Review: I Will Surprise My Friend

I Will Surprise My Friend (An Elephant & Piggy Book)
written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Hyperion Books for Children, 2008
57 pages

Gerald is an elephant. He's big, he wears glasses, and he is thoughtful. Piggie is his best friend. She's skinny (by traditional pig standards) and is often seen dancing. Together, they watch a squirrel "surprise" his friend. The friend was startled, but then they laughed together and ran off to do it again. Gerald and Piggie got an idea! Piggie will surprise Gerald and Gerald will surprise Piggie. Right here. At this rock. Off they go ... to wait. And wait. And wait. Until Gerald starts to worry about Piggie and Piggie gets hungry. As they get up from behind the rock to leave ... SURPRISE!

Before I even had a chance to break the cover of I Will Surprise My Friend, my daughter (6, at least until tomorrow) snatched it and was gone! "This is awesome, Mom!" I got to listen to her read the story with all the enthusiasm and pride of a new reader. Then, after a couple of rounds, I got to read it.

I have to agree with my daughter. This was fun. My summary had far more words than the book itself, largely because so much of the story is built on dialogue and visual cues. Two creatures sitting opposite each other but never finding the other is a classic sight gag. You'll find it in children's stories (think Big Bird and Mr. Snuffalupagus, for one) and adult films (a la Three Stooges, and many others). But it still works.

The vocabulary repetition is great. The varied type sizes and use of all caps help kids add emotion. The lilting tone of MAYBE ... just sings from the page. Because there are two parts and the text is 100% dialogue, it is a great book to partner read, with each reader taking a role with the dialogue.

I Will Surprise My Friend is an easy reader with a story toddlers, preschoolers, and emerging readers will love. If your child is inspired to act out stories, it may not be a book you read before bed ... unless they have to hide in bed and have to wait for you to come back.

I Will Surprise My Friend is a Cybils nominee in the Easy Readers Category. You can find reviews for this and other books in this category at the Reading Tub website. You'll also find links to other reviews of these same titles there. One final note. These reviews are my thoughts on the books. They do not represent an official position of the panel.

Cinder Rabbit written by Lynn E. Hazen, illustrated by Elyse Pastel
Annie and Snowball and the Teacup Club written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson
I Will Surprise My Friend written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Read more!

Review: I Will Surprise My Friend

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/11/review-i-will-surprise-my-friend.html

Reading Habits: The School Library

Our elementary school, like many schools, has an an open-door policy. The students can visit the library any time. Some kids use the time between the first and second bells to deliver and pick out new books. Some head there after school. All students have Library Time as one of their scheduled "specials."

Like many parents, we get to explore the school library through our children. Our daughter is now a first grader, and it has been both interesting and fun to see books through her eyes. We've had everything from rhyming and picture books typical of a first grader to detailed books that fall just short of a textbook. It wasn't until recently, when I started thinking about her choices, that I recognized a pattern. Here's what we've read so far this year. I'm sure every librarian will have this by the third book. I didn't write down the first couple books, but they were about pirates and monsters. Next came ...

Our Body: Digestive System
Cheryl Jakab
(Smart Apple Media, 2007





Michael Recycle
by Ellie Bethel
Illustrated by Alexandra Colombo
Worthwhile Books, a Division of Idea and Design Works, LLC, 2008




Ghosthunters and the Totally Moldy Baroness
by Cornelia Funke






Pumpkin Heads
written and illustrated by Wendell Minor
Scholastic Paperbacks, 2007




Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly
by Judith Matthews and Fay Robinson
Illustrated by Alexi Natchev
Bradbury Press, Macmillan Publishing Company, 1994



Until I sat down and looked at the titles, I hadn't put it all together. How recycling fits in still baffles me, but the theme -- based on my daughter's obsession since September -- is Halloween. I'll close with some thoughts about reading.

* If there is a theme or pattern, it will likely surface after just a few trips. It may be helpful to keep a list, because the patterns don't follow a "natural" progression. Knowing what interests your child makes it fun (and easy) to select books they're likely to enjoy.

* If you are asked a question about a specific subject, how something works, or your child is taking an interest in something new, encourage him to ask his librarian about books on the topic.

* Reading isn't always a front cover-to-back cover process. Sometimes it is okay if a child wants to flit from page 5 to page 9 and then back to page 6. But some books are more fun if you explore them randomly. For us, it was the book about the digestive system.

The important part is just taking time to share the library book with your child. Kids love being able to show independence in their decision-making, and selecting their own books can help reinforce that. The same "Wow, that's really cool!" you used when they showed you their latest artwork will make them feel just as special when you use it for the new book they just checked out, too.

Read more!

Reading Habits: The School Library

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/10/reading-habits-school-library.html

Children's Books Keep Me Up at Night (UPDATED)

Yes, there are times when I stay up way past my bedtime because I can't go to sleep until I find out what happens next. But sometimes, I'm staring at the ceiling because I am still thinking about something I read (or in this case heard) earlier in the day.

Yesterday I finally had a chance to listen to Mark and Andrea's discussion Pondering Self Publishing over at Just One More Book. Whether you are someone who write or illustrates books for children, or an adult who reads with kids, you'll find something valuable in their thoughts.
I listened to the Pondering Self Publishing podcast twice, spent some extra time reading the comments, and found myself nodding a lot. For this edition, Mark and Andrea offered their observations as people who are asked to review lots of children's books. They are very clear in asserting that they aren't experts. True, they may not be professional/traditional reviewers, but they are an expert audience: they are parents who read lots of books, on lots of topics, and can offer their own thoughts and the reactions of their daughters. They are the people (NOT reviewers) whom authors try to reach.

If you are an author or illustrator, I highly recommend that you stop by Just One More Book to listen to the podcast and read the discussion. It is more than worth your time. If you are an adult who reads with kids, I'd encourage you to listen to get the answer to the question "what should I look for in a good book?" Here are some ideas for quick things you can do to pick a good book, regardless of how it is published.

• Look at the illustrations. Is the main character always in the same scene? Do you always see his/her face from the same angle, even if the background changes? Do their expressions match the text on the page?

• Do the rhymes work? If this is a rhyming story, open the book to a random page and read the rhyme out loud (whisper-voice counts). Did you have to read it two or three times to make the sing-song element sound "right"?

• UPDATED ITEM: Are there typos? Even the biggest publisher can make a mistake, so finding a typo or two isn't a problem. But, as Mark and Andrea point out, a regular pattern of errors detracts from the story and the quality of the product. This is particularly true when you are using the book as a way to supplement spelling and grammar.
  

