08T22:22:00.004-05:00

INTRODUCTION

Did you know that trees have personalities and feelings? Well, of course, they do. From the tall sequoias to the Texas Live Oaks and the Weeping Willows. Have photos of different type of trees, especially of the Weeping Willow, for the kids to explore after you share the poem. Or share this poem when visiting an arboretum.

POEM

Weeping Willow
by Douglas Florian

Willow tree, why do you weep?
Why do you cry and moan?

..... All days these caterpillars creep.
..... They won't let me alone!

Willow tree, why do you bed
Your branches to the ground?

..... I bend my branches low to send
..... Those caterpillars down!

EXTENSION
Let the kids explore the different types of trees. Have them create a poem that asks the trees questions and and create the tree's answer, just like in the poem. Let them create their own tree personalities. It'll be a forest of fun!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 2010. Poetress. Illus. by Douglas Florian. NY: Beach Lane Books/ Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. ISBN: 9781416986720.

A Map and a Dream - A Poetry Break

2010-04-07T21:57:00.004-05:00

INTRODUCTION

What would the world be like maps? Maps can be an exciting read in themselves. They can take you to worlds you haven't been. Along with this poem also share different types of maps for the kids to explore. Share this poem with other geographical poems like J. Patrick Lewis' A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme.

POEM

A Map and a Dream
by Karen O'Donnell Taylor

Maps are more
than tiny lines
intersection
lace designs...
More than names
and colored dots,
rivers, mountains,
tourist spots.
Map are keys
to secret places
vast new world
and unknown faces.
I can trace each
graceful line...
Close my eyes
and in my mind
I can travel
anywhere...
A map, a dream
can take me there!

EXTENSION

Invite the kids to write a poem about a map that they particularly like. Why do they like? What is the map of? What can maps do? See what the world on paper means to them!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hopkins, Lee Bennet (sel). 2006. Got Geography! Illus. by Philip Stanton. NY: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9870060556020.

Rain Song - A Poetry Break

2010-04-06T22:48:00.008-05:00

INTRODUCTION
April Showers! time to share some poems about rain and rainstorms! This is a great poem that describes how the poet loves rain. It is also perfect to read to a young audience because it includes some of the five senses!

POEM

Rain Song
By Douglas Florian

I love the gentle sound of rain
Pinging on my windowpane.
I love the sight of rain that pours
Into puddles out-of-doors.
I love the feel of rain that drops
Down my nose and my lips.

EXTENSION
Encourage the kids to share what they love and don't love about rain. They can write in list poem form or a nice little poem like you shared. Let them think about how they can use their five senses to describe the experience of a rain shower!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings: Poems & Paintings. Illus. by Douglas Florian. NY: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780060092801.

The Way to Play Croquet - A Poetry Break

2010-04-05T23:00:00.008-05:00

INTRODUCTION

Spring is upon us and now the weather is perfect for outside games and activities. Share this poem with the kids before you play the game!

POEM

The Way to Play Croquet
by George Shannon

Through the thicket
to the stick it
needs to click. It
isn't very hard.
Till I block it,
swing, and knock it
far outside the yard!

EXTENSION

This is a great poem to share when doing the games. Invite the kids to create their own poems about how their favorite outdoor game works.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Shannon, George. 2006. Busy in the Garden. Illus. by Sam Williams. NY: Greenwillow Books/ HarperCollins Publisher. ISBN: 9780060004651.

How to Eat A Poem - A Poetry Break

2010-04-05T22:58:00.004-05:00

INTRODUCTION
How should you read a poem? With a bland, boring voice or with an excited voice? Great to introduce National Poetry Month or anytime at all, share this poem with the kids. When reading it be passionate about it. Make poetry and exciting experience!

POEM

How to Eat A Poem
by Eve Merriam

Don't be polite.
Bite in.
Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that
.....may run down your chin.
It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.

You do not need a knife or fork or spoon
or plate or napkin or tablecloth.

For there is no core
or stem
or rind
or pit
or seed
or skin
to throw away.

EXTENSION
Invite the kids to share how to "eat" or read a poem. Ask them to share what a poem means to them. Are they fun? Boring? Silly? Cool? See what they say!

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cullinan, Bernice E. 1996. A Jar of Tiny Stars: Poems by NCTE Award-Winning Poets. Honesday, PA: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN: 1563970872.

(Poem originally published in the book It Doesn't Always Have to Rhyme, 1966).

Apirl is... National Poetry Month!

2010-04-05T22:36:00.011-05:00

Spring as sprung and the celebrating poetry as begun! April is National Poetry Month! Thanks to a wonderful professor in my MLS studies, I am now an advocate in promoting poetry for children and teens. April has already started, but it isn't too late to join the fun of poetry!

I will be posting new poetry breaks as well as some poetry book reviews during the whole month.

As a Children's Librarian I've already started my celebration by incorporating a poem or two into each of the preschool storytime. It is my hope that I'll find some good poems to use for my toddlers. I know they're out there, but I must admit the the first theme of "frogs" was a little hard. But, preschoolers, I used Douglas Florian's Lizards, Frogs and Polliwogs: Poems and Paintings for two poems. I've also created a display to promote all the great poetry books the library has but is rarely visited (so sad!).

If you want to get great poems every single day of April, please visit the professional blog Poetry For Children created and maintained by Dr. Sylvia Vardell. She is doing Poetry Tag, which is a game where she will post a poem from a different poet each day. Dr. Vardell further explains on her first post, Poetry Tag: J. Patrick Lewis is IT:

One poet offers a poem and "tags" a fellow poet. Each poet then shares a poem that is connected to the previous poem in some way--by theme, word, idea, or tone--and provides a sentence or two explaining that connection. These may be new original unpublished poems or poems drawn from previous works.

By the end of the month, we’ll have a “chain” of poems and see firsthand how poetry can be selected, connected, shared and celebrated (Vardell 2010).

This idea is absolutely awesome! Please visit her blog....

But keep come on visiting The Wielded Pen - Children's Corner for more poetry celebration!!!!

The Year We Disappeared: A Father - Daughter Memoir

2010-03-06T18:35:00.008-06:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Busby, Cylin and John Busby. 2008. The Year We Disappeared: A Father-Daughter Memoir. NY: Bloomsbury. ISBN: 9781599901411.

BOOK REVIEW

"When my dad dies, his body will go to the Harvard Medical School at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, though I suspect they are mostly interested in his head." This is how Cylin Busby starts this compelling memoir in the prologue. One August night in 1979 Cylin and her whole family's lives are dramatically changed forever when her father, a policeman, on his way to work, is brutally shot in the face. Before that night, Cylin was a normal nine-year-old who was grumpy that her dad was not able to take her and her brothers to see The Muppet Movie that night and having fun with friends and pet box turtle. However, now with 24-hour armed protection against the man who shot her dad and may possibly be coming for the rest of things aren't as great. Written in alternating chapters, Cylin and John effectively tell their story from their points-of-view filled with emotional differences: Cylin a confused and scared child as she quickly grows up and John an angry man who is frustrated with the corrupt system and wants revenge. Readers will be caught up in the story from the very beginning as it doesn't waste time getting to the story and its bloody and frightening details. However, as John, while in hospital for numerous surgeries, reminisces to days when he first became a cop, the good men that he worked with, and the instances with local criminals who he knew were involved with his is shooting, which can drag the story on for some readers. Plus, the names of those who were invovled in shooting were changed, which can be confusing to some when doing research outside of the book. Despite the select few slow spots, the readers will stay with the story of the Cylin and John through the raw emotions of the horrible crime and its aftermath up to the very end when they begin their new life. A "where they are now" epilogue is included and helps answer one important question: Do the Busbys ever get justice and the perpetrators are caught? An engrossing and unique memoir that is a great edition to all teen library collections.

CONNECTIONS

*Encourage the readers to learn John Busby and his support of bill to extend the statue of limitations, which directly involves his case as it rain out by the time those involved in his shooting confessed.

*Encourage them to share in what they would've felt like if they were in both Clyn and John's shoes.

*Encourage them to discuss what they thought about the police and justice system years ago. Have things stayed the same or have they changed?

The Black Book of Colors

2010-03-06T18:29:00.009-06:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cottin, Menena and Rosana Faría. 2006. The Black Book Of Colors. Trans. by Elisa Amado (English) and CNIB (Braille). Toronto; Berkeley, CA: Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press. ISBN: 9780888998736.

