For many years I have hinted at my desire to have an all school read. This year it is actually going to happen. After much thought and discussion the Diversity Committee, the Head of School, and I decided to focus on African American life in the 20th century.
It took quite awhile to narrow the choices down to two titles at each of four levels--Adult, Middle School, Elementary Chapter Book, and Picture Book. Why was it so hard to choose? I think it is both the wealth of titles and the lack of titles that met my criteria that added to the challenge. There are many books out there that cover this topic and it is a very wide topic indeed, but I wanted each book to be of high quality and high interest. The books need to speak to all the members of our community from those who have experienced struggles first hand to those who have never felt a need to think much about it.
With those goals in mind, I asked fellow workers and parents at the school for suggestions. I also searched myriad lists of suggested reading. Then I read some books and read some more. There are many other titles worthy of being on the list, but the list that follows represents a variety of titles, authors, and styles. I have personally profited from reading each of the titles. I will be re-reading them this summer so that I will be prepared to join the community discussions in the fall.
Everyone is invited to read one or more of the books on the list. Families might want to read a picture book or two together or perhaps tackle one of the novels for the elementary readers as their bedtime reading. Middle School students may prefer to relax with the easier reads or challenge themselves with the adult titles. In the fall we will offer discussion groups as well as bring in people from the community to add to our understanding. It is may hope that there will be several opportunities for all ages to engage in a variety of ways.
If this works well, and I am optimistic that it will, we will try a different read next summer so start thinking of topics and titles now.
The First Annual Emerson All School Read presents its selections:
FOR ADULTS
Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle – This non-fiction book and National Book Award Winner looks at Detroit in 1925 and the tensions that arose when an African American doctor moved into a previously all-white neighborhood. The chain of events eventually brought Clarence Darrow to Detroit to represent the defense.
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines - A black man who happens upon a robbery gone wrong is convicted of murdering a white man. His defense lawyer refers to him as a "hog" and not "human". The man's aunt enlist the help of the local teacher to help this young man realize that he is human and has reason to be proud. This is a very moving book.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock’s Central High by Melba Pattillo Beals - Beals was one of the people who helped to integrate the school and she tells a moving story of the experience of a young girl who faces anger and hatred all around while she simply wants to get an education and be a typical teen-ager.
Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm - This graphic novel tells more about an African American who wanted to be a professional baseball player than it does about Satchel Paige. In so doing it gives a strong look at race relations in the South prior to the Civil Rights Act.
UPPER ELEMENTARY NOVELS
Christopher Paul Curtis is one of only two African American men currently writing for children and he is a native of Flint, Michigan, so I selected two of his popular, award winning books.
The Watson’s Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis - Follow an African American family living in Flint, Michigan, as they travel to Alabama to visit relatives. Curtis has an amazing talent for capturing the voice of a young boy so there is a lot of humor in this story along with a good view of the realities of life in the North and the South in 1963.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis - Flint is facing hard times in this novel set in 1936 and times are especially hard for 10 year old Bud who is a motherless boy on the run and looking for his father. This novel gives a good picture of life during the Great Depression and is filled with humor, great characters and a taste of jazz.
PICTURE BOOKS
Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles - The day that the Civil Rights Act went into effect and its affect on two small boys in the South is told with meaningful text and beautiful illustrations in this story that will be understandable to all but the youngest listener or reader. Be forewarned that it has one very touching scene that may bring tears to your eyes, but probably won't upset your children as much as it does the adult reading it.
A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner – Set in the deep South in the 1960s, this book features detailed illustrations that tell the back story of two rural white children wanting to taste “colored water” in the city. They don't get to taste the water because they run into police and protests. Parents will want to help children understand what is happening and what is really meant by "colored water".
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson - Two little girls, one black and one white, have been told never to cross the fence that stretched through town. Gradually they get to know each other while sitting on the top of the fence.
Let me know what you think of these books as you read them throughout the summer. We can start our discussions right here any time you want to do so.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Top Ten Picks
At long last I have gotten together my top ten picks in a variety of areas for your reading enjoyment. They are designed to give a kick-off to your summer reading. As with any list, please remember that the grade levels assigned to them are suggestions only. Only the reader knows for sure what is the most appropriate book for the moment.
Much thanks goes to Jessica K., the helpful parent who put it all together for me.
PICTURE BOOKS
The Chicken of the Family by Mary Amato. Typical sibling teasing comes to a head when older sisters convince the youngest that she is actually a chicken.
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell. Little girls know the love of a special toy and Emily Brown is not willing to give hers up to a spoiled queen. Enjoy the humor, explore the illustrations, and listen to the moral.
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee. When two boys go off to spend time with one boy’s grandparents, they find that there are many ways to have fun, especially old-fashioned fun.
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French It is impossible not to love this troublesome wombat that just wants to live a good life of sleeping, eating, and burrowing.
Egg Drop by Mini Grey. Everyone knows an egg can’t fly, but this little egg wants to try anyway, with predictable results and lots of humor.
Waiting for Winter and Learning to Fly by Sebastian Meschenmoser. Both of these titles are great stories, but it is the illustrations that keep me coming back again and again.
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. This familiar fable is told through magnificent illustrations without a single word. Children of all ages will spend hours exploring the pictures and retelling the story through their own words.
Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Two unseen people discuss that familiar optical illusion that looks like a duck from one angle and a rabbit from the other.
Epossumondas by Colleen Salley. In these updated retellings of old folk tales, an opossum’s doting human mother loves him, even as he makes mistakes.
Chester by Melanie Watt. Every time this author tries to create a picture book, her cat Chester grabs a red marker and writes his version of the story on top of it. Laughs are guaranteed, whether you are cheering for the cat or his beleaguered human.
EARLY READERS SERIES
Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold. Buzz has a pet fly that is much smarter than the average fly. The cartoon-style illustrations add to the fun of these easy-to-read and even easier to enjoy books.
Minnie and Moo by Denis Cazet. Everyone loves these crazy cow friends and the amazing and often silly adventures they have.
Houndsley and Catina by James Howe. A dog and cat are good friends in these gentle and humorous stories.
Zelda and Ivy by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. Each of the titles in this series includes three short adventures of these friendly fox sisters.
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. Everyone knows Frog and Toad for good reason—these books are classic early readers that kids and adults adore.
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Fiction with some non-fiction thrown in there. Jack and Annie go on time-travel adventures in their tree house. The accompanying research guides—which cover everything from rain forests to mummies—are a little more difficult to read, but jam-packed with facts and information.
Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant. A man and his cat have ordinary and extraordinary adventures in this beloved series.
Dr. Seuss—pick any of the wonderful titles he has written! No one should miss the fun of reading Dr. Seuss, especially aloud. There are so many good books from this author, who wrote the first easy readers and continues to be the model for this genre.
Commander Toad by Jane Yolan. Stories about this space-traveling toad are not quite Star Wars, but are close.
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik. This classic series is heartwarming and familiar,as Little Bear discovers his own solutions to everyday situations. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
FIRST CHAPTER BOOKS--GRADES 1-3
Poppy—series by Avi. The animals in these books have very real personalities. They will be enjoyed by listeners in the early grades and by competent readers of all ages.
