School Library Journal» SLJ

What’s the Buzz? Nonfiction Books for Common Core

SLJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 19:33:26 +0000

SPONSORED BY: DK Publishing, Teacher Created Materials, Lerner Publishing, ReferencePoint Press and School Library Journal
EVENT DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET/12:00 – 1:00 PM PT

What are the best nonfiction Common Core books to stock with your shelves with? DK Publishing, Teacher Created Materials, Lerner Publishing and ReferencePoint Press are here to help fill your library’s nonfiction section by presenting their upcoming titles that fit perfectly into the new standards. This is a must-see resource for Common Core, featuring forthcoming books, nonfiction trends, and answers to your questions!

Panelists
Jaimie Cona – Children’s Marketing Manager, DK Publishing
Susan Copeland – Director of Education, Teacher Created Materials
Terri Lynn Soutor – Vice President, Marketing & Digital Products, Lerner Publishing Group
Chris Nasso - Marketing Director, ReferencePoint Press

Moderator
John Peters - reviewer, School Library Journal

Can’t make it on March 12? No problem! Register now and you will get an email reminder from School Library Journal post-live event when the webcast is archived and available for on-demand viewing at your convenience!

By registering for this webcast, you are agreeing that School Library Journal may share your registration information with sponsors currently shown and future sponsors of this event. Click here to review the entire School Library Journal Privacy Policy.

Pictures of the Week: Kid Lit Authors, Illustrators at Sandy Hook; Book^2 Camp Conference

SLJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:41:33 +0000

Please send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com or mdar@mediasourceinc.com.

Authors and illustrators visited Sandy Hook Elementary School on Tuesday for the first assembly program since moving into its new building following the December 14, 2012 shooting that took the lives of 26 children and staff at the school. Pictured (from left to right): Vincent Kirsch, Alan Katz, Katie Davis, Bruce Degen, Tracy Dockery, Mike Rex.

Vincent Kirsch with his Toy Theatre.

Attendees convened for the 3rd annual Book^2 Camp conference in New York City Sunday February 10 to discuss the future of the book and other issues related to publishing.

Pick of the Day: Cape Spin! An American Power Struggle (DVD)

SLJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:00:04 +0000

Cape Spin! An American Power Struggle. DVD. 86 min. Prod. by the Electron Project. Dist. by Video Project. 2012. ISBN unavail. $89.
Gr 9 Up–The political, social, and cultural dimensions of the campaign to establish the United States’s first offshore wind farm in Massachusetts’ famed Nantucket Sound is chronicled in this excellent program. This debate, which began in 2001 and went on for more than 10 years, is a complex tangle of regional and national political bedfellows, environmentalism, elitism, and localism. From the fisherman to the Kennedys, from Bill Koch to the Native American tribes, from Ken Salazar to Green Peace, the whole spectrum of concerned citizenry expresses their varied points of view—with plenty of inaccuracy and hypocrisy to go around. While there is a pro-clean energy leitmotif throughout the documentary, the directors do depict supporters and detractors with a fair hand. Through a satirical soundtrack and flashy graphic representations, viewers get a fuller sense of all the factors that inform a local campaign with national consequences. It is a humorous study in government process, media spin, grassroots advocacy, and the burgeoning field of eco-capitalism. Cape Spin is highly recommended for use in history, civics, environmental science, or political science classes at the high school, community college, and university level.–Vincent M. Livoti, University of Maine at August

Whodunit?: Mysteries Can Support the Common Core | Listen In

SLJ — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:00:13 +0000

Milo and Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Stinky Socks
© 2009 by Amy Wummer.

Mysteries provide a perfect entree for exploring a wide variety of critical thinking skills. With their emphasis on clear observation, logical thinking, and well-drawn conclusions, mysteries support many Common Core State Standards (CCSS). They also lend themselves to an array of interesting writing assignments, an important component of the CCSS and one on which many states are placing particular emphasis.

This month’s column features some of our favorite mysteries, along with ideas for expanding the learning possibilities presented by each title and/or series. Employing the Common Core State Standards doesn’t mean that learning can’t be fun. Kids love mysteries, so why not use them to teach new skills in thinking, researching, and writing? We guarantee that these titles will spark student interest.