BOOK REVIEW
How would you describe colors if you couldn't see? In Cottin and Faría's innovative book The Black Book of Colors wonderfully shows us how. Thomas, an unseen boy, describes the colors through his five senses of sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing. Each color is beautifully described. To him the color red is "sour like unripe strawberries and sweet as watermelon. It hurts when he finds it on his scraped knee," green "tastes like lemon ice cream and smells like grass that's just been cut," and yellow "taste's like mustard, but is soft as a baby chick's feathers." The best and ingenious feature of this book is the choice of format and color. The book's only color beyond the white text is black. For each double-page spread one page is dedicated to words and the other two the "illustrations." The illustrations are actually glossy embossed images, e.g. strawberries for the color red, feathers for yellow, rain waves of fine lines to describe the flowing black hair of Thomas' mom. The glossy parts of the page catch the light enough for you to see what the images are and entices you (and you will not be able to resist) to put your fingertips all over the page. Along with the white text, the book also includes a Braille translation that allows even visually impaired readers to enjoy the read. At the end of the book a Braille alphabet is provide to further help educate those new to Braille. This is a wonderful book to use in a classroom setting to teach the concept of how people who are visually impaired can read and also a great way to think about how to describe colors and everyday things. It is also a simple yet creative way to start kids to think about things in another perspective. A highly recommended book for public and school libraries.

CONNECTIONS
*After the story is told, encourage the kids to take turns feeling all the pages in the book. Even ask them to close their eyes when they do.
*Have the kids describe what each color is like as Thomas does in the book.

The 2010 Youth Media Awards Are Here!

2010-02-10T19:47:00.050-06:00

The nominees were picked, read, and voted on. In January, during their annual Midwinter conference, the American Library Association (ALA) announced the winning titles for this year's top books for children and young adult readers. At long last, here is the list and brief descriptions provided by the ALA. I'm not listing the honor books for the sake of saving you all from going through an amazingly long post. If you are interested in the honor books, which are equally as great as the winners, click on the title links to visit each award's webpage. I'm looking forward to reading and reviewing some, if not all, of these books! Enjoy!

John Newbery Medal
Winner
Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When You Reach Me. NY: Wendy Lamb Books/Random House Children's Books. ISBN: 9780385737425.

Twelve-year-old Miranda encounters shifting friendships, a sudden punch, a strange homeless man and mysterious notes that hint at knowledge of the future. These and other seemingly random events converge in a brilliantly constructed plot.

Randolph Caldecott Medal
Winner
Pickney, Jerry. 2009. The Lion & the Mouse. Illus. by Jerry Pickney. NY: Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780316013567.

The screech of an owl, the squeak of a mouse and the roar of a lion transport readers to the Serengeti plains for this virtually wordless retelling of Aesop's classic fable. In glowing colors, Pinkney's textured watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the relationship between two unlikely friends.

Michael L. Printz Award
Winner
Bray, Libba. 2009. Going Bovine. NY: Random House Children's Books. ISBN: 9780385733977.

Sixteen year old slacker, Cameron, sets off on a madcap road trip along with a punk angel, a dwarf sidekick, a yard gnome and a mad scientist, to save the world and perhaps his own life.
This wildly imaginative modern day take on Don Quixote is complex, hilarious and stunning. The hero’s journey will never be the same after “Going Bovine.”

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award

Winner
Micheaux, Vaunda. 2009. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal. Illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Boods/Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. ISBN: 9780822567646.

Born into slavery in 1838, Bass had a hard life and a strong sense of right and wrong. Bass was one of the most feared and respected lawman in Indian Territory. During his career, he made more than 3,000 arrests but killed only fourteen men.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award

Winner
Hughes, Langston. 2009. My People. Illus. by Charles R. Smith Jr. NY: Ginee Seo Books/Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781416935407.

Smith’s vibrant sepia photographs celebrate the beauty and diversity of African Americans. The close-ups of illuminated faces filled with jubilant, loving expressions emerge from black backgrounds and capture the spirit of Langston Hughes’ eloquent poem.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award

Winner
Magoon, Kekla. 2009. The Rock and the River. NY: Aladdin/Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division. ISBN: 9781416975823.

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award
(which honors a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience)

Winner
Mora, Pat. 2009. Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children’s Day/Book Day; Celebremos El día de los niños/El día de los libros. Illus. by Rafael López. NY: NY: Rayo/HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780061288777.

Rafael López utilizes vibrant colors and applies magical realism to show that the love of reading is universal. Through a series of fanciful images, the author depicts Latino children inviting children of other cultures into their book fiesta, leading the reader on a visual journey that shows that reading sparks the imagination across all cultures and has the power to unite us. This informational children’s book will also serve as a valuable resource to those planning El día de los niños/El día de los libros in their communities.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award
Winner
Alvarez, Julia. 2009. Return to Sender. NY: Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children's Book. ISBN: 9780375858383.

Julia Alvarez explores the thin line that separates American citizens and undocumented persons in her brilliantly told novel, “nder.” After Tyler’s father is unable to maintain the family farm, he hires undocumented workers, resulting in an interdependent relationship that mirrors current social and political conditions in the United States. Alvarez humanizes a situation by giving a voice to millions of immigrants experiencing similar hardships. This outstanding novel about the solidarity between two children of different cultures will resonate in the hearts of readers of any age.

Schneider Family Book Award
(honoring books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience)

Winners
For Young Children (ages 0 - 10)
Christensen, Bonnie. 2009. Django. NY: Neal Porter Book/Roaring Brook Press. ISBN: 9781596434226.

While Jason Blake who has autism, considers himself to be anything but typical, his life is that of a conventional 12-year-old boy. He wants a girlfriend, to fit in and to be recognized for his creative writing.

For Middle Grades (agess 11-13)
Baskin, Nora Raleigh. 2009. Anything but Typical. NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9781416963783.

Django” is the biography of musician Django Reinhardt, who was in an accident that severely burned his hands and threatened to end his career. Through perseverance he went on to become one of the world’s most recognized and appreciated jazz guitarists. The book was chosen for its sensitive telling of Reinhardt’s life through the use of colorful oil paintings and lyrical free verse, and it demonstrated the power of one’s inner strength,” said Award Chair Barbara T. Mates.

Teens (ages 13-18)
Stork, Francisco X. Marcelo in the Real World. NY: Arthur A Levine Books/Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 9780545054744.

“Marcelo in the Real World” tells the story of Marcelo Sandoval who has Asperger Syndrome. Marcelo is pushed beyond his comfort zone when he is forced to take a job in his father’s law firm. Over the course of a tumultuous summer, Marcelo learns what it is to be a friend, to stand up for what he believes in and that he can create a place for himself in the real world.

William C. Morris Award
(honoring a book written by a first-time author for young adults)

Winner
Madigan, L.K. 2009. Flash Burnout. Boston, Mass. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN: 9780547194899.

Blake’s life is way too complicated. He’s a sophomore with a girlfriend and a friend who is a girl. One loves him. One needs him. Can he please them both? The voices of the characters are accurate, evocative and humorous capturing the everyday adolescent stresses and misunderstandings that are so hard to live through.

Odyssey Award
(for excellence in audiobook production)

Winner
DiCamillo, Kate. 2009. Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken. Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. NY: Live Oak Media. ISBN: 9781430106883.

Louise, a French chicken with wanderlust, finds adventure in Kate DiCamillo’s comical picture book. Whimsical sound effects, playful background music and Barbara Rosenblat’s impressive repertoire of voices combine in this tour-de-force listening experience.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
(honoring the most distinguished beginning reader book)

Winner
Hayes, Geoffrey. 2009. Benny and Penny in the Big No-No!. NY: Toon Books/RAW Junior, LLC. ISBN: 9780979923890.

Geoffrey Hayes, creator of over forty books for children presents beginning readers with an exciting new tale. Siblings Benny and Penny encounter trouble when curiosity about a mysterious neighbor leads them into unexpected adventures. Benny and Penny is a perfect example of a graphic novel designed just for young readers. The characters' emotions are revealed in the rich artwork within each panel. Children will connect with the realistic dialogue and page-turning appeal of the story. They will be thrilled to enter the world of graphic novels.

Margaret A. Edwards Award
(honoring the lifetime achievement in writing for young adults)

Winner
Murphy, Jim. 2009. An American Plague: The True and Terryfying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793. NY: Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780395776087.

Murphy’s well-researched books bring history alive through multiple narratives including young people. Primary sources, maps, photos, illustrations and dialogue reveal the drama of historical events, making Murphy’s books fast-paced reading of particular interest for young adults. The reader participates in the lives of these individuals and the events that shaped history.Jim Murphy is the 2010 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793,” published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; “Blizzard! The Storm That Changed America,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Great Fire,” published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic; “The Long Road to Gettysburg,” published by Clarion Books; and “A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy,” published by Clarion Books.