Ivy and Bean—series by Annie Barrows. Ivy and Bean don’t really want to be friends, but when their mothers are out of the way, they find out that they are perfectly suited to have many adventures together.
Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn. Mice live in the boarded-up pantry of an old mansion. Their adventures have just the right balance of fears and fun.
Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley. These reptilian friends have adventures and disagreements, but never lose sight of what is important.
Mercy Watson—series by Kate DiCamillo. Mercy Watson is a very spoiled pig. Her wild adventures are accompanied with bright illustrations.
Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi. When Kenny discovers a dragon near his house, he is the only one who doesn’t want it to be destroyed.
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet. This classic fantasy story of a family dragon takes a boy—and the reader—to far away lands. This book is as enjoyable to read today as it was when I was a child.
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner. While the heartbreaking end may be difficult for some children to bear, this is a strong story of a boy trying to save his family by winning a dog race.
The Hinky Pink by Megan McDonald. This retelling of an old folk tale is filled with lovely illustrations and new energy.
Clementine—series by Sara Pennypacker. Clementine is a typical girl with spunk and energy. I like her better than either Junie B. Jones or Judy Moody.
UPPER ELEMENTARY FICTION--GRADES 4-6
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. Imagine being a young boy living on Alcatraz and knowing that Al Capone is in one of the cells just beyond the big wall. The resultant story has humor, adventure, and some good discussions of social issues.
Toby Alone by Timothy de Fombelle. While there is a strong ecological moral in this book, it is also a great adventure of a young boy whose entire universe is a tree. He realizes that he must fight those who are heedlessly destroying their home in the name of progress.
The 21 Balloons by William Penne DuBois. A retired teacher decides to find perfect solitude by floating off in a giant balloon. That seems like a great idea, until he crashes into Krakatoa, where he discovers a booming civilization.
Baseball Card Adventures—series by Dan Gutman. Joe, the narrator of these stories, can travel back in time to meet the player on his baseball cards. The stories have adventure and a lot of history. Look for players like Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantel, Shoeless Joe, and many more. Perfect for summer!
Chet Gecko Detective—series by Bruce Hale. Chet is a third-grade gecko that loves eating and solving mysteries in these wry parodies of old-fashioned detective stories.
Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman. You could read this as a simple story of a girl moving to a new town, but there are many more things going on, including her need to defend herself against anti-Semitism.
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. Here is an enchanting story of magical travel between worlds—and what happens when someone escapes from one and must be brought back home.
Savvy by Ingrid Law. A 13th birthday is a big event in the Beaumont family because that is when one’s magical talent is made apparent. The family is facing hard times when Mibs turns 13, and she struggles to discover her savvy and how she can use it to help the family.
Alcatraz V. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Everyone in Alcatraz’s family is named after a famous prison, but not everyone knows that they all have special powers that will help them fight the evil librarians who control all knowledge. You will be eager to read the other stories in this series as well.
Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder. As a lover of Edward Eager books, I am delighted by this clever magical travel book that reminds me of those classic tales.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. In 1793, Philadelphia was hit with an outbreak of yellow fever that killed more than 5,000 people in just a few months. This is the realistic story of how one girl survived.
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The buzz about this series is well justified. The dystopian world occupied by Katniss and her friends includes a televised yearly battle to the death between teens from all the sections of the country. (The last book in the trilogy is due out this summer.)
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Buxton is a city in Ontario, just across the river from Detroit, which was created for escaped and freed slaves. Elijah, the first child born in Buxton, is a typical kid when we meet him, but later he must face harsh realities about life across the border. While this is often laugh-out-loud funny,the ending will bring tears to your eyes.
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory is known for the fire that killed many of its workers. This well-researched and fascinating novel looks at the lives of three young women with ties to the factory, and how their lives cross during the strikes and after the fire.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks. Both Twilight lovers and those who make fun of it will enjoy this parody of vampire romances. It is bloody and funny and perfectly weird.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Calpurnia. Tate is 11 years old at the turn of the 20th century. Everyone around her wants her to learn to be more “feminine”. Except her grandfather, who supports her interest in the natural world.
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. This dark novel imagines a world in which the moon has been pushed out of orbit by a meteor and catastrophic changes ensue. It is told through the eyes of a teen-age girl in rural central Pennsylvania.
The Schwa Was Here by Neal Schusterman. Like the imperceptible schwa sound in spoken English, Calvin Schwa is rarely noticed. Along with Antsy Bonano and a cast of quirky friends, they find a way to use this hidden talent for some wild hijinks.
Erratum by Walter Sorrels. What if you had the power to determine your own life story? Would you risk chases with strange creatures and other bizarre happenings, in order to find the life you were meant to follow? This fast-paced science-fiction novel will prompt you to ask many questions, while taking you on an action-packed journey.
The 13th Child by Patricia C. Wrede. Everyone with ties to magic knows that the seventh son of a seventh son has powerful magic — but what of the 13th child? In this mix of historical fiction and magical fantasy, the 13th child must prove that she is not bad luck, on the boundaries of the unexplored West.
NON-FICTION AND POETRY FOR ALL AGES
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee. Read these tonguetwister poems out loud and as fast as you can.
Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune, and Swimsuit History by Shana Corey. This highly illustrated biography uses humor and compassion to introduce a little known woman who had a big impact in her time.
Moonshot! The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Flocca. This book combines basic information with myriad colorful illustrations and some interesting side notes.
How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It, What to Feed It, and Why it Sleeps All Day by Jackie French. The author lives in the wild Australian outback and uses stories of the wombats—who shared her family compound—to tell the natural history of this friendly little critter.
A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing and Shout—collected by Paul B. Janeczko. As with other books in the series, bright illustrations add to this collection of works and offer an enjoyable introduction to poetry.
What Mr. Darwin Saw by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. Bright, colorful illustrations show the reader what Darwin saw on his travels and help to explain his observations.
What Are Cats Made Of? by Hanock Piven. Following on the author’s other works about athletes and presidents, this book is filled with facts about cats. You will find that the real draw, though, is the wonderful collage illustrations.
Knuckleheads by Jon Scieszka. Growing up in Flint, MI, Jon Scieszka and his brothers had many adventures, which are recounted here with great humor.
If America Were a Village: A Book about the People of the United States by David J. Smith. Several years ago, there was a book that looked at the statistics of the world by imagining a world village of just 100 people. Now we have a similar look at what and who make up America today.
P is for Pakistan (and others in the World Alphabet series)—various authors. This series has an alphabet of relevant terms for each country it explores, along with bright photographs to complement the text.
GRAPHIC WORKS
Tintin by Herge. If you remember Tintin from your childhood or even if you have never heard of him, you will want to introduce your children to this comic classic.
Babymouse series by Jennifer C. Holm and Matthew Holm. While these books are too pink for many, they contain stories that ring true with anyone who goes to school.
Magic Pickle by Scott Morse. It is hard to resist a pickle with heroic magical powers.
To Dance: A Memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel. Aspiring dancers will agonize along with the author of this memoir, as she struggles to succeed at a prestigious ballet school.