• What happened the last time you picked a book like this? Even if your reader/listener likes monster books, maybe s/he wants monsters to have friendly faces. This one might have dark colors and an air of spookiness.
  

• How many >paragraphs are on a page? If the number of lines of text are twice the age of the child you are reading with, there may be too much text. For example, if you are reading with a 3-year-old, and there are four two or three-line paragraphs (9-12 lines), your reader may not stay with you.

The questions are offered as a way to help you decide if an unknown book is a good match for your reader or listener. If this isn't a child you read with, you can get helpful information on these same topics by asking someone who does read with the child.

• What kind of images to they like: photographs?-illustrations in color? black-and-white sketches? cartoon images?
  
• Do they like rhyming books?
  
• Do they have a favorite subject?
  
• Are there certain books they don't like?
  
• How long will they sit for a story?

Reading with a child is so important, but it should also be fun. Here's to opening a great book!

Read more!

Children's Books Keep Me Up at Night (UPDATED)

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/10/childrens-books-keep-me-up-at-night.html

Help Kids Pick Their Own Books

For almost two weeks now, I've kept Gail Gauthier's post This Works for Me, Too as a starrred item in my blog reader. I didn't want to bury it in a Reading Round-up over at TubTalk, nor did I want it to get lost in the flurry of activity during Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Gail's piece in her Original Content blog offers some of the best advice I've heard about helping kids pick out books for themselves. It's simple, they can remember it ... and so can you. Gail links to the Five Finger Test, a process kids can use to help them decide if a book they've picked out is too easy or too hard for them. There are actually two methods.

Goldilocks Rule For this process, readers answer a series of questions to determine if a book is too easy (e.g., have you read this book before, do you know every word); just right (is the book new, do you have some words you don't know); or too hard (are you confused about the content)?

Five Finger Test Open the book to a middle page and start reading. When you read a word you don't know (or can't say), hold up a finger. If, by the end of the page, you have five fingers up in the air, the book is too difficult, "so wave it goodbye." If you have no fingers up, go back to the Goldilocks Rule to determine if the book is too easy or just right.

Kids will remember the Five Finger Test and they carry the data collector with them everywhere. But the more valuable process comes from the questions in the Goldilocks Rule. These are good questions, as they focus not only on vocabulary and readability (i.e., processing words), but also comprehension and whether or not the child has someone who can help them with their reading.

• A just right book requires "someone [who] can help you with the book when you hit a tough spot."
• A too hard book is one where "everyone [is] busy and unable to help you if you hit a tough spot."

The questions are written at a reading level the kids can understand. I ran the Goldilocks Rule web page through Juicy Studio and it came back with a Flesch-Kincaid grade level of 3.79. That seems targeted at about the right level, as third grade is when you hit "independent reader" on most scales ... and it is also the reading level for millions of adults.

The current discussions in the UK about book banding are what ultimately led to Gail's discovery and her post. It's nice to know that something good and useful has surfaced from some of those discussions. Thanks, Gail.

Read more!

Help Kids Pick Their Own Books

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/09/help-kids-pick-their-own-books.html

News You Can Use

Here's some news that was sent to me courtesy of a weekly WashingtonPost email subscription.

The Partnership for Reading is offering a free 40-page booklet to help children become better readesr. The Partnership for Reading is a collaborative effort of the National Institute for Literacy, the US Department of Education, and the National Institute for Child Health and Development. As written in the eMail:

"The booklet will give you activities that you can do with your children, ages five to ten years, to help them read better."

Each family can receive one free copy. To order multiple copies, call 1-800-228-8813 or visit this Web site: http://www.edpubs.org/webstore/Content/search.asp.

Click here to get your copy of A Child Becomes a Reader: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Read more!

News You Can Use

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/03/news-you-can-use.html

Ready to Read : One Size Doesn't Fit All

I have alway believed that there is more than one way to get a kid excited about reading. Just like finding a diet that sticks, or really, truly, permanently give up smoking, it may take several attempts to truly find the answer. What motivates one person, won't work for someone else.

The important thing is to be open to and try different approaches. Somewhere out in the universe is the spark that will light up your child's world and hook them on reading. The idea is to complement your child's interest and help them find success for themselves. Don't compare him to Johnny, who is "already" reading ... or rabidly follow the process Susie's mother used to get her daughter to read.

For some of us, it's fun to sit down and read with our kids. We feel confident in our ability to guide our child. But that's not true for all of us, whether it's time to offer or personal confidence to teach. Well, several months ago we had a chance to play with a product called the One Minute Reader(tm). I recently found it again when I was cleaning up my office.

I sat down, opened it back up, and started to look at it again. We've been getting a lot of requests to help high school students who aren't at-level for reading for their grade. And it's been hard to find topics sophisticated enough (and at their reading level) that will engage them.

The One-Minute Reader(tm) system has potential for this target audience. It is perfect for school or at home. The story is only one page (with pictures), so it doesn't require a long attention span. There are games/activities and an audio CD to complement (and reinforce). And last but not least, there are charts for monitoring progress. Teens are generally competitive ... and they can compete with themselves AND see progress, too.

What caught my eye is the variety and the fact that the stories are non-fiction. Each of them is non-fiction. Each of the five books has five stories to choose from, and there are all kinds of non-fiction topics, from science to geography, athletes to mythology.

NOTE: This is not an advertisement or endorsement for a specific product. It is information offered solely for the purpose of letting individuals working with at-risk readers know about a reading tool.

Read more!

Ready to Read : One Size Doesn't Fit All

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/03/ready-to-read-one-size-doesnt-fit-all.html

If You Take a Child to the Library ...

Every day, we get lots of new children's books here in the Tub. So many, in fact, my office is beginning to look like a library ... and, to borrow a turn of phrase that Laura Neumeroff uses ...

If you think about the library you think about great books ... and if you think about great books, you'll think about great memories ... and if you think about great memories, you want to share them with your kids!

So as I sit here staring at my own personal "stacks," I remember my childhood visits to the library. Going to the library was probably how I got hooked on books in the first place. I remember wandering in and out of the stacks every week searching for the next treasure. And our library made it easy ... all of the children's books were close together, in a separate place that was decorated just for us.

For a child, a library can be a truly daunting place. The shelves look like ladders that reach to the sky and they are covered with books ... walls of them. Having a "hideaway" place that invites them to explore books is an incredibly powerful way to get them excited about learning. Luckily, we have lived in cities with good spaces for kids. So when my daughter started walking, we'd head to the library to explore!

One of the grandest libraries of all is the New York Public Library. You'll find it listed in your tourists guide as a place to visit. The library is an icon ... in fact, the PBS Kids show Between the Lions is a slightly veiled reference to the entrance to the main library!