Elementary School

A to Z Mysteries, Books D-G (The Deadly Dungeon, The Empty Envelope, The Falcon’s Feathers, The Goose’s Gold). Written by Ron Roy. Narrated by David Pittu. 3 CDs. 3:25 hrs. Listening Library. 2005. ISBN 978-0-3072-0735-7. $30. K-Gr 3
From A to Z, these beginning chapter book mysteries maintain a comfortable format with each audiobook combining three or four stories from the series. Each “case” title is a letter of the alphabet and continuity is nicely incorporated with Pittu narrating them all. His conversational and friendly voice fits the pacing as Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose band together to solve each case. Listeners will be asking for all the letters of the alphabet.

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.2 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Instructional Extension: Connecting the theme or subject of a story to research can strengthen both the listening experience and learning. For example, to discover more about the birds in The Falcon’s Feathers, use the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All about Birds website (www.allaboutbirds.org). Enter the search term “falcon” to find information about the peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, and prairie falcon.

Encyclopedia Brown Finds the Clues. Written by Donald Sobol. Narrated by Greg Steinbruner. 2 CDs. 1:18 hrs. Recorded Books. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4281-7221-0. $25.75. Gr 3-5

This title, one in the classic series about 10-year-old detective Leroy “Encyclopedia” Brown, features ten new cases for the Idaville mystery solver. Encyclopedia, his police chief dad, and his group of friends follow the trail of each case to its satisfying end. The familiar format of presenting clues for listeners to put together gives opportunities for thinking and problem solving. Steinbruner’s pacing is comfortable, highlighting the simple sentences and pausing before each solution to build suspense,

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.9 Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters.

Instructional Extension: The University of North Carolina’s excellent Learn NC website (www.learningnc.org/lp/pages/3031) offers several activities to enliven lesson plans for the first book in this series, Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective. The rubric for a good mystery story and the Mystery Worksheet are adaptable to any book in the series and provide a jumping-off point for writing projects.

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe’s Very First Case: A Number 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Book for Young Readers. Written by Alexander McCall Smith. Narrated by Adjoa Andoh. CD. 1 hr. Listening Library. 2012. ISBN 978-0-4490-1142-3. $15. K-Gr 3

Intrepid female detective, Precious Ramotswe, is introduced here as a child, solving her first case. Andoh’s excellent narration presents the lilt, cadence, and authenticity of Botswana culture. Adult fans of the well-known #1 Ladies Detective Agency will be listening along to find out how Precious came to become a world-famous detective. Sure to provide fun for family and classroom audiences.

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.2 Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths, from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

Instructional Extension: Classroom discussion and research about Botswana could follow listening to this mystery. Facts and information about the country can be found in many online encyclopedias, books, and the Botswana embassy website (www.botswanaembassy.org) where the country’s history, a video gallery, and visitor attractions are included. Students may choose one topic to share with the class to highlight any study about Africa.

Milo and Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Stinky Socks. Written by Lewis B. Montgomery. Narrated by Chantale Hosein and Vinnie Penna. CD. 48 min. Live Oak Media. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4301-1199-3. $15.95. K-Gr 3

Milo has just received his Dash Marlow Super Sleuth kit when he discovers his first mystery. Working, somewhat reluctantly, with new neighbor Jazz, these two young detectives set out to determine who stole Jazz’s brother’s lucky socks from his high school locker. The pair use their critical thinking skills to find the socks before the big baseball game. Penna and Hosein’s performances are appropriately young and their pacing heightens the tension and excitement of this first mystery in Montgomery’s series.

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy. RL.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

Instructional Extension: Dash Marlow instructs his followers to use these “Super Sleuthing Skills: Observe, Think Logically, Draw Conclusions.” A fun writing project can be built around any one of the “Milo and Jazz Mysteries” by using flow maps to organize the sequence of events with the goal of producing a summary of the story that includes at least three details from the book to answer the questions posed in the standard.

Middle/High School

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity. Written by Mac Barnett. Narrated by Arte Johnson. 3 CDs. 2:55 hrs. Listening Library. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1042-0. $30. Gr 4-6

When 12-year-old Steve Brixton, a fan of Bailey Brothers detective novels, is mistaken for a real detective, he must elude librarians, police, and the mysterious Mr. E as he seeks a missing quilt containing coded information. Arte Johnson gives Steve’s predicament a matter-of-fact, almost sardonic tone, with methodical pacing and understatement that provides listeners with laugh-out-loud enjoyment of this wholly improbable story. Fans will also enjoy the other titles in this series, The Ghostwriter Secret and It Happened on a Train, also available from Listening Library.