The Bone Series by Jeff Smith. Adventure in the comic book tradition have readers of all ages caught up in this story of a quirky critters and swashbuckling adventures.
Jellaby series by Kean Soo. A little girl makes friends with a strange creature and they set off together for grand adventures and a quest for missing loved ones. You will join the throng waiting for the next entry in the series!
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires. Cat lovers will immediately recognize their own feline friends in Binky, as he battles alien bugs to try to save his humans.
Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm, Rich Tommaso, and Gerald Early. The graphic format suits this story of sharecroppers in the south, baseball, and the inequities that are leveled by a well-played baseball game.
The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Without words, Tan takes the reader into the world of a recent immigrant. The artwork is hauntingly amazing.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This is a story for mature readers, who are willing to take a closer look at prejudice and teen angst. The mix of realism and fantasy make this a truly remarkable book.
ADULT FICTION
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Two strong Parisian women—a concierge and a young girl who lives in her building—find that they can not share their interests and intelligence with most people. The novelist gives each of these closet intellectuals a voice. The writing is beautiful, sometimes complicated and often profound.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Since the cover of this novel warns that there are surprises that you should not know before you begin to read, I will only tell you that it takes places in Nigeria, an alien detention center in England, and a posh London suburb.
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. The life Doig describes in Eastern Montana at the turn of the 20th century is harsh, but he finds the beauty that lies just below the surface.
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Set in Seattle in 1946 and 1986, this story is of the clash of cultures and of friendship. It reminds one of the foolish mistakes we all make—as individuals and nations.
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh. If you were to ask me my favorite book of 2010, this would probably be it. Set in India, during the height of the opium trade, it features characters from myriad backgrounds, all of whom ring true.
The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Hu. Set in the 1930s and 40s, the story of Johnny Lin, a Malaysian orphan who rose to wealth and power with his Harmony Silk Factory, is told by three different people who were part of his life—a very bitter son, his wife, and a British man who knew the family socially. This book is out of print, so get it at your local library.
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. This novel imagines a future time when a “cure” for autism has been developed. The narrator wonders whether gaining the tag of normal is worth losing the insights and creativity that his autism offers.
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. This slender novel is narrated by a Japanese housekeeper taking care of a former math professor. Her charge has suffered an accident, leaving him with only 80 minutes of short-term memory.
The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles. This story takes place in Brazil, during the first half of the 20th century, when the inland areas are plagued by roaming bandits. Two young women use their talents with a needle—in very different ways—to find a means to survive.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. This Pulitzer-winning book collection includes nine short stories about people from India who have immigrated to the U. S. and those they left behind. Some of the best of the genre.
ADULT NON-FICTION
The Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle. This National Book Award winner presents history in our back yard, as it looks at Detroit in 1925 and the upheaval that ensued when an African-American doctor tried to buy a house in a previously all-white area.
Nurture Shock: New Thinking about Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. If you have a child or work with children, at least one of the chapters in this book is sure cover a topic that resonates with you. The discussions range from talking about race to why children lie, IQ testing to the effects of praise, sibling rivalry to teen angst and more.
The House at Sugar Beach: In search of a Lost African Childhood by Helene Cooper. Cooper recounts her fascinating life—growing up as a member of Liberia’s elite, fleeing the country to settle in the American South, becoming a journalist—with a generous helping of Liberian history and politics.
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. We all have heard about the horrors of life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, but seeing it through the eyes of one family adds more depth to that picture. Eggers offers a powerful story by looking at the experiences of a Syrian immigrant and his American wife following the storm.
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard. Teddy Roosevelt dealt with his hard times by going on dangerous adventures. Following his loss as a Bull Moose candidate for President, he set off to explore a remote section of the Amazon. The resulting story is full of intrigue and adventure.
Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson. Most people have heard about Greg Mortenson and his Three Cups of Tea. In this book, he takes his work into Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small. While he is best known as an award winning children’s book author and illustrator, this graphic memoir by David Small tells of his growing up with cold, troubled parents and a battle with cancer. It gives new appreciation for his loving and gentle children’s books.
Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough. This is a biography of Geoffrey Canada, who founded the Harlem Children’s Zone and the Promise Academy Charter Schools to provide a viable educational path for a generation growing up in poverty. It tells the story of how his own experience has inspired and informed his community service, while documenting the transformative work his organization is doing in Harlem.
Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to
Understand the World’s Most Mystifying Nation or How He Became Comfortable
Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost. If you like travel books with a generous dose of humor, this book is for you! Troost sees the incongruous and the amazing at every turn of the road less traveled.
The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln through His Words by Ronald C. White, Jr.. What makes this book so fascinating is that it not only provides a unique view of Lincoln’s life and ideas, but also how he worked to revise his words and ideas to make them perfect.
Much thanks goes to Jessica K., the helpful parent who put it all together for me.
PICTURE BOOKS
The Chicken of the Family by Mary Amato. Typical sibling teasing comes to a head when older sisters convince the youngest that she is actually a chicken.
That Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown by Cressida Cowell. Little girls know the love of a special toy and Emily Brown is not willing to give hers up to a spoiled queen. Enjoy the humor, explore the illustrations, and listen to the moral.
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee. When two boys go off to spend time with one boy’s grandparents, they find that there are many ways to have fun, especially old-fashioned fun.
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French It is impossible not to love this troublesome wombat that just wants to live a good life of sleeping, eating, and burrowing.
Egg Drop by Mini Grey. Everyone knows an egg can’t fly, but this little egg wants to try anyway, with predictable results and lots of humor.
Waiting for Winter and Learning to Fly by Sebastian Meschenmoser. Both of these titles are great stories, but it is the illustrations that keep me coming back again and again.
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. This familiar fable is told through magnificent illustrations without a single word. Children of all ages will spend hours exploring the pictures and retelling the story through their own words.
Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Two unseen people discuss that familiar optical illusion that looks like a duck from one angle and a rabbit from the other.
Epossumondas by Colleen Salley. In these updated retellings of old folk tales, an opossum’s doting human mother loves him, even as he makes mistakes.
Chester by Melanie Watt. Every time this author tries to create a picture book, her cat Chester grabs a red marker and writes his version of the story on top of it. Laughs are guaranteed, whether you are cheering for the cat or his beleaguered human.
EARLY READERS SERIES
Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold. Buzz has a pet fly that is much smarter than the average fly. The cartoon-style illustrations add to the fun of these easy-to-read and even easier to enjoy books.
Minnie and Moo by Denis Cazet. Everyone loves these crazy cow friends and the amazing and often silly adventures they have.
Houndsley and Catina by James Howe. A dog and cat are good friends in these gentle and humorous stories.
Zelda and Ivy by Laura McGee Kvasnosky. Each of the titles in this series includes three short adventures of these friendly fox sisters.
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel. Everyone knows Frog and Toad for good reason—these books are classic early readers that kids and adults adore.
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne. Fiction with some non-fiction thrown in there. Jack and Annie go on time-travel adventures in their tree house. The accompanying research guides—which cover everything from rain forests to mummies—are a little more difficult to read, but jam-packed with facts and information.
Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant. A man and his cat have ordinary and extraordinary adventures in this beloved series.
Dr. Seuss—pick any of the wonderful titles he has written! No one should miss the fun of reading Dr. Seuss, especially aloud. There are so many good books from this author, who wrote the first easy readers and continues to be the model for this genre.
Commander Toad by Jane Yolan. Stories about this space-traveling toad are not quite Star Wars, but are close.
Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik. This classic series is heartwarming and familiar,as Little Bear discovers his own solutions to everyday situations. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
FIRST CHAPTER BOOKS--GRADES 1-3
Poppy—series by Avi. The animals in these books have very real personalities. They will be enjoyed by listeners in the early grades and by competent readers of all ages.
Ivy and Bean—series by Annie Barrows. Ivy and Bean don’t really want to be friends, but when their mothers are out of the way, they find out that they are perfectly suited to have many adventures together.
Tumtum and Nutmeg by Emily Bearn. Mice live in the boarded-up pantry of an old mansion. Their adventures have just the right balance of fears and fun.
Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley. These reptilian friends have adventures and disagreements, but never lose sight of what is important.
Mercy Watson—series by Kate DiCamillo. Mercy Watson is a very spoiled pig. Her wild adventures are accompanied with bright illustrations.
Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi. When Kenny discovers a dragon near his house, he is the only one who doesn’t want it to be destroyed.
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet. This classic fantasy story of a family dragon takes a boy—and the reader—to far away lands. This book is as enjoyable to read today as it was when I was a child.
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner. While the heartbreaking end may be difficult for some children to bear, this is a strong story of a boy trying to save his family by winning a dog race.
The Hinky Pink by Megan McDonald. This retelling of an old folk tale is filled with lovely illustrations and new energy.
Clementine—series by Sara Pennypacker. Clementine is a typical girl with spunk and energy. I like her better than either Junie B. Jones or Judy Moody.
UPPER ELEMENTARY FICTION--GRADES 4-6
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. Imagine being a young boy living on Alcatraz and knowing that Al Capone is in one of the cells just beyond the big wall. The resultant story has humor, adventure, and some good discussions of social issues.
Toby Alone by Timothy de Fombelle. While there is a strong ecological moral in this book, it is also a great adventure of a young boy whose entire universe is a tree. He realizes that he must fight those who are heedlessly destroying their home in the name of progress.
The 21 Balloons by William Penne DuBois. A retired teacher decides to find perfect solitude by floating off in a giant balloon. That seems like a great idea, until he crashes into Krakatoa, where he discovers a booming civilization.
Baseball Card Adventures—series by Dan Gutman. Joe, the narrator of these stories, can travel back in time to meet the player on his baseball cards. The stories have adventure and a lot of history. Look for players like Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantel, Shoeless Joe, and many more. Perfect for summer!
Chet Gecko Detective—series by Bruce Hale. Chet is a third-grade gecko that loves eating and solving mysteries in these wry parodies of old-fashioned detective stories.
Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman. You could read this as a simple story of a girl moving to a new town, but there are many more things going on, including her need to defend herself against anti-Semitism.
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. Here is an enchanting story of magical travel between worlds—and what happens when someone escapes from one and must be brought back home.
Savvy by Ingrid Law. A 13th birthday is a big event in the Beaumont family because that is when one’s magical talent is made apparent. The family is facing hard times when Mibs turns 13, and she struggles to discover her savvy and how she can use it to help the family.
Alcatraz V. The Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Everyone in Alcatraz’s family is named after a famous prison, but not everyone knows that they all have special powers that will help them fight the evil librarians who control all knowledge. You will be eager to read the other stories in this series as well.
Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder. As a lover of Edward Eager books, I am delighted by this clever magical travel book that reminds me of those classic tales.
MIDDLE SCHOOL FICTION
Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. In 1793, Philadelphia was hit with an outbreak of yellow fever that killed more than 5,000 people in just a few months. This is the realistic story of how one girl survived.
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. The buzz about this series is well justified. The dystopian world occupied by Katniss and her friends includes a televised yearly battle to the death between teens from all the sections of the country. (The last book in the trilogy is due out this summer.)
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Buxton is a city in Ontario, just across the river from Detroit, which was created for escaped and freed slaves. Elijah, the first child born in Buxton, is a typical kid when we meet him, but later he must face harsh realities about life across the border. While this is often laugh-out-loud funny,the ending will bring tears to your eyes.
Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory is known for the fire that killed many of its workers. This well-researched and fascinating novel looks at the lives of three young women with ties to the factory, and how their lives cross during the strikes and after the fire.
The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks. Both Twilight lovers and those who make fun of it will enjoy this parody of vampire romances. It is bloody and funny and perfectly weird.
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly Calpurnia. Tate is 11 years old at the turn of the 20th century. Everyone around her wants her to learn to be more “feminine”. Except her grandfather, who supports her interest in the natural world.
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. This dark novel imagines a world in which the moon has been pushed out of orbit by a meteor and catastrophic changes ensue. It is told through the eyes of a teen-age girl in rural central Pennsylvania.
The Schwa Was Here by Neal Schusterman. Like the imperceptible schwa sound in spoken English, Calvin Schwa is rarely noticed. Along with Antsy Bonano and a cast of quirky friends, they find a way to use this hidden talent for some wild hijinks.
Erratum by Walter Sorrels. What if you had the power to determine your own life story? Would you risk chases with strange creatures and other bizarre happenings, in order to find the life you were meant to follow? This fast-paced science-fiction novel will prompt you to ask many questions, while taking you on an action-packed journey.
The 13th Child by Patricia C. Wrede. Everyone with ties to magic knows that the seventh son of a seventh son has powerful magic — but what of the 13th child? In this mix of historical fiction and magical fantasy, the 13th child must prove that she is not bad luck, on the boundaries of the unexplored West.
NON-FICTION AND POETRY FOR ALL AGES
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee. Read these tonguetwister poems out loud and as fast as you can.
Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune, and Swimsuit History by Shana Corey. This highly illustrated biography uses humor and compassion to introduce a little known woman who had a big impact in her time.
Moonshot! The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Flocca. This book combines basic information with myriad colorful illustrations and some interesting side notes.
How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It, What to Feed It, and Why it Sleeps All Day by Jackie French. The author lives in the wild Australian outback and uses stories of the wombats—who shared her family compound—to tell the natural history of this friendly little critter.
A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing and Shout—collected by Paul B. Janeczko. As with other books in the series, bright illustrations add to this collection of works and offer an enjoyable introduction to poetry.
What Mr. Darwin Saw by Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. Bright, colorful illustrations show the reader what Darwin saw on his travels and help to explain his observations.
What Are Cats Made Of? by Hanock Piven. Following on the author’s other works about athletes and presidents, this book is filled with facts about cats. You will find that the real draw, though, is the wonderful collage illustrations.
Knuckleheads by Jon Scieszka. Growing up in Flint, MI, Jon Scieszka and his brothers had many adventures, which are recounted here with great humor.
If America Were a Village: A Book about the People of the United States by David J. Smith. Several years ago, there was a book that looked at the statistics of the world by imagining a world village of just 100 people. Now we have a similar look at what and who make up America today.