In the NYPL, that inviting place for kids is the Donnell Library and the Central Children's Room. It is a special place and, I would imagine, the inspiration to many a bookworm, children's author or illustrator. Have you visited the Central Children's Room? Then be sure to visit Elizabeth Bird's blog she is collecting those memories you treasure!

Read more!

If You Take a Child to the Library ...

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/01/want-to-read-about-it-go-to-library.html

The Book Bag, Books for ages 0 to 4, September/October 2007

This is a new book bag, starting this month. New subscribers have asked for books in this target audience, so from here on out, we will have a third Book Bag every two months! Normally the Book Bags comprise the short-list of our favorite reads in the previous two months.

For the new subscribers in this group, I would also like to include a link to a list of Favorite Books for Preschoolers. Cathy Puett Miller, the Literacy Ambassador created this list to help parents of our youngest readers-to-be get excited about the reading to come.

Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter Read and dance your way through this book that introduces kids to jungle animals, flora, and fauna in their natural habitats. (Barefoot Books, 2005)

The Coziest Bed in the World by Sheryl Kravitz. Anna wants to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed "just one last time." When she fell asleep that night, she set off to find the coziest bed in the world. As she traveled the earth, she met lots of animals who shared their perfect sleeping place. Which would she choose? This picture book story is for children struggling with sleeping in their own bed. (Little House Publications, 2006)

The Great Princess Contest by Stephanie Walsh. Morning is here. Time for breakfast! Today we have cereal ... with a princess tiara in the box! The magic tiara takes us to the Kingdom of Bannanz, where there is a princess contest. As it is finishing up, a fire-breathing dragon interrupts the contest. This is a personalized picture book where your child stars as a princess who handles a dragon with a temper tantrum. (Aardvark Adventure Stories, Inc., 2005)

A Halloween Story by Alberto Fernandez. Our young narrator (who is also the seven-year-old author) is climbing in to bed on Halloween night. What is that noise? a scary spider? a vampire? or not. At the end of the book you can name the characters and even create your own stories about them. Fun for pre-readers and kids working on their Level 1 sight words. (Maroma Books, 2007)

I Went to the Party in Kalamazoo by Ed Shankman. What are you doing ten years from today? Well, we are all going to a party, where we'll meet amazing people (and animals), and anything can happen ... as long as it's fun. This rhyming picture book invites kids to participate in celebrating life. "This was fun to read ... even a couple times in a row. It will remind you of reading a Dr. Seuss book, but it is unique, too." (Two Kids Productions, LLC, 2007)

Read more!

The Book Bag, Books for ages 0 to 4, September/October 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/10/book-bag-books-for-ages-0-to-4.html

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 5 to 8, September/October 2007

The Curious Polka-Dot Present by Cheri L. Hallwood. Our young storyteller is getting ready to celebrate her birthday. Her Mom says a special present will be arriving soon. What could it be? This story also illustrates the love between a child and her grandmother. (Forever Young Publishers, 2007)

Flying Hugs and Kisses (Besos y abrazos en el Aire) by Jewel Sample. This is not your "normal' picture book. This is a story about a family dealing with the loss of a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The story is written for children and helps them understand death, loss, and grief. It is not for every family (obviously), but it is a beautiful book with a message that will reach children with a hug. (LifeVest Publishing, 2003)

I Went to the Party in Kalamazoo by Ed Shankman. What are you doing ten years from today? Well, we are all going to a party, where we'll meet amazing people (and animals), and anything can happen ... as long as it's fun. This rhyming picture book invites kids to participate in celebrating life. "This was fun to read ... even a couple times in a row. It will remind you of reading a Dr. Seuss book, but it is unique, too." (Two Kids Productions, LLC, 2007)

My Adventure to the Fair; Where You Create the Story #5 by Colleen Madonna Flood Williams. In this trip to the fair, your child can fill in the details of his/her trip, including carnival rides, games, a pie eating contest, animals, music, and even fireworks. This is an interactive story where children add words to create the tale and illustrate their work. "Our son loved coming up with the words to fill in the blanks. Some answers were silly and some were very imaginative, but most the most exciting part was that he got to decide." (Orchard Academy Press, Windstorm Creative, 2006)

Punk Farm by Jarrett J Krosoczka. Tonight's the B-I-G night. Sheep, Cow, Goat, Chicken, and Pig, aka the band Punk Farm, has their big rock concert for all of the other animals. In the middle of their last practice, Cow hears footsteps in the farmhouse. Oh, no! Farmer Joe is supposed to be asleep. Will the rest of the barnyard get to hear that screamin' guitar? This is an amped up version of Old MacDonald's Farm. (Alfred A. Knopf, 2005)

When Pigasso met Mootisse by Nina Laden. Pigasso had become so popular in the Pig Provinces, he decided to move to the country. At the same time, fame was udderly unbearable for Mootisse; and he, too, decided to move. At first, the two artists enjoyed living across the street from each other; but then their art egos got the better of them and they built a fence to separate themselves. Is that what they really wanted? This picture book offers a colorful, humorous look at an incident in the lives of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. (Chronicle Books, 1998)

PODCAST Reviews by Just One More Book Listen to reviews of children's books at Just One More Book! There are new reviews three times each week.

A Horse in the House and Other Strange But True Animal Tales by Gail Ablow. "Densely colourful, offbeat illustrations and an unusual hybrid of storytelling and text-book style narration tantalize us with strange but true animal stories that are surprisingly addictive." (Candlewick Press, 2007)

Mama's Saris by Pooja Makhijani. "Wrapped in crimson, green and gold, this warmly worded and richly illustrated account of motherly love shares a glimpse of the caring and compromise that can make minutes meaningful." (Little, Brown and Company, 2007)

Read more!

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 5 to 8, September/October 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/09/book-bag-books-for-ages-5-to-8.html

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 9 to 12

The Case Against my Brother by Libby Sternberg. I never knew there was an anti-Catholic campaign in 1922. This is an historical fiction novel set in 1922. (Bancroft Press, 2007)

Child Out of Place: A Story of New England by Patricia Q. Wall. This is an historical fiction novel set in New Hampshire. The protagonist is 10-year-old Matty, a servant and newly-freed slave. The story follows her life, including her expecations about how the end of slavery will change things. It sounds like a thought-provoking book. (Fall Rose Books, 2007)

Destiny, Valor, and a Lizard named Louie by Michael Ambrosio. The title just makes me giggle. This is a chapter book fantasy. I'm intrigued by the study guide included. Fun reading and learning too? Cool! (Lionex Publishing, 2003)

Torina's World: A Child's Life in Madagascar by Benjamin Opsahl and Joni Kabana. The photographs in this picture book are just incredible. I look forward to learning more about a culture I know little about. (Arnica Creative, 2007)

Read more!