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.5.7 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

Instructional Extension: Visit this go-to website that provides thorough information and multiple ideas for classroom extensions as well as descriptions of mystery series, novels, and picture books: Carol Hurst Children’s Literature—Mysteries in the Classroom Fiction, Non-Fiction and Activities for Pre-School through Ninth Grade (www.carolhurst.com/subjects/mysteries.html).

Pair the following two titles for an interesting comparison of Victorian and contemporary girl sleuths:

The Case of the Missing Marquess, an Enola Holms Mystery. Written by Nancy Springer. Narrated by Katherine Kellgren. 4 CDs. 4:31 hrs. Recorded Books. 2006. ISBN 978-1-4193-8985-6. $51.75. Gr 5-8

Smart and resourceful, 14-year-old Enola is determined to avoid the finishing school her older brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, have selected for her when her mother suddenly vanishes. Setting off for London on a bicycle, Enola stumbles upon another missing person’s case—a young marquess who seems to have been kidnapped. Kellgren delves into this adventure with her customary gusto and superb pacing, providing a host of excellent 19th-century character voices. Lucky for listeners, this is just the beginning of a long series, all narrated by the incomparable Kellgren.

The London Eye Mystery. Written by Siobhan Dowd. Narrated by Paul Checquer. AudioGo. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4056-5462-3. $25. Gr 6-10

Ted’s cousin Salim comes to visit from Manchester before moving to New York with his mother, and Salim’s only wish is to ride the London Eye, the massive wheel erected to mark the new millennium. Ted (whose brain is “wired differently”) and his older sister Kat watch Salim board the Eye and are stunned when he doesn’t get off. What follows is an intricate, intriguing, and thrilling race against time as Ted uses his keen observation skills to find his cousin. Checquer’s measured pacing accurately portrays Ted’s personality and reinforces the family conflicts, and his variety of British accents provides context for American listeners.

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.7.3 Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact.

Instructional Extension: After listening to this mystery, students may be interested to learn more about “Interesting Things You Never Knew about The London Eye” by visiting http://ow.ly/gHXMI. The LondonNet site (http://ow.ly/GHXEM) not only includes facts, but also provides links to other London attractions such as the Tower of London. This is a good place to start a class project investigating London’s most important historical places.

The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour. Written by Michael D. Beil. Narrated by Tai Alexandra Ricci. 6 CDs. 7 hrs. Listening Library. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-7960-8. $50. Gr 4-6

Three friends attending the all-girls Catholic school, St. Veronica’s, become embroiled in a mystery of major proportions when they try to help a strange older woman who lives next to the church. A precious artifact has gone missing and the girls must use their best math and language skills to discover its whereabouts and expose the villain. Ricci personifies the voices of the young sleuths and creates believable voices for the supporting characters. Listeners may want to follow along with or refer to the print edition to see the graphs, charts, and other puzzles that serve as clues. Three more mysteries featuring these girl detectives provide additional fun.

Common Core Standard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.6.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.

Instructional Extension: Girl detectives are an interesting group, from the classic Nancy Drew to Harriet the Spy to the young women in the previous two examples. Students can prepare a chart to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between girl and boy detectives in their methods of solving cases, leading to an interesting writing project.

Sharon Grover is Head of Youth Services at the Hedberg Public Library, Janesville, WI. Lizette (Liz) Hannegan was a school librarian and the district library supervisor for the Arlington (VA) Public Schools before her retirement. They are co-authors of Listening to Learn (ALA Editions, 2011).

Pick of the Day: The Great Unexpected (Audiobook)

SLJ — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:47:29 +0000

The Great Unexpected. By Sharon Creech. 5 cassettes or 5 CDs. 5:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-2004-1, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-205-8. $51.75.
Gr 5-7–Two seemingly unique communities are entwined through history and fate in a way that only Sharon Creech can manage in her story (HarperCollins, 2012) about friendship. Naomi Dean, who has a habit of always being around when trouble starts, lives with her guardians in the little town of Blackbird Tree, and is best friends with Lizzie Scatterding, who “could talk the ears off a cornfield.” Things get interesting the day that the charming young Finn boy drops out of a tree and sets in motion some very strange and unexpected events. While the two girls puzzle over his appearance and compete for his attention, two ladies in Ireland are planning a few unusual things of their own. How the author ties all of the characters on both sides of the Atlantic together is slightly contrived, but her hints and clues keep the plot moving smoothly and logically. There are locked trunks, dogs, significant trees, Finns, and black birds in both communities, although the birds are called rooks in Ireland. Heather O’Neill and Erin Moon give each character a delightful and recognizable voice; Naomi’s is sweet and charming, Mrs. Kavanaugh’s is elegant, Mr. Farley and Crazy Cora sound elderly and gruff. Only the sing-song voice of Lizzie sounds out of place and slightly bothersome. As usual, Creech’s language and descriptions are vivid and beautiful. Rich symbolism abounds, and many common threads are woven together at the novel’s conclusion.–MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY

John Green to ‘Hangout’ with Obama

SLJ — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:01:17 +0000

John Green at Carnegie Hall for “An Evening of Awesome” on January 15.