P is for Pakistan (and others in the World Alphabet series)—various authors. This series has an alphabet of relevant terms for each country it explores, along with bright photographs to complement the text.
GRAPHIC WORKS
Tintin by Herge. If you remember Tintin from your childhood or even if you have never heard of him, you will want to introduce your children to this comic classic.
Babymouse series by Jennifer C. Holm and Matthew Holm. While these books are too pink for many, they contain stories that ring true with anyone who goes to school.
Magic Pickle by Scott Morse. It is hard to resist a pickle with heroic magical powers.
To Dance: A Memoir by Siena Cherson Siegel. Aspiring dancers will agonize along with the author of this memoir, as she struggles to succeed at a prestigious ballet school.
The Bone Series by Jeff Smith. Adventure in the comic book tradition have readers of all ages caught up in this story of a quirky critters and swashbuckling adventures.
Jellaby series by Kean Soo. A little girl makes friends with a strange creature and they set off together for grand adventures and a quest for missing loved ones. You will join the throng waiting for the next entry in the series!
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires. Cat lovers will immediately recognize their own feline friends in Binky, as he battles alien bugs to try to save his humans.
Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm, Rich Tommaso, and Gerald Early. The graphic format suits this story of sharecroppers in the south, baseball, and the inequities that are leveled by a well-played baseball game.
The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Without words, Tan takes the reader into the world of a recent immigrant. The artwork is hauntingly amazing.
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. This is a story for mature readers, who are willing to take a closer look at prejudice and teen angst. The mix of realism and fantasy make this a truly remarkable book.
ADULT FICTION
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Two strong Parisian women—a concierge and a young girl who lives in her building—find that they can not share their interests and intelligence with most people. The novelist gives each of these closet intellectuals a voice. The writing is beautiful, sometimes complicated and often profound.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave. Since the cover of this novel warns that there are surprises that you should not know before you begin to read, I will only tell you that it takes places in Nigeria, an alien detention center in England, and a posh London suburb.
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig. The life Doig describes in Eastern Montana at the turn of the 20th century is harsh, but he finds the beauty that lies just below the surface.
Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford. Set in Seattle in 1946 and 1986, this story is of the clash of cultures and of friendship. It reminds one of the foolish mistakes we all make—as individuals and nations.
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh. If you were to ask me my favorite book of 2010, this would probably be it. Set in India, during the height of the opium trade, it features characters from myriad backgrounds, all of whom ring true.
The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Hu. Set in the 1930s and 40s, the story of Johnny Lin, a Malaysian orphan who rose to wealth and power with his Harmony Silk Factory, is told by three different people who were part of his life—a very bitter son, his wife, and a British man who knew the family socially. This book is out of print, so get it at your local library.
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. This novel imagines a future time when a “cure” for autism has been developed. The narrator wonders whether gaining the tag of normal is worth losing the insights and creativity that his autism offers.
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa. This slender novel is narrated by a Japanese housekeeper taking care of a former math professor. Her charge has suffered an accident, leaving him with only 80 minutes of short-term memory.
The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles. This story takes place in Brazil, during the first half of the 20th century, when the inland areas are plagued by roaming bandits. Two young women use their talents with a needle—in very different ways—to find a means to survive.
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri. This Pulitzer-winning book collection includes nine short stories about people from India who have immigrated to the U. S. and those they left behind. Some of the best of the genre.
ADULT NON-FICTION
The Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age by Kevin Boyle. This National Book Award winner presents history in our back yard, as it looks at Detroit in 1925 and the upheaval that ensued when an African-American doctor tried to buy a house in a previously all-white area.
Nurture Shock: New Thinking about Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. If you have a child or work with children, at least one of the chapters in this book is sure cover a topic that resonates with you. The discussions range from talking about race to why children lie, IQ testing to the effects of praise, sibling rivalry to teen angst and more.
The House at Sugar Beach: In search of a Lost African Childhood by Helene Cooper. Cooper recounts her fascinating life—growing up as a member of Liberia’s elite, fleeing the country to settle in the American South, becoming a journalist—with a generous helping of Liberian history and politics.
Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. We all have heard about the horrors of life in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, but seeing it through the eyes of one family adds more depth to that picture. Eggers offers a powerful story by looking at the experiences of a Syrian immigrant and his American wife following the storm.
The River of Doubt by Candice Millard. Teddy Roosevelt dealt with his hard times by going on dangerous adventures. Following his loss as a Bull Moose candidate for President, he set off to explore a remote section of the Amazon. The resulting story is full of intrigue and adventure.
Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson. Most people have heard about Greg Mortenson and his Three Cups of Tea. In this book, he takes his work into Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Stitches: A Memoir by David Small. While he is best known as an award winning children’s book author and illustrator, this graphic memoir by David Small tells of his growing up with cold, troubled parents and a battle with cancer. It gives new appreciation for his loving and gentle children’s books.
Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada’s Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough. This is a biography of Geoffrey Canada, who founded the Harlem Children’s Zone and the Promise Academy Charter Schools to provide a viable educational path for a generation growing up in poverty. It tells the story of how his own experience has inspired and informed his community service, while documenting the transformative work his organization is doing in Harlem.
Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man’s Attempt to
Understand the World’s Most Mystifying Nation or How He Became Comfortable
Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost. If you like travel books with a generous dose of humor, this book is for you! Troost sees the incongruous and the amazing at every turn of the road less traveled.
The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln through His Words by Ronald C. White, Jr.. What makes this book so fascinating is that it not only provides a unique view of Lincoln’s life and ideas, but also how he worked to revise his words and ideas to make them perfect.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
One Highlight of My Trip to India
Finally I have found a decent report about the goat herding monkey we saw while visiting a tea estate in the mountains of Kerala, in the Palakkad district. We had asked one of the young men who worked at the inn where we were staying to give us a brief tour of the area. He led us down the hillside to a breath-taking view of the valley and then asked if we would like to see the animals. I am a big pushover for animals of any kind so we eagerly accepted his offer. It was evening and the animals had all come in from pastures. The compound had cattle, dogs, fowl of many kinds, and sundry other critters. All seemed well fed and happy.
Then this young man asked if we would like to meet the goat herder. Frankly, meeting a goat herder did not sound that exciting, but what could it hurt to meet some nice man. Then our guide told my husband--remember, I don't speak the language--that the goat herder is a monkey. We went to the goat pen and there, sitting in the middle of lots of goats of all sizes, was a lovely mother monkey, clutching her baby to her chest. We did not, alas, get to see her in action.
I learned a lot more about her from these two websites. Check them out.
Monkey shepherd in India.
Kerala monkey doubles up as shepherd
India truly is a nation of many surprises.
Then this young man asked if we would like to meet the goat herder. Frankly, meeting a goat herder did not sound that exciting, but what could it hurt to meet some nice man. Then our guide told my husband--remember, I don't speak the language--that the goat herder is a monkey. We went to the goat pen and there, sitting in the middle of lots of goats of all sizes, was a lovely mother monkey, clutching her baby to her chest. We did not, alas, get to see her in action.