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 9 to 12

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/10/reading-ahead-books-for-ages-9-to-12.html

15 Minutes of Fame for Literacy

It is Saturday morning, and I should be sleeping in ... but instead I'm checking the overnight mail in the Tub. I was thrilled to see a note from Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of the How to Do It Frugally series.

This has been our week for being In the News. Earlier this week, BlogCritics Magazine posted a two-part interview I did with Mayra Calvani. Today, it's Sharing with Writers. Read on!

It has been such a crazy week that I hadn't gotten to posting the interview with Mayra Calvani for BlogCritics Magazine that was published earlier this week. Here are the links:

Part 1: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/09/08/190530.php
Part 2: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/09/09/094710.php

And TODAY's news. On her blog Sharing with Writers, Carolyn is featuring an interview that I recently did with Jewel Sample. As you'll see in the interview, Jewel happened to find the Reading Tub while searching for an organization to review her new children's book Flying Hugs and Kisses. While that book was in our (ever-growing) queue, we struck up a cyber-conversation, and voila! an interview was born. So please visit Carolyn's site. Our interview is great (if I do say so myself) but the blog has some truly terrific stuff for writers and authors. http://www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/

My thanks to Mayra, Jewel, and Carolyn for continuing to help the Reading Tub bring reading home to families!

Read more!

15 Minutes of Fame for Literacy

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/09/15-minutes-of-fame-for-literacy.html

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, July/August 2007

Given that it's back to school time, in addition to the usual bookbags, we added a short post with some great get-ready-for-school stories! (Look for the posting called School is in the Bag!)

Here are some of our favorites from those lazy days of summer. There have been lots to choose from ... with nearly 50 reviews these past two months!

1001 Things to Do in Fairyland by Gillian Doherty. There are 14 themed pages filled with the things that little girls love ... and plenty of fairies and princess paraphernalia, too. This is a seek-and-find book for discerning objects and counting. "This is I Spy in pink! and perfectly suited for the Kindergarten set." (Usborne, 2005)

Courage the Monkey by Mark Jordan. Jonathan is a spider monkey who is about to turn 11. When you're 11, you can climb a tree ... but Jonathan is scared. He was so embarrassed about it that he stopped playing with his friends. Can he overcome his fear? (Decere Publishing, 2006)

Growing up Grizzly by Douglas H. Chadwick. Emmett (a grizzly) seemed to be lost. He spent his days in this remote cove in Alaska, mostly looking lonely. He needed friends. Then one day, he happened upon Baylee (a momma grizzly) and her three new cubs. This is a photo-journey that follows Baylee, the cubs, and Emmett (the adopted bear) through two years. (Falcon Guide, an Imprint of Globe Pequot Press, 2007)

Molly and the Sword by Robert Shlasko. When Molly's family needs water, she volunteers to go to the village square to get some. Except that this is a time of war, and she is mistaken for a spy. But fate steps in and she returns home. Many years later, as she is about to play her violin at a great performance hall, she is trying to muster all of her courage again. Can she do it? This is a story that shows that bravery, courage, and friendship show themselves in different ways. (Jane & Street Publishers, Ltd, 2004)

Now Caitlin Can: A Donate Organ Helps a Child Get Well by Ramona Wood. Freddie Pendzinski has all kinds of feelings. He is happy to have a new baby sister, but frustrated because she is sick all the time. He tries to be a good big brother, but it's hard, and he is sad. When he learns that she needs to have a kidney transplant, he worries if it will really help. This picture book follows the life of Caitlin Pendzinski and her need for a kidney tranpslant. "This an excellent book to enlighten children about children whose lives may not be like their own. It is not bogged down in detail, but it does explain things; but neither does it gloss over the facets of a organ donation." (ABC Press, 2004)

Party Princess (Teach Your Children Well Series) by Vanita Braver, MD. Madison wants to look beautiful for her birthday party, so she decide to borrow Mom's makeup ... without asking. Instead, she ended up looking and feeling terrible about herself. Throughout the story's events she learned that beauty comes from the inside not the outside. This is a picture book with life lessons for little girls. (Child and Family Press, 2005)

Tell me a Story: Timeless Folktales from Around the World by Amy Friedman. This collection of eight folktales lets children explore the qualities we hope they learn (wisdom, wit, compassion, generosity) as well as those we don't (selfishness, greed, theft). This is an eBook collection of folktales from around the world. (Friedman & Danziger, 2006)

Read more!

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, July/August 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/08/bookbag-books-for-ages-4-to-8.html

The Wash Rag, Summer 2007

The Reading Tub Newsletter, Issue 16, Summer 2007

Summer's here, school is out, and life shifts to lay-back-and-relax mode. There is more time to be together, travel, and (last but not least) kick back with a book we have been waiting months to read!

Speaking of books to read … If you haven't checked out the May/June 2007 book bag, you might want to do that. It is probably the biggest collection of "favorites" we've ever had! I can't remember a month having as tough a time selecting "a few" favorites.

Just in time for summer reading, we have also upgraded the search engine on the site. Now, you can search the whole Web site or just the book bag. When you search the book bag (title, author, keyword), you're return is a list of books, sorted by age group, and the ability to print the book list and take it to your local library or bookstore. When you search the site, you still get the books, although there is no sort, but you can also get a return on other pages (like interviews and articles).

Before we jump into the Summer Author Showcase, I want to introduce you to Read Aloud Virginia (RAV). It is a non-profit educational literacy organization based in Richmond, VA. In 2008 RAV will celebrate it's tenth year of helping children learn to read! The organization's mission is to "promote healthy, successful children through reading aloud, and it is committed to encouraging parents, teachers, caregivers, and other adults to assume responsibility for children's literacy by reading to them for 20 minutes a day." When you visit the Read Aloud Virginia Website, you will find LOTS of information with tips for reading with kids, why reading aloud is important, and great books for reading with your kids. In October 2007, RAV is sponsoring a seminar (actually two) with Jim Trelease, whom many of you know as THE expert on reading with children. Click here to learn more about the seminar.

Now on with the show. Every quarter, I try to pull together an introduction that tells you a little bit about the individuals who comprise the Author Showcase. Most of the time, I discover a theme that I didn't realize was there. This time, I don't have to think that hard. I only need one word: passionate. In each of their interviews, our guests talk about how a personal passion became the catalyst for their work. Think I'm exaggerating? See for yourself. I'm betting that you will feel the energy as you read the interviews.