On Thursday, February 14 at 4:50 p.m. EST, popular young adult author John Green will participate in a Google+ “fireside” Hangout with President Obama, following up on the State of the Union address to Congress. A group of participants, including John Green, will ask the president their own questions as well as those submitted by the public.

Viewers can tune in via the White House Google+ page or YouTube channel, and submit questions of their own via video or text through the channel. The deadline for submission of is 11:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, February 13.

John Green is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and The Fault in Our Stars.

Google+ Hangouts allow up to 10 people to “hang out” via video chat. This is the President’s second time answering Americans’ questions via Hangout. In order to participate in a Hangout, a user has to sign in to Google+ and create a simple profile page.

Pick of the Day: Nelly May Has Her Say

SLJ — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:00:06 +0000

DEFELICE, Cynthia. Nelly May Has Her Say. illus. by Henry Cole. 32p. Farrar. Mar. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-39899-6. LC 2011018484.
PreS-Gr 3–Nelly May Nimble lives in a tiny house with her parents and her 12 brothers and sisters. One day she announces that it’s time to earn her own keep, so she ventures off to the hilltop home of Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle to hire out her services. Lord Pinkwinkle agrees with one condition; the master of the house has special names for things, and Nelly must use those names when she speaks to him. At first, Nelly obliges, addressing Lord Pinkwinkle as “Most Excellent of All Masters,” and using his silly monikers, such as “long-legged limberjohns” for trousers and a “flaming pop-and-sizzle” for his fireplace. But when Lord Pinkwinkle’s “fur-faced fluffenbarker’s wigger-wagger” catches fire, Nelly has to wake him and announce the fire before the house burns down. Can she remember all those silly names before a catastrophe happens? Cole’s illustrations juxtapose Nelly’s homestead in the “Bottoms” and Lord Pinkwinkle’s “roof-topped castleorum” with deft humor and a folk styling that is sure to appeal to young readers. Nelly is spirited and clever, most surely not just another “fuzzy-dust-and-fooder” that his “Most Excellent Master” thinks she is. With one smart heroine and witty wordplay, this book, which is based on the English folktale “Master of All Masters,” will delight.–Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools

Participant Media To Give Spielberg’s ‘Lincoln’ DVDs to All U.S. Middle and High Schools

SLJ — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:33:52 +0000

Participant Media announced today that, in conjunction with its upcoming social action campaign and other educational outreach efforts, it will distribute DVDs of Steven Spielberg’s critically acclaimed film Lincoln to all middle and high schools, both public and private, throughout the United States.

Together with DreamWorks Pictures and Fox/Newscorp, Participant Media will be funding the efforts with Disney In-Home to create special packaging for the DVDs, which will include an Educator’s Guide for teachers as well as complete lesson plans relating to the significance of Abraham Lincoln’s leadership and the importance of that period in our nation’s history. Disney Educational Productions will handle distribution.

The timing of the announcement coincides with Lincoln’s birthday and the launch of Participant’s new “Stand Tall: Live Like Lincoln” campaign, which will bring the film to eight U.S. towns all named Lincoln, followed in mid-March with screenings at 15 Lincoln high schools across the country in largely underserved communities, according to the company.

Each school hosting a screening will receive new audio-visual equipment to best experience Lincoln and any future films screened at the school, including a 120-inch portable screen, Blu-ray and DVD player, a projector, and new speakers. The screenings will be followed by moderated conversations and distribution of Disney’s educational curricula.

“As more and more people began to see the film, we received letters from teachers asking if it could be available in their classrooms,” director Steven Spielberg says. “We realized that the educational value that Lincoln could have was not only for the adult audiences—who have studied his life in history books—but for the young students in the classroom as well.”

Adds Participant Media CEO Jim Berk, “Before the film was released, we engaged Penn Schoen Berland to conduct a research study to help inform the focus of our Social Action campaign…Among the findings of the study was that more than half of Americans think it’s important to learn about Lincoln, but two thirds say they know little to nothing about him. While I’m sure that’s changed thanks to the tremendous popularity of the film and all the surrounding attention, it still clearly indicated the need to better educate our students about the 16th President’s accomplishments.”