Robert F. Sibert Medal

(honoring the most distinguished informational book for children)

Winner
WinnerStone, Tanya Lee. 2009. Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream. NY; Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763645021.

Women in space—not a big deal now, but it took over 20 years for NASA to recognize that women have the Right Stuff . “Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream,” tells the story of the women aviators and aspiring astronauts known as the “Mercury 13” who, in the early 1960’s repeatedly proved themselves capable but could not overcome prevailing prejudices. Meticulously researched and handsomely illustrated with archival materials, Stone’s insightful, passionately written chronicle is sure to inspire.

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award
Winner
Heiligman, Deborah. 2009. Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith. NY: Henry Hotl Books for young Readers/Macmillan Children's Publishing Group. ISBN: 9780805087215.

After creating a list of the pros and cons of marriage, science-minded Charles Darwin chooses to marry his strictly religious first cousin. Little does he know that he is about to embark upon the most loving, creative, and intellectually important relationship of his life.

Andrew Carnegie Medal
(for excellence in children’s video)

Winner
Gagne, Paul R. and Mo Willems. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. Narrated by Mo Willems and Jon Scieszka. Animated by Pete List.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award
(honoring an outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States)

Winner
Thor, Annika. 2009. A Faraway Island. Trans. by Linda Schenck. NY: Deacorte Press/Random House Children's Books. ISBN: 9780385736176.

Originally published in Swedish in 1996, “A Faraway Island” (En ö i havet) tells the story of two Jewish sisters from Vienna, Austria, 12 year old Stephie and her younger sister Nellie, who are sent by their parents to Sweden to escape the Nazis. Nellie adapts easily, but Stephie faces painful challenges. This engaging novel explores the importance of family, friendship and personal growth.

Alex Awards
(for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences)

Winners

Kamkwambam, William and Bryan Mealer. 2009. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope. NY: William Marrow/HarpCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780061730320.
Rosoff, Meg. 2009. The Bride's Farewell. NY: Viking Penquin/Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780670020997.
Currie, Ron Jr. 2009. Everything Matters!. NT: Viking Penguin/Penguin Group. ISBN: 9780670020928.
Finkel, David. 2009. The Good Soldiers. NY: Sarah Cricton Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN: 9780374165734.
Welch, Diana and Lix Welch. 2009. The Kids Are All Right: A Memoir. NY: Harmony Books/Crown Publishing Group. ISBN: 9780307396044.
Grossman, Lev. 2009. The Magicians. NY: Viking Penguin/Penguin Grou.p. ISBN: 9780670020553.
Rock, Peter. 2009. My Abandonment. NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780151014149.
Carriger, Gail. 2009. Soulless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel. NY: Orbit/Hachette Book Group. ISBN: 9780316056632.
Small, David. 2009. Stitches: A Memoir. NY: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN: 9780393068573.
Wilson, Kevin. 2009. Tunneling to the Center of the Earth. NY: Harper Perennial/HarperCollins. ISBN: 9780061579028.

New Features to WP-CC!

2010-02-04T22:05:00.005-06:00

Hello everyone! I'm excited to announce that I have added some new features to the WP-CC blog! I now have section called "Blog Info" that contains pages of information and is located just under my profile. As of right now it includes a page about the blog and a page of FAQ and answers that I have gotten or I know I will get. Eventually, I would like to create a bibliography of all the books I have reviewed and which poems I've used for poetry breaks. This is just the beginning! A second new feature is the Search Blog bar. You can now search the blog for titles, authors, and keywords. If you have any questions about the search bar, read the little tidbit about it in my FAQ page. I've also added a few more links. Enjoy!

My Shadow - A Poetry Break

2010-02-01T16:59:00.001-06:00

INTRODUCTION

Groundhog Day is tomorrow and it's time to share another poem! Though poems about groundhogs would be great, but sharing poems about shadows also very appropriate this time of year. Perhaps the most famous or well-known poem about shadows is Robert Louis Stevenson's "My Shadow." When sharing this poem with the kids, have fun and be animated in the reciting.

POEM

My Shadowby Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bead.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow -
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's non of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that schadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

EXTENSIONStevenson's wrote all the poems in his A Child's Garden of Verses with an innocent, child-like perspective and this poem is no exception. Have the kids create their own poem or narrative to describe their shadow and what it does.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stevenson, Robert Louis. 1994. (orig. 1885). A Child's Garden of Verses. Illus. by Joanna Isles. ISBN: 9780877016083.

The Last Thing I Remember

2009-11-09T22:15:00.008-06:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Klavan, Andrew. 2009. The Last Thing I Remember. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson. ISBN: 978595546074.

BOOK REVIEW
"It was an ordinary day," high schooler Charlie West told himself as he tries to remember. But he doesn't remember much. His memory of what had happened between going to bed one night and waking up to a chair in a torture chamber with bloodied instruments is vague if not completely non-existent. After escaping his mysterious captors only to be caught by police who tell him that he is a convicted murderer of his former best friend one year prior, Charlie is one the run of his life as he tries to piece together what happened. All the while he tries to stop the assassination plot against the Secretary of Homeland security by a secret terrorist organization whose members call Charlie one of their own. Edgar Award-winning author, Klavan's debut Young Adult novel presents a post 9/11 thriller dealing with a terrorist group hidden among the American homelands. Though some readers may find him too clean-cut and all-American for comfort, Charlie brings a patriotic character to the teen boy literature subgenre and brings plenty of action being a black belt in karate. While the narrative may be dry in some areas readers will be caught up in the currently unsolved mystery of what exactly happened to Charlie during that missing year and will leave them waiting for the next book in the new Homelander series to come out. Included in the back are discussions questions that allows for future discussions great for a classroom or library book club setting.

CONNECTIONS
*Use the provided questions to encourage discussion about the book and character on top of creating your own.
*Allow the readers to comment about their likes and dislikes about the book.

Hallowe'en - A Poetry Break

2009-10-30T15:45:00.007-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Halloween can by fun and exciting as well as cool and creepy. Perfect for a creepy Halloween party, read this poem to begin the festivities.

POEM

Hallowe'en
By Harry Behn

Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.

Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.

Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghoul and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen
It's Hallowe'en!

EXTENSION
Invite the kids to share their ideas of what Halloween is to them. Is it creepy or is it fun? Also, let them have fun and make a haunting and creepy poem to share.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Livingston, Myra Cohn (Sel.). 1989. Halloween Poems. Illus. by Stephen Gammell. NY: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823407624.

Apple Bobbing - A Poetry Break

2009-10-30T15:15:00.013-05:00

INTRODUCTION
This is a fun poem to read. Whether it's a for a Halloween party or a fall festival bobbing for apples has become a stable activity to include in the festivities. Be sure to have fun reading the poem, emphasizing the blubing sound of bobbing in the water. Encourage the kids to make the "blub" sounds too!

POEM

Apple Bobbing
By R. H. Marks

Bobbing for (blub blub) for apples
.......... for bobbing
.......... for bobbling
.......... for boppling
.......... for apples

................. in tubs

......... for bapples (blub) apples
......... for bopples
......... for blapples
......... for bouncing red abbles

................. boapples

................. (blap blub)

EXTENSION
After sharing the poem, invite the kids to take turns bobbing for an apple. Also encourage them to share what type of sounds they hear and make when they do, like the poem illustrates.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Livingston, Myra Cohn (sel.). 1989. Halloween Poems. Illus. by Stephen Gammell. NY: Holiday House. ISBN: 0823407624.

First Day of Autumn! - To Each His Own - A Poetry Break

2009-09-22T19:44:00.009-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Autumn can be peaceful and wonderful season to watch the world around you change. When reading this poem aloud, read it slowly then reactant to the actions of the leaves that are falling in the poem. Mimicking the actions of the leaves in the poem will add the touch of action and realism to the poem that the listeners will appreciate. Share this poem with Hines' other poem "Ode to a Rake" from the same book.

POEM

To Each His Own
by Anna Grossnickle Hines

..When the leaves fall
....some float
..............lasily
...................wavily
....and taking all
....................daysily
...........................drift
....to the ground.
Some flutter
.............skuttering
......................wuttering
.....audibly uttering
........................whispers
.................................of sound.
When the leaves fall
......some
..........come in bunches
..............................swirling
..................and whirling
.............twisting
.....and twirling
.................round
....................about
.................round.
Some
.......skip-a-dip
................bippity
......................floppity
.............................flippity
......................toppity
................tippity
.......plippity
..............down.
And some
.......just drop
.............flop.