What could be better than books on tape? Listening to Andrea and Mark talk about great children's books for reading out loud. Or, even better, chatting with the individuals who crafted the stories. In July 2006, Andrea & Mark Blevis created Just One More Book! It is a website where you can access and/or download podcasts of great children's books. Their passion for sharing great books is evident in everything they do … and it leaps from the virtual pages of our interview, too. We will be truly surprised if you don't get a great tip for bringing more reading time into your family's day! Click here to meet Andrea and Mark.

Jennifer Bouani is an entrepreneur. She has been fascinated by business her entire life, and has put that energy into helping other kids that have that entrepreneurial spirit. Jennifer created the Future Business Leaders' Series™ books. The first title in the series, Tyler & His Solve-a-matic Machine. Jennifer's book, recently won an iParenting Media Award: The 2007 Excellent Products Call in Children’s Books. To read our interview with Jennifer, click here.

Laura Dunn-Dern is touching kids and parents around the world. To say that Lisa understands the media is a HUGE understatement. She is using traditional and emerging media to help children (and their families) build successful, happy relationships. You can see her on television, you can hear her on a monthly Internet radio show she co-hosts with her daughter, and you can read her blog. Lisa has just released Dr. Duncan, Dog on Duty, the second title in her semi-biographical picture book series; and she is producing and hosting a children's television show for Ethiopian Television (eTV). Click here to catch up with Lisa Dunn-Dern

Who will we meet next? As lazy as the days of summer may be, Autumn will be here in a flash. We are happy to report that the upcoming Author Showcase is bursting at the seams. Although we normally limit the showcase to three featured guests, because we have some new releases for the upcoming holiday season, we thought it best to expand our offerings.

Sherri Chessen, author of The Gorp's Gift and Gorp's Dream: A Tale of Diversity, Tolerance and Love in Pumpernickel Park.

T. K. Garrison, author of The Collin Chronicles, Book 1: Magic, Bones, and Catacombs.

Robyn Gioia, author of America's Real First Thanksgiving: St. Augustine, Florida, September 8, 1565.

Florrie Binford Kichler, publisher Patria Press, LLC and the Young Patriot Series. Titles in this series of historical fiction novels include stories about John Audubon, George Rogers Clark, Abner Doubleday; Fredrick Douglass, Amelia Earhart, John Hancock, William Henry Harrison, Mahalia Jackson, Juliette Low, Eddie Rickenbacker, James Whitcomb Riley, Lew Wallace, and Phillis Wheatley,

James Rives, author of Where are My Christmas Presents?


The Reading Tub, Inc. has two pieces of news worth splashing about.

First, we are thrilled to announce that thanks to the generous support of Exit Studio, the Arlington, Virginia-based multi-media publisher, we will be able to start moving forward with our One Letter at a Time project. Exit Studio has donated twenty copies of its award-nominated book En Esta Hermosa Isla (On This Beautiful Island). The book is a Finalist for 2006 Book of the Year by Foreword Magazine, and has received critical acclaim from Criticas (Publisher's Weekly review publication for books in Spanish). We will pair the books with a Reading Guide (being developed) in our effort to create a positive reading experience for all families, not just those where English is spoken at home. If you'd like to learn more about this project, just follow this link.

Second, the Reading Tub® is honored to be selected as one of two recipients of funds raised through the China Dreamblogue Project. Reading Tub, Inc. Director Lonnie Hodge, who teaches in China, is collaborating with another teacher on this project. Here is what he has to say about the effort:

"Our dream is to travel in 2007 to every mainland province in China, beginning with Tibet. During this journey, we intend to chronicle the everyday lives of ordinary Chinese citizens. Our motivation for the trip came from a group of cancer survivors known as the League of Extraordinary Chinese Women, a group of five women who naturally and courageously combated their disease (advanced-stage HER2 breast cancer) with friendship, enthusiasm, meditation, and what medical care they could afford. Because of their courage, we decided that we should find a way to live out our dreams and help others to live out theirs. Our search led to The China Dreamblogue [http://www.blogofdreams.com].

"The Dreamblogue is a cyber-activism website that will have videocasts, podcasts, a China picture contest (to be turned into a coffee table book), a weekly Chinese horoscope, weekly Chinese recipes (also to be a book), and most importantly, the daily dreams of people from around the world. In all, the Dreamblogue has been created to be a tool of understanding and a place where dreams can be spoken into reality."

Please go to the Dreamblogue site for more details and to see how you can help. No financial commitment is expected only your visits to the site. Visitors will have a chance to win one of two donated trips to China for either blogging their dream or just commenting.

As I mentioned above, we are happy to have the "problem" of trying to select just a few titles from among the large collection of books we are reading. The list below identifies some of the some of the books that arrived this past quarter and which look particularly interesting at first glance.

Dangerous Places by Caroline Hardy (recommended ages: 3 to 6). This is a lift-the-flap book designed to help children learn to make safe choices. (Mercury Books, 2006)

Monsters and Water Beasts by Karen Hokanson Miller (recommended ages: 9 to 12). This is a collection of non-fiction stories about mythical creatures and monsters. (Henry Holt & Company, 2007)

Oma finds a Miracle by Patrick Mader (recommended ages: 4 to 8). In this story, the children are searching for a cow born out in the snow. This is the second title in this picture-book series about life on a farm in the Midwest. (Beaver's Pond Press, 2007)

The Old Man and the C by Carole Jean Tremblay (recommended ages: 6 to 10). This picture book is a fish-tale with lessons for kids. (Pineapple Press, 2006)

Tales of Tokoloshe by Pieter Scholtz (recommended ages: 8 to 12). This is a short-story collection, with tales drawn from southern African folklore. (Struik Publishers, 2004)

Tell Me a Story: Timeless Folktales from Around the World (recommended ages: 5 to 12). This is an E-Book collection of European, Japanese and Indian folktales from the newspaper column "Tell me a Story." These stories, read by award-winning actors, range from just under five minutes to thirteen minutes in length. (Universal Press Syndicate, 2006)

Welcome Home, Forever Child by Christine Mitchell (recommended age: 4 to 9). This is a book celebrating families for children adopted as toddlers, preschoolers, or elementary-aged children. (AuthorHouse, 2006)

Thankfully, the pace of new books has slowed a little bit for summer. It will help us get a handle on the stacks of books that have been waiting patiently to be shared with a family. I am happy to report that we have just under 200 books to read and more volunteers to help us. My goal is to be down to 100 books by the end of the summer.

Happy reading!

Read more!