I learned a lot more about her from these two websites. Check them out.
Monkey shepherd in India.
Kerala monkey doubles up as shepherd
India truly is a nation of many surprises.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Reading India
My ten day trip to India came to an end on February 25 when I boarded a plane in Bengaluru (Bangalore) at 2:20 a.m. and, after a change of planes in Paris, arrived in Detroit about 4:15 p.m. (Both times are local times so it came to about 24 hours in transit.)
There are many things I want to tell everyone about the trip and my thoughts about India, but since this blog is tied to libraries and reading, let me start with my attempts to read in India. Yes, I read several books but I also spent a lot of time reading and attempting to read street signs.
My husband and I arrived in India at Bengaluru which is in Karnataka state. From there we went to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where family members met us for the road trip to "home" in Kozhinjampara in Kerala. Because India has many major languages and most are related to state borders, this means that we went from trying to read Kannada to Tamil to Malayalam. Many signs are also in English so I had something I could easily read as we traveled along, but I enjoyed trying to understand these other languages and there three different scripts. All three languages are Dravidian in origin. This means that there many similarities. I could see some of them in the scripts and could even occasionally hear words that sounded very similar. I am sure that if I were a speaker of any of them, the similarities would be even more evident.
For me, the struggle to read the signs made me think of the miracle that is reading. How does our brain manage to take these funny-looking marks--and every written language is portrayed with a bunch of funny-looking marks--and turn them into sounds and meaning? It is amazing.
My guess is that learning to read Tamil is easier than reading English because each letter makes just one sound. There is none of the educated guessing that is so much a part of English.
If you would like to learn more about these languages, take a look at these sites.
Tamil
Kannada
Malayalam
I have delusions of learning to read any of these languages, but for now, at least, I am happy to relax into books in English.
There are many things I want to tell everyone about the trip and my thoughts about India, but since this blog is tied to libraries and reading, let me start with my attempts to read in India. Yes, I read several books but I also spent a lot of time reading and attempting to read street signs.
My husband and I arrived in India at Bengaluru which is in Karnataka state. From there we went to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where family members met us for the road trip to "home" in Kozhinjampara in Kerala. Because India has many major languages and most are related to state borders, this means that we went from trying to read Kannada to Tamil to Malayalam. Many signs are also in English so I had something I could easily read as we traveled along, but I enjoyed trying to understand these other languages and there three different scripts. All three languages are Dravidian in origin. This means that there many similarities. I could see some of them in the scripts and could even occasionally hear words that sounded very similar. I am sure that if I were a speaker of any of them, the similarities would be even more evident.
For me, the struggle to read the signs made me think of the miracle that is reading. How does our brain manage to take these funny-looking marks--and every written language is portrayed with a bunch of funny-looking marks--and turn them into sounds and meaning? It is amazing.
My guess is that learning to read Tamil is easier than reading English because each letter makes just one sound. There is none of the educated guessing that is so much a part of English.
If you would like to learn more about these languages, take a look at these sites.
Tamil
Kannada
Malayalam
I have delusions of learning to read any of these languages, but for now, at least, I am happy to relax into books in English.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Refusing to be Enemies
When a stranger appears at your door,
feed him for three days
before asking who he is,
where he's come from,
where he's headed.
that way, he'll have strength
enough to answer
Or, by then you'll be
such good friends
you don't care.
from "Red Brocade"
by Naomi Shihab Nye
On Sunday, January 24, the Diversity Committee of Emerson School will show "Refusing to be Enemies", a movie that tells the story of the women of Zeitouna and their efforts to better understand what being Jewish or Palestinian means to them and to the other women in their group. Several women of Zeitouna will join us after the movie to talk about their experiences and offer ideas to help with conflicts in our world, our community, our school, and our personal lives.
The women of Zeitouna are twelve Ann Arbor women, six of whom are Jewish and six of whom are of Palestinian origin, Muslim and Christian. They have been meeting regularly for several years, making sure that they listen to each other with respect and caring. The movie is the story of their coming together and their meetings. These women are not working to find a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They are only working to understand each other, believing that by getting to know each other as people they can not be enemies. You can read more about their story and see a trailer of the movie at their website "refusing to be enemies".
"Refusing to be Enemies" contains references to the violence of the area but has very little graphic content. However, it is not for young children who, at the very least, will probably find it boring. Middle School students and mature fifth graders will benefit from watching the movie along with parents and friends.
Parents have asked that I suggest some books for upper elementary and middle school students who might want to view the movie. There are many books available about what is happening in Israel and the West Bank. Not surprisingly, it is not easy to find one that offers a truly unbiased point of view. In fact, the presence of bias often depends on your personal experiences and point of view. I do not suggest that any of these books, or even all of them as a whole, will offer a truly fair or accurate picture of the causes and meanings of the conflict. Instead, I offer them as a starting point for your discussions.
Emerson was lucky enough to have Naomi Shihab Nye visit our school several years ago. As the librarian I was doubly blessed because I got to drive Ms. Nye to her next stop and enjoy an outstanding dinner and discussion with her. Ms. Nye writes poetry and novels for middle grade and older readers. She also has one delightful picture book. The quote at the beginning of this post as well as the one at end are from Nye's poetry collection 19 Varieties of Gazelle. The poems in this collection and her two other collections of poems from the Middle East--The Flag of Childhood and The Space Between our Footsteps--carry great emotion and offer insight into the lives of people living in the Middle East as well as those who have emigrated to other parts of the world.
Habibi, Nye's first novel for middle grade readers, moved me personally as it describes a girl's first visit to the land of her father. In Habibi Liyanne travels to Jerusalem and the small Palestinian village where her father was born. The family stays long enough for her to enroll in a Jerusalem school so Liyanne sees more of the good and bad, the confusion and the beauty of this once alien place. Nye's picture book, Sitti's Secrets tells a similar story of a little girl visiting her grandmother in a Palestinian village. It ends with a clear and concise plea for world peace.
Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi won the Batchelder Award from the American Library Association for its portrayal of a young Palestinian boy who finds himself in an Israeli hospital ward. He believes that the Israeli's are to blame for his brother's death so he is not eager to interact with the other boys in the hospital. Gradually, however, Samir gets to know these boys and befriends Yonatan. Together they offer a strong message for understanding and for peace. The author was born in Tel Aviv and currently lives in Jerusalem. This book is suitable for grades five and older.
A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird with Sonia Nimr looks at war and peace through the eyes of a Palestinian boy. It clearly has a Palestinian bias but carries a strong feel of the impact of war on all who live through it. This book is best suited for middle school students.
When I Was a Soldier: A Memoir by Valerie Zenatti is a Batchelder Honor Book. This gritty, frank book well be best appreciated by young adults. It tells the true story of a young Jewish girl from France whose family immigrated to Israel. Like all Israeli youths, she joins the army soon after her 18th birthday. Using memories and journal entries, Zenatti tells her story as a rebellious young woman who wonders about her friends, her family, her boyfriend, and her personal commitment to her adopted home while facing life and death decisions on a regular basis.
Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood by Ibtisam Barakat gives a brief overview of the conflict before settling into her own story which begins with the Six-Day War. She writes with the grace of the poet that she is. The author was born in Ramallah and earned a degree in English literature in the West Bank. In addition to writing, she works with young people dealing with injustices in their lives. This is another book that is aimed at Middle School readers.
Deborah Ellis visited children caught up in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict at orphanages and schools, at McDonald's and at the Holocaust memorial, at home and in public to find out how they were dealing with life in a war zone. In Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak they talk about sibling rivalry and wanting a special toy or pet, but they also talk of families separated, friends lost, and dreams put on hold. Throughout all of the stories, there runs a thread of hope that their lives will be better and at least some of their wishes will come true. While the writing is simple, I suggest that readers wait until reaching fifth grade or older to tackle this book.
Let's change places," the teenagers said.
"For a week, I'll be you and you be me."
Knowing if they did,t hey could never fight again.
Listen to them.
from "Trenches and Moats and Mounds of Dirt"
by Naomi Shihab Nye
Thursday, January 14, 2010
I Have a Dream
I have a dream that is not nearly as inspiring as Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. My dream this week is that people will use a part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday to think about peace, justice, and equity. You could throw in a few books about King himself.
In fact, books are about King may be the easiest to find. For a first biography as well as beautiful illustrations, check out Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. This award winning book lets the story of King's life grow from quotes from his speeches. The words of the story itself are sparse. Text changes in font, size, and color to bring emphasis. Some of the concepts are not easy to grasp, so parents will want to share this book with their children for the first read. Then you can expect to see your child reading it again to fully appreciate the art and the words.
Search your library for the longer biography of King that best suits your interests and needs. There are many and I hesitate to suggest any one as my favorite. You will find many that are wonderful. You will also find some that were written to get to get on the bandwagon with little to offer in terms of writing or information. Look carefully.
If you want to address the Civil Rights Movement, there are many options.
In Warriors Don't Cry Melba Patillo Beals tells a moving story of her experiences as one of the students who integrated Little Rock High School. Young adults and adults will be touched by the courage that it took to face angry classmates and their angrier parents every day.
The brilliantly illustrated Rosa by Niki Giovanni is the most beautiful of the many biographies of Rosa Parks. Parks has also written an autobiography for middle grade readers.
Not everyone wants to read non-fiction. Luckily for all of us, there are many wonderful novels that address the inequalities that lead to the painful fight for civil rights.
For the reader in grades four and up it is hard to beat the works of Christopher Paul Curtis and the best of his works for talking about Civil Rights is The Watsons go to Birmingham--1964. As with all of the books by Curtis, its ability to capture the voice of a young boy with healthy dose of humor soon has the reader engulfed in the story. Because we are so comfortable with the characters as they travel from Flint, Michigan, to visit relatives Alabama, the ending is especially moving and meaningful. If you know what happened in Birmingham in 1964, you can already predict the event what event changes the story and the lives of its characters.
My two favorite picture books that give a poignant look at the 1960s are best shared with students in grade two or older because they include topics that require explanation and thought. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles features two young boys who ignore the differences in their skin color because they are friends. Then the city decides that rather than integrate the swimming pool as the new Civil Rights Act decrees, they will see that no one gets to swim. The emotions of the boys are the feelings any boy on a hot summer day would feel but also bring them to the realization of how differently the world views each of them.
A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner follows two young white children into town where they hope to see the "colored" water fountain. In their minds this means rainbow colored water that probably also means wonderful flavors. What they encounter is a group of protesters and police. It is a powerful story.
Let us not dwell entirely on the African American experience. There are many other fights that continue today for justice and equality as well as many others who have worked to make change.
Demi has created a beautifully illustrated biography simply titled Gandhi. The story is detailed but the lush pictures with gold accents will draw younger readers to listen to parts of the story. There seems to be a growing interest in offering Gandhi's story to elementary and grade school readers. Keep looking for a biography that appeals to you.
Biographies of Caesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, and many more have found their way into juvenile literature. Explore libraries and bookstores to find stories of your favorite leader of change.
Ultimately, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is about working for peace and understanding. With beautiful photographs from around the world, A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley offers simple ways to find peace around us all and to spread the message to others.
The Peace Book by Todd Parr is an even simpler, brightly colored discussion of peace. It strives to show very young readers that peace can be as simple as appreciating the right to wear different clothing or that not everyone likes the same things.
World Book has collected essays and thoughts on peace and human rights in Stand Up for Your Rights. Not all of these will appeal to everyone but it will not take you long to find something that appeals to you.
Look also for a book called We Are Born Free--The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures which, as the title indicates, offers a variety of illustrations to help everyone more clearly understand the intent of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Find your own way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrate his day by finding a way in which you can work to make a positive change in the world.
In fact, books are about King may be the easiest to find. For a first biography as well as beautiful illustrations, check out Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. This award winning book lets the story of King's life grow from quotes from his speeches. The words of the story itself are sparse. Text changes in font, size, and color to bring emphasis. Some of the concepts are not easy to grasp, so parents will want to share this book with their children for the first read. Then you can expect to see your child reading it again to fully appreciate the art and the words.
Search your library for the longer biography of King that best suits your interests and needs. There are many and I hesitate to suggest any one as my favorite. You will find many that are wonderful. You will also find some that were written to get to get on the bandwagon with little to offer in terms of writing or information. Look carefully.
If you want to address the Civil Rights Movement, there are many options.
In Warriors Don't Cry Melba Patillo Beals tells a moving story of her experiences as one of the students who integrated Little Rock High School. Young adults and adults will be touched by the courage that it took to face angry classmates and their angrier parents every day.
The brilliantly illustrated Rosa by Niki Giovanni is the most beautiful of the many biographies of Rosa Parks. Parks has also written an autobiography for middle grade readers.
Not everyone wants to read non-fiction. Luckily for all of us, there are many wonderful novels that address the inequalities that lead to the painful fight for civil rights.
For the reader in grades four and up it is hard to beat the works of Christopher Paul Curtis and the best of his works for talking about Civil Rights is The Watsons go to Birmingham--1964. As with all of the books by Curtis, its ability to capture the voice of a young boy with healthy dose of humor soon has the reader engulfed in the story. Because we are so comfortable with the characters as they travel from Flint, Michigan, to visit relatives Alabama, the ending is especially moving and meaningful. If you know what happened in Birmingham in 1964, you can already predict the event what event changes the story and the lives of its characters.
My two favorite picture books that give a poignant look at the 1960s are best shared with students in grade two or older because they include topics that require explanation and thought. Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles features two young boys who ignore the differences in their skin color because they are friends. Then the city decides that rather than integrate the swimming pool as the new Civil Rights Act decrees, they will see that no one gets to swim. The emotions of the boys are the feelings any boy on a hot summer day would feel but also bring them to the realization of how differently the world views each of them.
A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner follows two young white children into town where they hope to see the "colored" water fountain. In their minds this means rainbow colored water that probably also means wonderful flavors. What they encounter is a group of protesters and police. It is a powerful story.
Let us not dwell entirely on the African American experience. There are many other fights that continue today for justice and equality as well as many others who have worked to make change.