EXTENSION
After read this poem have a little field trip outside so that the children and experience and witness the real falling trees. Ask them if they see the leaves that are being described in the poem. Have them describe in prose or poetic form how the leaves fall down from the trees at school or at home. If Autumn hasn't sprung and the leaves are falling in your area, bring a bag of faux leaves and have them flutter inside.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hines, Anna Grossnickle. 2001. Pieces: A Year in Poems & Quilts. NY: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins Publishers). ISBN: 0688169643.

My Favorite Pencil - A Poetry Break

2009-09-20T18:00:00.005-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Everyone has their favorite pencil or pen that they like to use when writing homework or doodling. This poem provides three different students and their description of their favorite pencil. Prepare the poetry break by writing your own poem about her favorite pencil (or pen) and sharing it with the class or group of kids. Be sure to show your favorite pencil so they can also see it!

POEM

My Favorite Pencil
by Kalli Dakos

JENNIFER:
My
favorite
pencil
is
long
and
thin
and
has
an
eraser
where
it
beings.

SYLVIA:
My favorite pencil
Is short and fat
And has an eraser
For a hat.

SANTOS:
My favorite pencil broke in two,
and I tried to fix it up with glue.

EXTENSION
Invite the children to write their own poem about there favorite pencil. Let them describe it in anyway that they view their writing instrument. It will be fun to see what characteristics and personification that they see in their pencils! Also, share other poems about school supplies, like Lee Bennett Hopkin's School Supplies: A Book of Poems.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Dakos, Kalli. 1995. Mrs. Cole on an Onion Roll and Other School Poems. Illus. by Joann Adinolfi. NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. IBSN: 0027255832.

The Eraser Poem - A Poetry Break

2009-09-20T17:30:00.003-05:00

INTRODUCTION
This poem is meant to be seen and to be heard aloud as it wonderfully uses both senses. A creative way to present the poem is to write it on a chalk board or a white board. Write the entire poem as "The eraser poem" and as you read the poem aloud you can erase one letter as you go. Also bring supplies, whether paper and pencil, or chalk or markers for the boards, so the listeners can try.

POEM

The Eraser Poem
by Louis Phillips

The eraser poem.
The eraser poem
The eraser poe
The eraser po
The eraser p
The eraser
The erase
The eras
The era
The er
The e
The
Th
T
.

EXTENSION
Let the children create a poem that is erased. Let them do the erasing randomly to see what will become of the poem then have the do it again but think about what they are going to erase. Compare the two versions and see to see which one they like better. It will be fun to see the difference between all of the students, and not only will the poem become something interesting to share aloud, but also become visually intriguing at the same time.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hopkins, Lee Bennett, sel. 1996. School Supplies: A Book of Poems. Illus. by Renee Flower. NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689804970.

For Me?

2009-09-20T17:28:00.002-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
van Straaten, Harmen. 2007. For Me?. Trans. by MaryChris Bradley. NY: NorthSouth Books. ISBN: 09780735821637.

BOOK REVIEW
When Duck discovers that someone had left him a rose and a note with only a heart drawn on it he takes it to his friend Toad. Toad as well as their other friends and neighbors, Otter and Hedgehog, also got the same mysterious doorstep gift. "What do you think it means?" they all ask and they begin to theorize that who the giver is and that perhaps one of them is in love. It is only until a someone arrives at the house do they find out who had given them the presents and why. Harmen Van Straaten's watercolor illustrations that have a combination of subtle color changes to the background and the characteristics of the four friends add touches of whimsy and charm to this all ready lovely story. Young readers will especially like Duck's hat. For Me? is a fun book about friendship that would appeal to all readers.

CONNECTION
*Ask the children how they would say "Hi" to their new neighbors when they just move to a new home.
*What would they think if they received a single flower and a note on their doorstep?

Marked - House of Night Series

2009-08-22T21:36:00.010-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cast, P.C. and Kristin Cast. 2007. Marked. NY: St. Martin’s Griffin. ISBN: 9780312360269.

BOOK REVIEW
Changes in life can be hard, especially if you are unexpectedly “marked” as a fledgling vampyre and have to change schools. Leaving her friends, boyfriend and not-so-nice family behind, Zoey begins her new life as a fledgling at the House of Night to learn to become an adult vampyre. Of course, that is if she makes it through the change, which not all do. On top of a new school and making new friends, Zoey discovers that she has been chosen to have a special connection with the vampyre Goddess Nyx and rapidly develops new powers that fledglings normally don’t have. Life at the House of Nights gets mysterious when she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters is misusing her powers and she must set things right. As a mother and daughter team, P.C. and Krisitn Cast’s writing has the exciting and humorous touch of how teenagers would speak and think. Along with the usual dramas of teenage life Marked is also includes with mysteries and great action. The unique touches to the vampires themselves, especially the tattoos they develop as an adult vamp (or in Zoey’s case when the Goddess Nyx is pleased with her actions), their history, and bloodlusts that develops when feeding on others, adds to the new views of vampires in literature. Set in their hometown of Tulsa, OK, the authors also include well-rounded characters who are friends, or enemies, of Zoey and allow references to pop culture to make them more real to the readers. Being the first book of the currently five-book House of Night series about Zoey’s life and continuously unique drama that is full of twists and turns, Marked is growing in popularity and competition among the ranks of vampire literature and is an extremely welcomed addition to the subgenre and will draw the readers in.

CONNECTION
*Continue to follow Zoey’s story with the other books in the House of Night series: Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted and Tempted (coming October 2009).
*Have a House of Night event and let the participants create their own tattoos.

Grumpy Cat

2009-08-08T22:14:00.006-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Techentrup, Britta. 2008. Grumpy Cat. NY: Boxer Books. ISBN: 9781905417698.

*A 2009 Texas 2x2 Book*

BOOK REVIEW
Cat is grumpy. He sits between his trash cans alone, he eats alone, and he sleeps alone. However, Cat is also a lonely cat as he doesn't know how to join the other cats to play. Then when night, during a thunderstorm that leaves him wet and cold, a Kitten appears. Despite still being grumpy and trying to lose her, all of the brown and black stripped Cat is constantly followed by his new and unwanted friend Kitten. The orange and brown stripped kitten tries to play with him, wiggles her tail under his nose, pulls his tail and shows him her soft tummy. However, Cat is still grumpy until Kitten nearly falls out of a tree. This is a short and simple story of how a friendship is formed that young readers will like. The illustratrions are a combination of bold and soft and are graphically tectured what brings to mind that of other artists like Eric Carle, though less bold and colorful and more realistic. The young readers will like the grumpy look of Cat and the playfullness of Kitten. With the combination of the oversize bookform, lovely illustrations, and the clean text, young readers are sure to enjoy.

CONNECTION
*Ask the readers if they were ever grumpy until one of their friends came to visit or when a new friend came a long.

Dinosuar Starts School

2009-08-08T22:07:00.006-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Edwards, Pamela Duncan. 2008. Dinosaur Starts School. Illus. by Deborah Allwright. Morton Grove, Ill: Albert Whitman & Company. ISBN: 9780807516003.

BOOK REVIEW
It's the first day of school and Dinosaur, a bright orangey-red Stegosaurus, is full of worry and doesn't want to go. However, his little human companion offers him reassurance. The story is cleverly written through a series of "What if..." questions like "What if you were painting pictures of the sun but Dinosaur made a big mess? What if his bight dinosaur eyes filled with tears and he began to cry?" and "What if it was time for lunch but Dinosaur said in his worried dinosaur voice, 'They might give us something yucky to eat.'" All the while, his friend offers answers to all the questions and makes Dinosaur at ease until they meet new friends another boy with a Triceratops who also are struggling with the first day of school. The illustrations are colorful and charming. All the children wear an array fun, retro style clothes and are an mixture of skin tones and hair styles (the young friend of dinosaur has a cool up-swoop hairdo). The pages are filled with color and action that will equally entertain the readers. This is an endearing story of the first-day-of-school jitters that many children will relate to, especially to those who love dinosaurs or have an imaginary animal friend. This is a must for all public and school libraries and is perfect for a storytime.

CONNECTION
*Ask the children if they had a dinosaur who started school, what would you tell them if they were scared? What type of dinosaur would it be?
*Do a dinosaur craft.
*Other stories about going to school like Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes and How do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen and illus. by Mark Teague.