The Wash Rag, Summer 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/07/wash-rag-summer-2007.html

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, May/June 2007

Summer is here, with plenty of time for laid-back, fun reading. It was quite a challenge to select just a "few" of the books we love for this bookbag. Since it's summer, we tended to pull favorites that have a summer-time feel to them.

If you want to see more recent reviews, just type in "May 2007" or "June 2007" when you search the Reading Tub Website. Be sure to keep reading, the Just One More Book! Podcast is here, too.

Remember, the books are listed in alphabetical order by title. There is no ranking.

Dad's Bald Head by Paul Many. Father's Day may be over, but this one is a perfect read for any time. Pete loves his Dad, but Dad doesn't like the "scraggly" hair on the side of his head. One morning Dad decides to shave it all off. Then Pete doesn't know what to think: is this guy still his dad? This is a light-hearted look that offers kids a way to understand "big" changes. (Walker Publishing Company, 2007)

Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty by Lisa Dunn-Dern. Everybody in this family has a job...even the pets! Introduce your children to community service as they go with Dr. Duncan visit children at the hospital. (Visikid Books, 2007)

The First Well & Other Read-Along Stories by Bookbox. This collection of five fables is an e-Book on DVD. Each of the stories offers a magical journey and a lesson in life and wisdom. We love the fact that you can pick from among six languages for the stories. (www.bookbox.com, 2005)

Flying Solo by Kristi Stephas. This summer, Ellie (6) is flying from Chicago to California to spend a week with her aunt. She has never been on a plane by herself before, so this is a little unnerving. "This story gives you everything you want to prepare a child for an airplane trip." (Toy Truck Publishing, 2005)

I Wish I had Freckles Like Abby and I Wish I had Glasses Like Rosa by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. This pair of bilingual books is a charming look at friendship and how children view themselves in others' eyes. (Raven Tree Press, LLC, 2007)

There's a Season for All by Sammy Shu. Looking for a creative, folklore-sh way to explain the seasons? Then the fairies in this book will help. This highly imaginative story offers a "history" of how the seasons came to be, as well as lessons in sibling rivalry, friendship, and cooperation. (Raynestorme Books, 2005)

To Know the Sea by Frances Gilbert. Princess Isola is feeling, well, isolated. She lives in a mountain kingdom, but is intrigued by the sea. When the queen issues a proclamation (with a reward, of course) for the first person to bring the sea to the kingdom, the princess learns a valuable lesson. (Greene Bark Books, 2000)

Trosclair and the Alligator by Peter Huggins. Trosclair likes to explore the Louisanna Bayou on his pirogue (boat). He's sure those storis about Gargantua, the alligator, were more than a little exaggerated. Then he met Gargantua face to face! This is a classic fable set in the bayou ... with an interesting twist. (Star Bright Books, 2006)

Usborne Book of Lullabies by Fiona Watt, editor. This boardbook presents seven poems perfect for bedtime. It is also accompanied by a CD that plays the tunes of these and five other ready-for-dreamland pieces. (Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2005)

Vegetable Dreams (Huerto Sonado) by Dawn Jeffers. When Mr. Martinez learns that Erin wants to create her own garden (and her parents tell her it is too much work), he offers to help her. Together, they create a special bond as they plant and then enjoy the benefits of spending time in the garden. (Raven Tree Press, 2006)

What's With This Room by Tom Lichtenheld. Messy rooms and kids just seem to go together. In this humorous look at what's "really" going on, both parents and kids can get a new perspective on this age-old problem. (Little, Brown and Company, 2005)

Just One More Book! Click the title to listen to the Podcast.

Ages 0 to 4: Fun, Times Eleven: The Eensy-Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman. "When it comes to generously illustrated sing-along staples, more is more. Boasting eleven extra verses of the classic toddler tune and thirty-two pages of captivating illustrations, this book has always left our girls eager for its next reading." (Little, Brown and Company, 2004)

Ages 4 to 8: Fur and Feathers: Saving Samantha - A True Story by Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen. Warm, realistic illustrations and generous, unimposing text vividly recreate the thrill of befriending an injured fox pup and the bittersweet satisfaction of her eventual return to the wild. I don’t think our two daughters could be more excited about this story if they had lived it themselves! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2004)

Read more!

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, May/June 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/06/bookbag-books-for-ages-4-to-8-mayjune.html

Your Chance to Help Kids

Stacey Kannenberg, award-winning author of Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten and Let's Get Ready for First Grade is working with Mom Central Consulting on a PBS show for this fall.

Stacey is looking for some moms who would like to sample a FREE DVD of a new PSB Show coming out in September. "We are looking for mother's with preschoolers ages 2-5 who will view it with their kids and give us feedback in a short survey." Here's the link:

http://www.cedarvalleypublishing.com/Moms.html. You may have to cut and paste to open link

You can also learn more about Stacey at www.cedarvalleypublishing.com.

Read more!

Your Chance to Help Kids

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/05/your-chance-to-help-kids.html

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, January/February 2007

The bad news is we're slow getting our short-list of favorites published. The good news is that we have been caught up in reading some really great books. So on with the show ...

Exploratopia by Pat Murphy, et al. You may already know about the Exploratorium, an inter-active, hands-on museum for kids. Well, this is the do-it-home version of the museum's experiments. Although billed for older kids, parents and teachers will find plenty of ideas for helping pre-readers study and understand the world around them. "This book is a valuable resource for [people] looking for interesting projects that capture student curiosity and reinforce the process of logical problem solving. Curious students will find the book a treasure-trove of fun things to do." (Little, Brown and Company, 2006)

The Bee-Man of Orn by Frank B Stockton. The Bee-Man is an elderly, unkempt, recluse who has allowed swarms of bees to turn his small hut into a giant beehive. One day, a young “sorcerer-in-training” visited him and told the Bee-Man that once upon a time he was someone special and that he, the “sorcerer” would help the Bee-Man discover who he once was. "This book is a triple treat. Frank Stockton’s fairy tale is a model of the genre. P.J. Lynch’s illustrations provide children with unforgettable images. The DVD “Making Fairy Tales" that is included with the book adds to the thrill of the story." (Candlewick Press, 2003)

Royal Koi and Kindred Spirits by Richard Wainwright. The Takeda family has raised world class Koi for generations. They have decided to start a joint venture with an American customer and friend to raise Royal Koi near Washington DC. Although saddened about leaving Japan, the Takedas are excited about their new venture. "This is as wholesome and positive a story that one can find. The author and the illustrator are masters of their respective crafts. This is children’s literature at its very best."(Family Life Publishing, 2005)

Unicorn Races by Stephen J Brooks. Every little girl will see themselves as young princess Abigail. Mom thinks she's asleep, but Abigail and Lord William (her lavender unicorn) have traveled far into the night to watch the unicorn races and celebrate with the fairies. "The illustrations are captivating ... keeping our five-year-old glued to the pages for days on end." (Purple Sky Publishing, LLC, 2007)

Read more!