Demi has created a beautifully illustrated biography simply titled Gandhi. The story is detailed but the lush pictures with gold accents will draw younger readers to listen to parts of the story. There seems to be a growing interest in offering Gandhi's story to elementary and grade school readers. Keep looking for a biography that appeals to you.
Biographies of Caesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, and many more have found their way into juvenile literature. Explore libraries and bookstores to find stories of your favorite leader of change.
Ultimately, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is about working for peace and understanding. With beautiful photographs from around the world, A Little Peace by Barbara Kerley offers simple ways to find peace around us all and to spread the message to others.
The Peace Book by Todd Parr is an even simpler, brightly colored discussion of peace. It strives to show very young readers that peace can be as simple as appreciating the right to wear different clothing or that not everyone likes the same things.
World Book has collected essays and thoughts on peace and human rights in Stand Up for Your Rights. Not all of these will appeal to everyone but it will not take you long to find something that appeals to you.
Look also for a book called We Are Born Free--The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures which, as the title indicates, offers a variety of illustrations to help everyone more clearly understand the intent of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Find your own way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrate his day by finding a way in which you can work to make a positive change in the world.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Books on a Plane
While flying may not be the great adventure it once was, it certainly offers great opportunities to pull out a good book. There are the long waits for your flight after you rushed to get to the airports early enough to be sure you were on time. Then, at least if you fly in the winter, there is the extra time spent on the plane as they de-ice the wings. Finally, there is the long flight with no flight attendant bothering you with meals and such.
My husband and I flew to San Francisco to spend the holidays with our math teacher daughter. (The musician spent the holidays sharing her voice with lucky listeners in churches and other venues.) It is a good long flight so we had plenty of time to read. The result is that I have four good titles to recommend that you consider for adult reading enjoyment.
Death With Interruptions by Jose Saramago offers an interesting premise. What if death decided to take a vacation and suddenly no one was dying? Saramago ponders this possibility with humor and philosophy. Imagine, if you will, the impact on religion if clerics no longer could tell people about the importance of what comes after death? Would the funeral industry be forced to offer services for pets? This novel is one that you will think about long after you finish the last page. Thank you to the parent who suggested that I would enjoy it.
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh takes the reader to Calcutta in the 19th century. The colonists have strongly encouraged the people of the rural areas to turn their wheat fields into poppy fields for the opium trade with China. The many characters who people the story represent all of the parties involved in this end of the opium trade. A woman whose husband has died from the addiction that came with his job processing the poppies into opium must run away to find a safe refuge. A ship's second mate tries to understand this new world that he reaches after a harrowing journey which has taken him far from the life he knew as a freed states in the young United States. The British, other natives of the area, and people from all walks of life bring strong accents and stronger feelings to this beautifully written story. I was totally engrossed in this book. The hardest part is that it is the first of a trilogy with the other parts yet to come.
The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles is set in Brazil in the 1920s and 1930s. Two sisters, raised by an aging aunt in the back country of Brazil, have very different dreams of how they will use their talents as seamstresses to fulfill their dreams. Luzia broke her arm as child and will never again be able to bend her elbow. This is the deformity that marks her when she becomes part of a notorious group of roaming bandits who rob and brutally murder the rich to give to the poor. Her sister Emilia has always dreamed of living in the big city of Recife so jumps at the chance when she meets the son of a wealthy man. Though their lives go in very different directions, each sister keeps an eye open to learn what the other is doing. It is the quality of the writing and the juxtaposition of the the two divergent ways of life that keep one rushing to the end.
I confess that I did not read Stitches by David Small until I got back from my trip, but I don't want anyone to miss this amazing memoir. David Small is an children's book author and illustrator who lives on the west side of Michigan. He won a Caldecott for So You Want to be a President? by Judith St. George. He also illustrates books by his wife Sarah Small and his own stories with easily recognizable drawings full of personality and life. Stitches, however, is not for children. This is the graphic story of Small's very difficult childhood. He survived abuse, cancer, and shocks and disappointments that no one should ever face. It makes one appreciate his happy tales even more. Sarah Stewart and David Small visited Emerson School about a dozen years ago. Everyone who heard them talk was moved by what kind and gentle people they are. This story adds new levels appreciation that I felt for them at that time.
You don't have to fly to find time to read. May your reading be one of the many pleasures you find in 2010.
My husband and I flew to San Francisco to spend the holidays with our math teacher daughter. (The musician spent the holidays sharing her voice with lucky listeners in churches and other venues.) It is a good long flight so we had plenty of time to read. The result is that I have four good titles to recommend that you consider for adult reading enjoyment.
Death With Interruptions by Jose Saramago offers an interesting premise. What if death decided to take a vacation and suddenly no one was dying? Saramago ponders this possibility with humor and philosophy. Imagine, if you will, the impact on religion if clerics no longer could tell people about the importance of what comes after death? Would the funeral industry be forced to offer services for pets? This novel is one that you will think about long after you finish the last page. Thank you to the parent who suggested that I would enjoy it.
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh takes the reader to Calcutta in the 19th century. The colonists have strongly encouraged the people of the rural areas to turn their wheat fields into poppy fields for the opium trade with China. The many characters who people the story represent all of the parties involved in this end of the opium trade. A woman whose husband has died from the addiction that came with his job processing the poppies into opium must run away to find a safe refuge. A ship's second mate tries to understand this new world that he reaches after a harrowing journey which has taken him far from the life he knew as a freed states in the young United States. The British, other natives of the area, and people from all walks of life bring strong accents and stronger feelings to this beautifully written story. I was totally engrossed in this book. The hardest part is that it is the first of a trilogy with the other parts yet to come.
The Seamstress by Frances de Pontes Peebles is set in Brazil in the 1920s and 1930s. Two sisters, raised by an aging aunt in the back country of Brazil, have very different dreams of how they will use their talents as seamstresses to fulfill their dreams. Luzia broke her arm as child and will never again be able to bend her elbow. This is the deformity that marks her when she becomes part of a notorious group of roaming bandits who rob and brutally murder the rich to give to the poor. Her sister Emilia has always dreamed of living in the big city of Recife so jumps at the chance when she meets the son of a wealthy man. Though their lives go in very different directions, each sister keeps an eye open to learn what the other is doing. It is the quality of the writing and the juxtaposition of the the two divergent ways of life that keep one rushing to the end.
I confess that I did not read Stitches by David Small until I got back from my trip, but I don't want anyone to miss this amazing memoir. David Small is an children's book author and illustrator who lives on the west side of Michigan. He won a Caldecott for So You Want to be a President? by Judith St. George. He also illustrates books by his wife Sarah Small and his own stories with easily recognizable drawings full of personality and life. Stitches, however, is not for children. This is the graphic story of Small's very difficult childhood. He survived abuse, cancer, and shocks and disappointments that no one should ever face. It makes one appreciate his happy tales even more. Sarah Stewart and David Small visited Emerson School about a dozen years ago. Everyone who heard them talk was moved by what kind and gentle people they are. This story adds new levels appreciation that I felt for them at that time.
You don't have to fly to find time to read. May your reading be one of the many pleasures you find in 2010.
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