Katie Loves the Kittens

2009-07-29T20:43:00.006-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Himmelman, John. 2008. Katie Loves the Kittens. NY: Henry Holt & company. ISBN: 9780805086829.

BOOK REVIEW
When here human, Sara Ann, brings three kittens home, Katie the dog is so excited. Every time she sees them her tail begins to wag uncontrollably and wants to play and howl. However, all of her exuberant attempts to play or even to control herself from eating their food only leave Katie sad for only scaring the kittens and being reprimanded for doing so. Only when she learns to control her excitement does everyone is happy and she begins to make friends with the new additions to the family. Himmelman's story will capture the reader's love and sympathy for the adorable Katie (and the three kittens) all the while the ink and watercolor illustrations add the appeal of the whole book, especially when seeing she become so excited that her wagging tail is a blur and she her body quivers. Katie Loves the Kittens is humorous and charming about excitement, confusion, sadness, self-control and making friends that everyone will love to read and share with others, whether they like cats, dogs, or both! A must for all libraries.

CONNECTION
*Ask the children if they were ever extremely excited about something or someone that they love.

Chasing Vermeer

2009-07-16T22:33:00.006-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Balliett, Blue. 2004. Chasing Vermeer. Illus. by Brett Helquist. NY: Scholastics Press. ISBN:9780439372947.

BOOK REVIEW
When a mysterious person claims that some of the paintings attributed to the famed Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer are in fact not his and ultimately steals the painting A Lady Writing while it is transit from one museum to another, two sixth-graders, Calder Pillay and Petra Andalee are on the case. Mystery and intrigue is around every corner as Calder and Petra become friends and begin to find a connection between their free-spirited schoolteacher, a used bookstore owner, an old woman, Calder’s friend Tommy, and even their own parents. Putting together the history and art of a famed 17th century painter, a book about unusual phenomena, use of pentominos, and codes, Balliett’s first novel successfully captures the excitement of a crime solving with a smart and detectives that remind readers of K.L. Konigsburg’s classic From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Helquist’s detailed black and white illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book, which have their own puzzle for readers to solve, and adds to the overall thrilling book.

CONNECTIONS
*Read Balliett's other mystery art books: The Wright Three and The Calder Game.

The Tiger Rising

2009-07-16T22:31:00.004-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
DiCamillo, Kate. 2001. The Tiger Rising. Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0763609110.

*2001 National Book Award Finalist*

BOOK REVIEW
Life isn’t so great for Rob. When his mother dies, he and his father move to Florida and are staying at the Kentucky Star motel. Plagued by an unusual rash on his legs and the victim of the school bullies, Rob keeps all his emotions deep down inside his “suitcase.” However, one day, hidden in the woods behind the motel, he discovers a real and very large golden tiger locked in a cage. That same day he meets the new girl, Sistine, in his sixth-grade homeroom class. Unlike himself, Sistine has no trouble showing her feelings and her discontent of living in Lister and how she is waiting for her father to take her away. When Rob finally decides to share his secret to Sistine, the ice the two of them breaks and they create a friendship that revolves around the tiger and how to free it. In this brief novel, DiCamillo has captures the strong and real emotions of pain and grief of a boy coping with his with the death of mother and the anger of a girl caught between her parents divorce. Secondary characters like Willie May, a worker at the motel and a wise woman that Rob asks for advice, are not flat and have a life of their own, and the overall narrative and language is very real and descriptive and will draw the readers in to this wonderful Newbery Honor book.

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

2009-07-16T22:28:00.005-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Numeroff, Laura. 1998. If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Illus. by Felicia Bond. NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0060266864.

BOOK REVIEW
Following the now classic If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Numeroff continues her successful “If You Give…” series with If You Give a Pig a Pancake where an adorable piglet arrives at the home of a young girl at breakfast, whoc give the pig a pancake with some very sticky syrup. Of course, after eating she will need a bath with the bubbles and a rubber duck, which reminds her of the farm and her family. What follows is the comical progression of activities, such as tap dancing, picture taking, building and decorating a tree house, that will end where the story began with a pancake with syrup. Bond’s delightful illustrations wonderfully capture the fun and playful mood of the book, and will keep the readers equally visually entertained as with the text that will build humorous anticipations for all who read. Sure to be as popular as Numeroff’s previous books.

CONNECTIONS
*Read the rest of the “If You Give…” series by Laura Numeroff: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Give a Pig a Party, and If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
*Read more of Numeroff’s books like: If You Take a Mouse to the Movies and If You Take a Mouse to School.
*Ask the children would type of food would they give to other animals.
*While reading, ask the children if they know what will happen next.

Not a Box

2009-07-16T22:25:00.004-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Portis, Antoinette. 2006. Not a Box. NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0061123234.

BOOK REVIEW
When is a box ever just a box? To the little rabbit in Portis’ imaginative picture book, a box is never a box. When an unseen narrator asks questions like “Why are you sitting in a box?” or “Why are you standing on a box?” the rabbit repeatedly replies with “It’s not a box.” Beyond the simple text, the illustrations are the element that creates the book. The bold black lines of Rabbit and his Not-a-Box on a white and tan background is used when Rabbit comes up with a new playful idea, and when the readers turn the back, the backgrounds changes to a pale yellow and red, and in bold red lines, which are superimposed over the previous illustration, will show what the not-a-box has turned into, such as mountain peak or a race car. The playful imagination seen in this fun little book, which itself is covered in brown paper and looks like a box, is reminiscent of Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon and equally fuels the creativity in every young children to think outside of the box.

CONNECTIONS
*Read Portis’ other imaginative book Not a Stick and Crockett Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon.
*Have a fun craft time and have the children take a small box (e.g. an animal cracker box) and create whatever they think a box is.

Capes for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business

2009-07-16T22:22:00.005-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Slobodkina, Esphyr. 1985 (org. 1947). Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys, and Their Monkey Business. NY: Harper&Row. ISBN: 9780201091472.

REVIEW
One day when he was unable to sell any of his gray, brown, blue, red caps, a peddler takes a walk into the country. After carefully resting himself against a tree-trunk and making sure that all of his caps were still neatly stacked upon his head he decides to take a nap. When he wakes, however, he discovers his caps are missing, and finds them on the heads of some mischievous monkeys sitting in the tree, and a game of monkey see, monkey do ensues until the peddler gets his caps back. With the unique color combination of black, turquoise, blue, red, and ochre, the stylized illustrations add to Slobodkina’s classic tale, which together presents a wonderful essence of a folktale, and still continues to engage to children (and their parents) of all ages. A great book to share aloud whether at home or at storytime.

CONNECTIONS
*When reading aloud have the children help you recite parts of the story.
*Cut out circles out of gray, brown, blue, and red felt, and as you read place the “caps” upon your heads. Children can also do this for themselves.

The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story

2009-07-16T22:17:00.006-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hahn, Mary Downing. 2004. The Old Willis Place. NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618430180.

BOOK REVIEW
For years twelve-year-old Diana and her ten-year-old brother Georgie knew the rules. They weren’t supposed to go past the gate of the Old Willis Place, not to go into the Willis house, and they were not to make friends with anyone. But when the new caretaker, Mr. Morrison, and his daughter Lissa arrive, Diana wanted to break the rule and be friends. After living wild on the grounds for so long and seeing old caretakers come and go, seeing someone their own age who had a bicycle, many books, and a teddy bear was exciting to Diana and Georgie and brought them back memories of years before. Much to her brother’s disapproval, Diana finally meets Lissa and they form an interesting and mysterious friendship that revolves around the creepy and supposedly haunted Old Willis house. Through the narration of both Diana and Lissa (via her diary entries), readers, along with Lissa, will be piece together the illusive story of Diana and Georgie and what happened in the Willis house with its owner Ms. Lillian Willis. Once again Hahn has written a compelling story of haunting, friendship, and forgiveness that will keep its for ghost stories.

CONNECTIONS *Read more of Mary Downing Hahn’s ghost stories: Wait Till Helen Comes, The Doll in the Garden, Time for Andrew, Deep and Dark and Dangerous, All the Lovely Bad Ones.

People of Sparks

2009-07-09T22:53:00.009-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Duprau, Jeanne. 2004. People of Sparks. NY: Random House Inc. ISBN: 9780375828249.