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, January/February 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/03/bookbag-books-for-ages-4-to-8.html

Teen Readers Making a Difference

The Reading Tub, Inc. is proud of its partnership with Be the Star You Are!® a sister public charity that incorporates literacy as part of its mission to empower youth at risk. Be the Star You Are!® works to raise their skill levels and their self-esteem.

In March 2004, Be the Star You Are!® created a Star Teen Book Review Team just for us! The members of the team read books for ages 8 to 12 that we send them. Then we post their reviews on our site (just look for the Be the Star You Are!® logo on the top of profiles!) Over the past (nearly) three years, the Team has read nearly 200 books!

You can imagine how truly proud we were, when we got a note from Cynthia Brian (Director) with this headline: TEEN VOLUNTEER RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP ON SPECIAL NEWS STORY. The outstanding volunteer is Jennifer Tao, Teen Director at BTSYA and the chairperson of the STAR Teen Book Review Team!

During an interview with ABC7News, KGO-TV (San Francisco) Jennifer said that her work with Be the Star You Are!® is responsible for her growth as a person and as a leader while she recalled her shyness when she first started volunteering with the charity as a book reviewer. Meet Jennifer here: Click this link to see the interview.

photo credit: Jennifer with Be the Star You Are!® founder Cynthia Brian. All rights reserved, used with permission.

Read more!

Teen Readers Making a Difference

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/01/teen-readers-making-difference.html

Something to Read, Part II

Guided Reading at Home, a Two-Part Series for Parents
by Cathy Puett Miller, The Literacy Ambassador

Reading is one of the things that every child must possess to be successful in life. Like walking, it is a skill that is learned, with lots of practice. It isn't a natural ability that we are born with. This two-part series by literacy expert Cathy Puett Miller is designed to give parents simple tools they can use at home to complement your child's school work, and offer additional one-on-one practice that is rewarding for everyone.

Part II: What Does This Mean?

Good readers use specific tools to make sense of words, paragraphs and text. In the first article in this series, we focused on helping your child figure out unknown words. Now we will concentrate on helping our children make sense of what they read: the whole reason we read in the first place. When you read a mortgage contract or the newspaper, you automatically use some of these tools but our children may not have mastered those ideas yet. Guided reading helps your child think about those tools and build a personal toolbox. Once they’ve practiced using those tools with help, they can become skillful at using them to understand what they read on their own.

Try these prompts with your child when they are reading:

Put on your thinking cap. Reading is an active process and, to get the most out of it, children must concentrate, think about what they are reading, and ask themselves from time to time if they understand what the author is saying. A good way to start is to ask the child to predict or make their best guess as to what the story or text will be about. They can look at the title or caption and the pictures to start thinking about what they will read. Your child may also have a purpose for reading (to find out more about mountain loins.) Ask her what that purpose might be.

Recall, re-read, retell. As your child reads, stop from time to time and ask, “What is has happened so far?” Help him focus on the most important parts of the story, not every detail. If he starts to give you too much information, ask “can you just tell me the three main things that have happened?” If he doesn’t know, ask him to re-read the section. Sometimes when children struggle at figuring out words, they put so much effort into that part of reading that their understanding suffers. Once the “figuring out” has happened, re-reading can help them get the meaning.

Relate. Another way we understand what we read is to relate the material to our own experiences, our world, or something we’ve read elsewhere. While we are reading, we are thinking about how it relates to us, our world, and perhaps other texts. Help your child do that by asking questions like these:

What would you do next if you were this character?
Why do you think he made that choice?
Doesn’t that puppy look like our dog, Joey?
Does this remind you of another story?
I’d like to know what happens next, would you?

Share your thoughts and what you wonder about. “I think that’s really funny. Why would she do that?” Listen carefully to what your child says. That will help him learn AND bring the two of you closer.

Monitor and self-correct. If you come across a word your child can pronounce but she doesn’t know the meaning, what should you do? You can explain the meaning to her in your own words or you can look it up in a dictionary together. You can also continue to read to see if the rest of the sentence helps you understand the word’s meaning. For example, perhaps you don’t know what the word “admonished” means in this sentence:

"Elizabeth felt as though she had been sent to the doghouse when Amanda admonished her for running at the pool."

If your child understands what “sent to the doghouse” means, or that no one should run around a pool, then she can probably figure out that admonished means scolded. Finally, you can look at the pictures in a picture book (perhaps your child knows what a giraffe is but has never seen the word).

Teaching your child to listen to herself when she reads and stop when she mispronounces a word or when something doesn’t make sense is very important. Prompt her from time to time: “Did you hear what you just said; it didn’t make sense to me. Will you read that again?” or “Did you realize what you just read didn’t make sense; what can you do to fix that?” Praise her when she uses that tool on her own. Encourage her to always stop when she gets confused. Before long, you’ll see her voluntarily re-read, puzzle over a section, or ask a question on her own.

Process and rethink. When you’ve finished reading together, ask questions that can not be answered “yes” or “no.” Use questions that require more than just spitting back one-word answers. Here are a few to try:

"What did you learn from this book?"
"What was your favorite part and why?"
"Is there something more you’d like to know after reading this piece?"

You can also revisit retelling and recalling. Sometimes books include questions at the back or the teacher may provide questions for your child to answer. If he doesn’t know the answer, go back to the ‘re-read” activity and let him look for the answer rather than pointing it out.

As they say, “this is just the tip of the iceberg.” Still, these simple techniques can give you confidence in helping your child. Ask your teacher if they are working on specific strategies during guided reading at school and whether you can help with those at home. Most teachers will be happy to give you a quick explanation. You don’t have to use all of them at once; try out a few and add to them as you enjoy the reading experience together.

Known as the "Literacy Ambassador," Cathy Puett Miller is a practicing children's and family literacy consultant. Her writing appears in such print publications as Atlanta Our Kids, Omaha Family, and The Georgia Journal of Reading, and online at http://www.literacyconnections.com, http://www.parenthood.com, www.educationworld.com and http://www.babyzone.com. She works nationally to promote the value and pleasures of reading with schools, PTA/PTO groups, and non-profit family friendly agency. Be sure to visit Cathy's Web site at www.readingisforeveryone.org.

Read more!

Something to Read, Part II

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2006/09/something-to-read-part-ii.html

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, July/August 2006

Between technology issues and Ernesto, it has been one wild week here in the Tub. Now that the power is back let's get rolling on telling you about some terrific books. You might notice a theme here.