BOOK REVIEW
Picking up where City of Ember left off, readers follow the Lina and Doon as they and the others from Ember begin their new lives in Sparks, a small town on the surface. They are taught how to build fences and building as well as grow their own food so that the Emberites can go off on their own and establish their own town. As they work, Lina and Doon learn about the world outside of Ember and what had causes for The Builders to build their underground city. However, life quickly becomes more difficult than ever when everyone grows more and more intolerant of the ignorance and selfishness in others and blame is pointed for mishaps that occur. Duprau successfully continues the story of the Emberites journey of learning the truth and hardship about the world beyond their underground home. though the setting itself is a little vague in descriptions in some parts, the characters capture most of the readers attention. Some are simple as in the previous book while others are slightly more complex. People of Sparks is fun, at times thought provoking, and quick read for this interested in the and with only some questions answered while others remain hidden, readers will me looking for the next book in the series.

CONNECTIONS
*During book discussions, ask the readers about the differences between Sparks and Ember. How would they have felt if they arrived in a new place and/or received 400 people from an underground place.
*Ask the causes leading to the Disaster.

City of Ember

2009-07-09T22:41:00.011-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Duprau, Jeanne. 2003. City of Ember. NY: Random House Inc. ISBN: 9780375822735.

BOOK REVIEW
It's the year 241 and the city of Ember is dying. The generator that produces the electricity is breaking down with great frequency, which leaves the city in complete darkness for any amount of time, and food and necessities are running out. As they begin their new jobs, twelve-year-old classmates Lina Mayfeet, Messenger, and Doon Harrow, a pipeworker, quickly learn about more history and truth about their beloved city. When Lina discovers a old torn and chewed-up document from the time of "The Builders" that may be instructions on how to leave Ember, she and Doon are under the watchful eye of the corrupt mayor and his friends. With the city near ruins, the two make the decision to try the escape route that may or may not lead them to the world outside of Ember. In her debute novel, Duprau has created a fun novel that is a combination of adventure and mystery wrapped up a post-apocalyptic setting. The characters are simple yet well-rounded and the readers will relate their thoughts and feelings. An excellent quick read for all to enjoy.

CONNECTIONS
*Have a compare-contrast reading discussion with similar books like The Giver by Lois Lowry.
*Have a movie book and movie night where, after reading the book, have a discussion on how well the movie reflects the book.

Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story

2009-06-12T23:56:00.006-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hahn, Mary Downing. 2007. Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story. NY: Clarion Books. ISBN: 9780618665457.

BOOK REVIEW
When Ali is invited to stay the summer with her Aunt Dulcie and her four-year-old cousin Emma at Gull Cottage she jumps at the chance, despite the fact that her overprotective and depressed mother dislikes the idea. Staying at the lake house where her mother and aunt vacationed at as kids, thirteen-year-old Ali unearths a thirty-year-old mysterious drowning of a girl named Teresa that begins with a torn photographs. While her aunt spends time in a studio painting, Ali and Emma meet Sissy, a prickly and annoying local girl who hints at a dark secret and who becomes a bad influence on Emma. As she continues to visit the girls and talk about Teresa, Sissy makes the summer dark, difficult and dangerous. Hahn is in fine form as she explores the story of a girl's apparent death (other words) from decades past that comes back to literally haunt the children of those closes to the truth. The characters are real and believable, though Emma seems to be more mature than her age. The mystery in the story grabs the readers and draws them in. A great read for a summer night or any time.

CONNECTIONS
*Read more of Mary Downing Hahn's ghost stories: Wait Till Helen Comes: A Ghost Story, The Doll in the Garden: A Ghost Story, Promises to the Dead, The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story, and All the Lovely Bad Ones: A Ghost Story.
*Invite discussions by asking questions like: Did anyone begin to suspect that Sissy was someone else pivotal to the mystery at Gull Cottage? How and why? Why do you think that Claire and Dulcie kept the mystery a secret?

The End of the Final Semester!

2009-05-18T20:05:00.005-05:00

The final semester of my studies in Library Science has ended. It was wonderfully successfully and exciting. I hope that you have enjoyed reading my book reviews and poetry breaks for the last few months.

Now that I am a Children's Librarian this blog will be morphing only in the sense that the reviews, poetry breaks, and anything else that I will post will not be for a course but for my personal enjoyment as well as yours.

Please come and visit The Wielded Pen - Children's Corner in the future and discover about the great books that I have come across!

Course Bibliography

2009-04-23T12:31:00.005-05:00

This is a bibliography of all the books that I used when creating my poetry breaks and book reviews for the Library Science course LS 5665.20 – Poetry for Children and Young Adults. Enjoy exploring these great books!

Bagert, Brod. 2007. Shout!: Little Poems that Roar. Illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780803729728

Fletcher, Ralph. 2006. Moving Day. Illus. by Jennifer Emery. Honesdale, Penn: Wordsong. ISBN: 9781590783399.

Florian, Douglas. 2006. Handsprings. NY: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 978006009280.

Franco, Betsy. 2003. Mathematickles!. Illus. by Steven Salerno. NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN: 0689843577.

Glenn, Mel. 1996. Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?: A Mystery in Poems. NY: Lodestar Books. ISBN: 0525675302.

Grimes, Nikki. 2006. Thanks A Million. Illus. by Gozbi A. Cabrera. ISBN: 9780688172930.

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2007. Behind the Museum Door: Poems to Celebrate the Wonders of Museums. Illus. by Stacey Dressen-McQueen. NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ISBN: 9780810912045

–––––––. 1990. Good Books, Good Times!. Illus. by Harvey Stevenson. ISBN: 0060225270.

Hull, Robert. 1991. Spring Poems. Illus. by Annabel Spenceley. Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn Library. ISBN: 0811478025.

Janeczko, Paul B. 2005. A Kick in the Head. Illus. by Chris Raschka. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press. ISBNL: 0763606626.

–––––––. 1998. That Sweet Diamond: Baseball Poems. Illus. by Carole Katchen. NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 068980735X.

Katz, Bobbi. 2004. Pocket Poems. Illus. by Marylin Hafner. NY: Dutton Children’s Books. ISBN: 0525471723.

MacLachlan, Patricia and Emily MacLachlan Charest. 2006. Once I Ate a Pie. Illus. by Katy Schneider. NY: Joanna Cotler Books (HarperCollinsPublishers). ISBN: 9780060735319.

Moore, Lilian. 2006. Beware, Take Care. Illus. by Howard Fine. NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc. ISBN: 0805069178.

Mora, Pat. 2001. Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers. Illus. by Paula S. Barragán M. NY: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN: 1584300191.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2000. Salting the Ocean: 100 Poems by Young Poems. Illus. by Ahsley Bryan. NY: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollinsPublishers). ISBN: 0688161936.

Paul, Ann Whitford. 1999. All by Herself: 14 Girls Who Made A Difference. Illus. by Michael Steirnagle. NY: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 0152014772.

Weisburd, Stefi. 2008. Barefoot: Poems for Naked Feet. Illus. by Lori McElrath-Eslick. Honesdale, Penn: Wordsong. ISBN: 9781590783061.

Responding to Poetry: Ode to Michelangelo's Bones - A Poetry Break

2009-04-23T11:23:00.002-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Art goes hand-in-hand with poetry. Poetry can beautiful describe a specific work of art, view art in a new way, and to learn a new way to meet an artists. This poem, written by a child of an unknown age, simply describes what a famous sculptor did. Prepare for this poem by finding other poetry books about art like Heart to Heart: New Poems Inspired by Twentieth-Century American Art compiled by Jan Greenberg, Celebrating America: A Collection of Poems and Images of the American Spirit compiled by Laura Whipple, and Words with Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art compiled by Belinda Rochelle, and artists and books with great colored photographs of works of art.

POEM

Ode to Michelangelo’s Bones
By Joe DeLeon

Many years ago
Michelangelo
Released men
From rocks.

EXTENSION
In connection with this poem, share with the children of who Michelangelo is and show photographs of his work. Also, have the children find an artist that they like and, after learning about them, have them write a bio-poem about the artist. Have the children find a specific work of art that they like have them write a poem about that artwork.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 2000. Salting the Ocean: 100 Poems by Young Poems. Illus. by Ahsley Bryan. NY: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollinsPublishers). ISBN: 0688161936.

Responding to Poetry: That Sweet Diamond

2009-04-23T00:29:00.008-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Janeczko, Paul B. 1998. That Sweet Diamond: Baseball Poems. Illus. by Carole Katchen. NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780689807350.