Hippo! No Rhino! , Jeff Newman. This book (mostly) without words is a tale of mistaken identity that gives kids a chance to create their own story. (Little, Brown and Company, 2006)

Molly McSholly Conquers Kindergarten, Tracy Uttley. Molly likes being home. It's the place she feels safest. She loves playing with Sir Lance, and he keeps her safe. She decides that the key to being safe at school is to be like Sir Lance. So Molly decides that wearing armor to school will protect her. Does it work? This is a picture book that uses humor to help soothe those first-day-of-school fears. (Beaver's Pond Press, 2004)

The Rainbow Web, Cheryl Block. Little spider's favorite thing is the rainbow that is reflected on his web each morning. When he discovers that by eating berries he can spin his own rainbow, he is most excited. That is, until the insects stop getting caught in his web. This is a picture book with lessons for being one's self, as well as understanding how nature works. What sets this title apart from other books with similar focus is the CD. You can read the story as an e-Book (or have it read to you); enjoy activities related to the book; or learn more about real spiders. "This is a book with long-term value for pre-readers through mid-grade elementary school students. We can envision any number of science projects heading our way." (Block Publishing, 2005)

Something Shiny, Something Round, Julie Goulis Sam, Sally, and Suzy waste no time getting out in the snow. It may be melting, but their imaginations are soaring. This book is a prelude to lots of pretend play, any time of year! (Bubblegum Books, 2006)

Trudy and the Captain's Cat, Yetti Frenkel. Every day, Trudy looks out the window and sees the world go by. She is itching for an adventure and wants to see the world. When Mrs. Gardini leaves for the market, Trudy sneaks out behind her. Determined just to LOOK at the fish, Trudy can't help herself and steals one. The angry fishmonger chases her to the pier, leaving Trudy at the water's edge. It is there she meets Albi, a seafaring cat who tells Trudy of her own adventures. This is a picture book that doubles as a folk tale or ghost story. (Snow Tree Books, 2004)

What a Day it Was at School!, Jack Prelusky. Pick a topic related to school, and you'll find a poem about it here. Whether you're in pre-K or high school, these cats have tales to tell about their day ... from math to history, from your backpack to lunch in the cafeteria. This is a collection of poems in a picture-book format. "This book will provide some much needed after school humor!" (Greenwillow Books, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2006)

What Went Right Today?, Joan Buzick and Lindy Judd. From the moment he woke up until he fell off to sleep, a young boy offers thoughts about the positive things in his world. Throughout the book he follows up his activities with questions for the reader/listener about his/her own day. This is a rhyming picture book with a story and questions to help kids think affirmatively and engage them in the material. A CD offers a musical rendition of the book's content. (Buz-Land Presentations, Inc., 2005)

Read more!

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, July/August 2006

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2006/09/bookbag-books-for-ages-4-to-8.html

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 8 to 12, July/August 2006

We love a great chapter book, and this summer we had the chance to read a few gems. We even learned some things, historically speaking! Generally, we try to showcase the high-quality work of self-published authors and smaller houses. We must say, though, that there are some truly thought-provoking books from two of the major publishing houses in the titles we read!

Abner Doubleday: Boy Baseball Pioneer, Montrew Dunham. Abner Doubleday grew up in Auburn, New York, in the 1820s and 30s. Abner, his brother Tom, and their friends spent most of their free time playing and making up all sorts of bat and ball games. Though Auburn was a small town, the boys found it to be an exciting place to grow up. Abner’s family, teachers, and friends helped form his character and enabled him to become a famous general, businessman, and … a baseball pioneer. This is a biography for middle readers. (Patria Press, 2006)

Blood on the Wind: The Memoirs of Flying Horse Molie, a Yampa Ute, Lucile Bogue. This novel recounts the story of the Meeker Massacre of 1879 on lands in Northwest Colorado, ceded by the US Government to the Yampa Utes. It is narrated by Flying Horse Mollie, a young teenager and Yampa Ute, who witnessed the incompetence and arrogance of the Indian Agents sent by Washington to supposedly provide food and shelter to Indians. This is a novel of historical fiction for young adults. (Western Reflections Publishing Company, 2001)

The Computer's Nerd, W. Royce Adams. Arthur is bright, quiet, and studious by nature. Three classmates have been making his life miserable, and Arthur is scared and frustrated. His parents surprise him with a computer and he discovers a game that allows him to get revenge on the bullies. At first, Arthur, felt justified in inflicting pain on the bullies. As the game continued, it ratcheted up the level of painful consequences for the bullies, Arthur becomes uncomfortable about what he’s doing. This is a fantasy adventure book for teens. (Rairarubia Books, 2002)

Crime Through Time! Swindled! The 1906 Journal of Fitz Morgan, Bill Doyle. Fitz Morgan loves detective work and hopes that there is a mystery to solve on the cross-country train trip to Aunt Elizabeth's house in Sacramento, California. Just as Fitz is about to board the train, a dollar bill floats to the platform. Little did she know that her mystery had just begun. This is a largely fictional historical mystery with some great facts about 1906 tossed in. (Little, Brown and Company, 2006)

Firegirl, Tony Abbot. Tom Bender is a typical seventh grader. His days are filled dreaming about cars and girls and heroic adventures. Normal. The way he likes things. When Jessica Feeney arrives one month after school starts, things change. Almost immediatly Tom finds himself thinking about things that never occurred to him, and looking at people in different ways. This is a young adult chapter book about tolerance, acceptance, and compassion. (Little, Brown and Company, 2006)

Haunted Hill, Andrew Oliver. In the process of finding a topic for a history report, Mr. Snider, an elderly friend, told Sam and Stephanie about “Haunted Hill,” a place with a very sinister and murkey past. At Mr. Snider’s request, Sam and Stephanie go on an expedition to photograph the eagles nesting on Haunted Hill. While there, the two friends get trapped in a cave and find evidence that will solve some old and new crimes. This is the second title in the Sam & Stephanie Mystery Series. (Adams-Pomeroy, 2006)

Web of Lies, Beverly Naidoo. Having fled Nigeria and resettled in London, Femi and Sade thought they would finally be safe. While Sade is dealing with her mother's death and the possible intrusion of a "new woman" in their lives, Femi is getting more and more involved with a street gang. It isn't long before their resilience as individuals and as a family are once again put to the test. This is a novel that allows you to journey with the characters (and their father) as they deal with the presence of a gang in their lives. (Amistad, a Divison of HarperCollins Children's Books, 2006)

Read more!

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 8 to 12, July/August 2006

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2006/09/bookbag-books-for-ages-8-to-12.html