SUMMARY
The sights, sounds, taste, emotions and the fun of the baseball are celebrated in this great collection of poems.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In Janeczko’s collection of original poems the game of baseball, the life of the stadium, and the fans and players captures the essence of America’s favorite pastime. Capturing all areas of a baseball game, the poems are organized where the readers to be immersed in the sights, smells and sounds of “Before the Game”:

…
Boys, wearing caps of faraway teams,
Laugh, shove

Peanut shells crunch
underfoot

Cheese oozes
over nachos

Joy
thick as the perfume
of popcorn and
boiled hot dogs
fills the air

As ticket takers call,
This way
This way to the game

The fans in the stands are also described. In poem “Section 7, Row 1, Seat 3” there is an old woman who was born when Yankee Stadium opened and other special connections with baseball who comes to games and says that “’Leaving before the last out/she says, resting her chin on her/ebony cane,/‘is like/before your time.’” There are also the group of nuns in the stands who “all but two fell/victim to The Wave” and who’s

Faith
in their team
paid off
in the ninth
when the catcher with a saintly
swing
sent a pitch
to the gravel parking lot
behind the fence,
close enough to heaven
to win the game.

Other poems from the stands range from the “Things to do during a rain delay” that is written from the point of view of a young fan who builds castles with used paper cups and holding the umbrella in the right spot that the rain drops on the neck of the man sitting in front of you to the vendors who sell peanuts, sodas in waxy cups, and ice cream.

Among the poems about the fans and the happenings within the stadium, there are vignette-like poems about the players and officials like the poem “Catcher sings the blues” describes the catcher’s blues of achy knees, fingers, and crouching low. This poem has repeated couplets in each of the four stanzas that is great for children to repeat or even sing as a way to participate in reading the poem. Finally, the sport itself is highlighted when poems about specific plays in the game that ranges from a foul ball, a double play, and a play at home plate and also a poem about the secret signs that the players use to communicate and the nicknames that the players have.

The majority of the poems are written in free verse while others, such as the poem “A curse upon the Pitcher” is written in rhyme to create a specific rhythm and feel of the magic spell being cast:

Peanut shells, pigeon feather,
Dance a jig in stormy weather.
Ice cream stick, bubble gum,
Hurler, may you lose your hum.

The poems are given a two-page spread. One page is for the poem that is surrounded by a page border and the other for Katchen’s illustrations. The illustrations are loosely drawn with colored chalk crayons show the poems subjects in an artistic way that beautifully matches and never distracts from the poetry. Reader will in enjoy looking at accompanying artwork and study their soft details as much as reading the poems.

With the combination of great original poems and the accompany illustrations That Sweet Diamond: Baseball Poems is a great collection of poems that can be shared at the beginning of the baseball season and all summer long.

CONNECTION
*For more poems about baseball read and share books like At the Crack of the Bat by Lillian Morrison and Diamond Life: Baseball Sights, Sounds, and Swings by Charles R. Smith Jr.
*Invite the children to share their baseball experience and what they like about the sport.
*Have the children write their own poems about baseball.

Responding to Poetry: Tumbleweed - A Poetry Break

2009-04-22T22:45:00.005-05:00

INTRODUCTION
Moving away to a new home, city, or even a new state can be a very difficult time for children. They are leaving their home, neighborhood, school, and friends and going some place new and unfamiliar. This poem comes a book of poems, Moving Day, that revolves around a boy who is leaving his home in Massachusetts to live in Ohio and who is going through all the emotional stages of one who is leaving the home that he knows. Share this poem along with the entire book or some of it singular poems like “Unmovable,” “Leaves,” “Lasts,” and the ending poem “Leaves.”

POEM

Tumbleweeds
By Ralph Fletcher

You see them in old Westerns,
………...tumbleweeds
blowing across a dusty road.

Their roots aren’t planted in soil
but curled up so they can roll along
wherever the wind might take them.

If we move away from here,
I won’t be from Marshfield
or from Massachusetts, either.

I won’t be from anywhere–
…………just a tumbleweed
……………….blowing across a dusty road.

EXTENSION
Invite the children to share any of their experiences of moving from one home to another or of someone they know who moved away. Ask them how they would feel if they were leaving to live in a new place and how they would learn to like their new home. Connecting with the tumbleweed in the poem, ask if there is another way to describe the feeling of not belonging to any particular place.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:

Fletcher, Ralph. 2006. Moving Day. Illus. by Jennifer Emery. Honesdale, Penn: Wordsong. ISBN: 9781590783399.

Poetry Performance: Vacant Houses - A Poetry Break

2009-04-10T21:26:00.005-05:00

INTRODUCTION
This poem lets the imagination flow as shoes are seen as house for toes. Prepare for sharing this poem by bring in a few pairs of shoes that you own or found at a flea market or have the children bring a shoe (anyone’s shoes) from home. Also, bring other books to share like Nikki Grimes’ Shoe Magic.

POEM

Vacant Houses
By Stefi Weisburd

High hells
.........cliff-side beauty on stilts
.........toes might be cramped in the tiny basement

Flip-flops
.........great lakefront property
.........a drummer lives downstairs
.........so be prepared for swacking sounds

Sister’s pumps
.........pretty décor, new glossy finish
.........might not want to risk the high rental charges

Soccer cleats
.........very cozy
.........hit, humid, and stuffy three times a week
.........foundation a bit rickety

Sandals
.........good view of the stairs
.........not for the shy – no window shades
.........residents may get a tan lines

Boots
.........sturdy brown brownstone
.........but lack of skylights make it dark and gloomy

Dog-stolen old sneaker
.........fixer-upper
.........extensive saliva damage

Slippers
.........soft, luxurious carpeting
.........flimsy doors, not recommended for
.........cartwheelers or trampoline jumpers

Dad's shoes
.........lots of room to roam
.........in fact, too much square footage
.........but the floors are worm smooth as marble
.........feels like home

EXTENSION
Invite children to bring a shoe from home (dad’s shoes, mom’s or a brother or sisters’) or simply use their show, and have them come up with a description of what type of house they would be for the toes that would live in them. Have them create their own little poem for the description and include a nice picture of the shoe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:

Weisburd, Stefi. 2008. Barefoot: Poems for Naked Feet. Illus. by Lori McElrath-Eslick. Honesdale, Penn: Wordsong. ISBN: 9781590783061.

Poetry Performance: Once I Ate A Pie

2009-04-10T20:52:00.008-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
MacLachlan, Patricia and Emily MacLachlan Charest. 2006. Once I Ate a Pie. Illus. by Katy Schneider. NY: Joanna Cotler Books (HarperCollinsPublishers). ISBN: 9780060735319.

SUMMARY
From their point of views, thirteen poems highlight the fun, loving and mischievous life of dogs.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this charming series of thirteen poems, authors Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLaclan Charest has written thirteen free-verse poems that truly capture the humorous personalities of dogs. Abby “borrows” not steals. Lucy was adopted from a shelter and now calls the couch, chairs, bed, and pillow hers. A pug named Mr. Beefy likes to eat butter and admits that he once ate a pie. The German Shepard, Gus, likes to herd his people. The age of the dogs range from puppies like the poem “Puppy” at the beginning of the book:

The world is big
Trees too tall.
Sky too HIGH.
Snow over my head.
What if I get lost?

“You will chase snowflakes in winter,” the people tell me.
“Run through the grasses in spring
and howl at the full moon."

Not now. I am a puppy.
For now I will stay here
by your side
safe.
Warm.
Puppy.

To dogs in the prime of their life and finally the books ends with the poem Luke, the old St. Bernard who likes to sleep and dream of when he was young, but he will bark when he wants and will howl at the moon at night.

Through the effectiveness of the how the poems portray the personalities and behaviors of the dogs, the readers truly get the feeling of the what the dog is like. A wonderful example is Mr. Beefy’s poem:

I am not thin, but I am beautiful.
When no one is looking, I steal tubs of butter off the table.

I take them to the basement to eat in private.
Once I ate a PIE.

The reader cannot help but read this poem with a deep voice and with a passion, especially at the end with the admittance of once eating a pie.

Each poem is presented in a double-page spread with most illustrations in flowing onto both and with the poem itself in the white space. The poems are structured in a fun and appealing way. The emphasize a specific word to further illustrate the personality of the dog the text is larger or tinier than the normal size font and are sometimes in bold print. Words and lines also break free of the regular straight right to left some are written in waves or scattered about, which also shows the personality of the dog, for example, the poem for the dog Needle Nose who likes to get into everything the words of the poem begin to scatter as it describes what he likes to get into, “the refrigerator/the dishwasher/quilts/pillows/dog-cookies boxes/cat-snack bags/toys–I like the squeaker.”

All the poems are great to share with one reader. However, there are also poems that children can help in reading. For example, the poem “Louis” about a little Pomeranian who use to yip but now barks, there is a refrain of “I BARK” that the children can repeat while one reads. There is also the poem for the dogs Tillie and Maude, who are two dogs that look alike but have different personalities and behaviors. The poem is presented in a double page spread, Tillie’s part of the poem is on one page and Maude’s part of the poem is on the second page. This poem is a wonderful opportunity to have two readers read the poem.

Schneider’s oil paint illustrations are wonderfully artistic and complement the free-verse poems. The breeds of the dogs are lovingly and accurately presented. The personalities that are seen in the poems are also emulated in the faces and body language of the dogs in the illustrations. For example, the puppy Wupsie says her name is Wupsie but people call her “cute” be cause she covers her eyes with her pays and pretends to sleep. The illustration for the puppy shows her on her back, paws curled and her tongue playfully handing out of her mouth. Another example is Sugar, who sleeps all the time, unless she chases the cat, the illustration shows her in three different sleeping positions.

Once I Ate a Pie is a wonderful and loving book about man’s, woman’s, and child’s best friend that is perfect for any school, public, and personal library. Share this poem all year long and especially during the American Humane Association’s Adopt-a-Dog Month of October.

CONNECTIONS
*Bring pictures or books of different types of dogs or have children who have dogs at home bring a picture and have the children pick a breed and allow them to write a poem about them. Let the imagine run and let them create a personality for the dog and have them write a poem about them, as in the books.
*Have fun reading the poems aloud. Have two children read the poem “Tillie and Maude” (one child per dog) and have the children help you say the refrain “I BARK” in the poem “Louis.”
*Read more poetry books about dogs like: Dogku by Andrew Clements and illus. by Rim Bowers, Dog Poems by Dave Crawley and illus. by Tamara Petrosino, and Good Dog by Maya Gottfried and illus. by Robert Rahway Zakanitch.
*Have the children find out what the breeds are of the dogs that are seen in the books.

Poetry Performance: The Library Cheer - A Poetry Break

2009-04-10T17:49:00.014-05:00

INTRODUCTION
This poem comes a great book of poems that are meant to be shared out loud. Use this poem for every occasion from celebrating National Poetry Month to National Library Week or simply when you decide to celebrate books and poetry! Have the children repeat the refrain “Books are good!/Books are great!/I want books!/I WILL NOT WAIT!”.

POEM

The Library Cheer
By Brod Bagert

Books are good!
Books are great!
I want books!
I WILL NOT WAIT!
....Bird books,
....Bug books,
....Bears books too,
....Words and pictures
....Through and through.

Books are good!
Books are great!
I want books!
I WILL NOT WAIT!
....Books in color,
....Black and white,
....Shinny books,
....Fat books,
....Day and night.

Books are good!
Books are great!
I want books!
I WILL NOT WAIT!
....Sad books,
....Glad books,
....Funny books too,
....Books for me
....And books for you.

Books are good!
Books are great!
I want books!
I WILL NOT WAIT!

EXTENSION
Invite the children to use the refrain to start their own poem about the different types of books that they like read and discover at the library.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:

Bagert, Brod. 2007. Shout!: Little Poems that Roar. Illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780803729728.

Poetry Across The Curriculum: Kate Shelley - A Poetry Break

2009-03-27T21:59:00.004-05:00

INTRODUCTION
This biographical poem tells the story of a young girl’s bravery to go out in a storm to save the men from a train crash during the late 19th century. Perfect for social studies lessons, pair this poem with picture books like Kate Shelley: Bound for Legend written by Robert D. San Souci and illus. by Max Ginsburg and Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express written by Margaret K. Wetterer and illus. by Karen Ritz.

POEM

Kate Shelley
By Ann Whitford Paul

Lightning ripped apart the sky. Thunder pounded loud,
hammering relentlessly. Rain pelted from the clouds.
Kate Shelley trembled – mother, too – at the raging storm.
They moved in closer to their hearth,
Dry and safe and warm.
Then on the tracks nearby their home,
Men rode a service rain to check the rails
for damage caused by so much pouring rain.
Kate heard its bell toll once, twice, and then a roar of sound,
as if the thunder rumbled in the belly of the ground.
Kate heard its bell toll once, twice, and then a roar of sound,
Kate grabbed her lantern.
Mother begged her, “Stay!” but Kate dashed out.
The bridge was smashed! The train had crashed!
Two men clung desperately to trees.
Kate started into town for help.
The path was overgrown – she tripped and tumbled down.
Kate stood again and ran
until she reached Des Moines’ wide river.
The water lapped the railroad bridge.
Her lantern’s small flame quivered. Then it died!
Kate strained to see the ties place far apart,
stooped down to her knees, and groped on through the dark.
Jabbed by splinters, ripped by nails,
she crawled along the planks – across a span, five hundred feet.
At least she reached the bank.
Cold and wet seeped to her bones,
yet still she ran – raced fast! – to town.
The people there were horrified.
They grasped and hurried with her to the train.
Though nearly drained of hope,
the men were pulled to safety with a long and looping rope.
Kate Shelley didn’t wait for thanks,
But trudge on through the storm,
back to Mother, back to home,
dry and safe and warm

EXTENSION
Invite the children to share what they would have done if they saw that the bridge was out and the trained had crashed. After sharing the poem and other picture books, ask the children to compare the different versions of Kate Shelley’s story. Which one did they like best? Also continue the sharing of stories of heroic people in history, including girls found in All by Herself by Ann Whitford Paul.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
This poem is from:

Paul, Ann Whitford. 1999. All by Herself: 14 Girls Who Made A Difference. Illus. by Michael Steirnagle. NY: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN: 0152014772.

Poetry Across The Curriculum: Mathematickles!

2009-03-27T19:10:00.008-05:00

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Franco, Betsy. 2003. Mathematickles!. Illus. by Steven Salerno. NY: Margaret K. McElderry Books. ISBN: 0689843577.

SUMMARY
Through a combination of seasons and math, poetic math problems will tease the brains of readers young and old.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this fun yet educational collection, Franco’s simple, free verse poems are creatively presented in various math problems that range from the easy addition, subtraction, multiplication, division to graphs. Following a young girl and her cat, readers are taken through the concepts of math, language arts, and the four seasons.

The poems are short, no more than eight words in all,. Through the use of the mathematical format the essence of the poem is easily understood and appreciated. Through the combination of formats, poetry and math, the readers are engaged in multiple subjects at ones. Some of the poems are easier to understand the answer while other ones can be thought provoking as they present a new way of thinking of a season, like:

farmland
– harvest
earth’s naptime

as well as ways you think of other things like exploring during the season like:

ice puddle + snow boot = creakgroanCRACK!

Even through the simplicity of the poems and the aspect of mathematics, there is still the wonderful element of imagery still is part of the overall book. For beautiful poem is:

raindrops
x leaves
pearls on green plates

and

maple leaves + puddle = crimson ships

Through such imagery the readers are seeing how math and language can be combined to create something fun as well as beautiful.

Salerno’s colorful gauche illustrations range from single page with one or more poems to two page spreads with several season related poems throughout. The illustrations are artistically and whimsically painted as they present the four different seasons, the animals, the nature, and even the girl and her cat. One of the best aspects of the illustrations as it provides a visualization of the answers to the poems such as when the poem

coldair -:- breath = tiny cloud

the illustrations show the girl walking through a wintry scene and we can see her breath. Or, as another example there is

squirrels + ___________ = winter storage

(answer: acorns) [the answer is presented upside down]

and the illustrations show tall trees with holes where the squirrels have hidden all of their acorns. Providing a visual of the poems’ subjects creates a way for readers who are still gaining understanding of the math concepts but can begin to figure out the answers by looking at the illustrations.

The mathematical poems, as well as the colorful illustrations, are a fun and creative way to gain understanding of both math and the seasons. Readers of all ages will have fun reading and figuring out the poems. Pair with seasonal, science, or math poetry and picture books as well as with textbooks, Mathematickles! is perfect for enhancing the education of students all the while having fun!

CONNECTIONS
*Continue to enhance math with poetry books like Arithme-Tickle: An Even Number of Odd Riddle-Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis and Illus. by Frank Remkiewiz.
*Expand and enhance science with poetry books like Spectacular Science: A Book of Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and Illus. by Virginia Halstead.


BINGO flannel board created by Dorothy, WP-CC 2012. Used the hands to help everyone know when it's time to clap!