To further explore the relationships depicted in Lincoln and learn about the film’s production, you can download the free app Lincoln: Discover the Story (David Rubel and Disney Editions, iBooks, Free, Gr 6 Up), which was reviewed in this week’s Touch and Go column.

Pick of the Day: Sophia’s War (Audiobook)

SLJ — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:34:58 +0000

Sophia’s War. By Avi. 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 7:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-2043-0, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-2042-3. $66.75.
Gr 5-9–Set in 1776 during the American Revolution when New York was under siege by the British, Avi’s tale (S & S/Beach Lane Books, 2012) of resistance features an amazing female protagonist, trials aplenty as she tries to avenge her brother’s death, and a little romance thrown in for good measure. Sophia’s family believes in freedom and desperately wants America to govern itself. Her brother goes off to fight, is captured, and ends up dying in a filthy hold of a British prison boat. John Andre, a charming English officer who is billeted with Sophia’s family, fails to intervene to save her brother. Despite having a schoolgirl crush on Andre, Sophia is conflicted by his failure to save her brother. After witnessing the execution of Nathan Hale, Sophia is determined to help the American cause. Recruited as a spy, she becomes a maid in the home of the commander of the British forces in America. Sophia uncovers some crucial information and sets out to reach West Point before Benedict Arnold can turn it over to the British. Avi’s outstanding text and Angela Goethals’s spot-on narration make the Revolutionary War come alive for listeners, providing a real sense of the time period. A perfect choice for school and public libraries.–Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

What’s Your Favorite Caldecott?

SLJ — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:22:42 +0000

In recognition of the Caldecott Medal’s 75th anniversary, librarians at School Library Journal‘s Leadership Summit shared their favorite winners and discuss beloved picture books that were overlooked for this honor but still stand the test of time.

Saved by I-SAIL: Making the most of a tool that articulates the value of school libraries | On Common Core

SLJ — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:00:38 +0000

In 2007. “ the superintendent came to me when he was cutting the budget and asked me why he should keep me and the library,” said Karen Smith-Cox. “He was not joking.” Her story is not unfamiliar, but the outcome provides insight for all libraries.

“As I researched support to keep the librarian and the program, I stumbled upon a first draft of I-SAIL,” added Smith-Cox, a K–8 Teacher/Librarian at the Arthur/Lovington (IL) School District. “I read it and knew it was what I needed to document reasons to keep the library program. I-SAIL saved my job and the library program in my school district.”

Illinois librarians have been using I-SAIL (Illinois Standards Aligned Instruction for Libraries) since 2008 to link their lessons to state and national standards. This rigorous focus on learning standards has saved school libraries from budget and staffing cuts. School librarians in Illinois, and now other states, are using it as an advocacy tool to demonstrate how library instruction furthers the academic achievement of students.

I-SAIL was born from a simple request. In 2007, a school librarian took a moment in an annual site visit to ask Alliance Library System’s (ALS) consulting staff (now part of RAILS—Reaching Across Illinois Library System) for a library skills curriculum aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards and the new American Association for School Librarians (AASL) standards.

In January 2008, a focus group researched sample curricula and drafted the format of the tool. That August, ALS staff, with help from member librarians, published the first version. In October 2008, the framework was adopted by the Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) as a statewide model and endorsed by the Illinois State Board of Education. A 2011 revision followed the adoption of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts and Math.

ISLMA is committed to updating the I-SAIL document to maintain its currency and usefulness. It is also proud to willingly share it with others. With this one valuable tool, you can easily align your library instruction to CCSS.

I-SAIL is comprised of five library instruction standards with student benchmarks and objectives. The document takes what we do and puts it into words that make sense to administrators and teachers. From its inception, the document was created with the knowledge that it would need to be altered asnd updated to fit the needs of individual libraries. It can be fully customized to align with any district’s curriculum.

“As a grant scorer, I am reading wonderful things about I-SAIL being used by librarians as they create new collaborative units with teachers and departments in their schools,” said Becky Robinson, committee chair of
ISLMA’s latest update to the document. “It is such a rewarding feeling to see school librarians list I-SAIL standards, benchmarks, and objectives in conjunction with Common Core Standards as they plan new units of study to prepare their students for learning in various content areas.”

Smith-Cox, who was once searching for a way to keep her library off the chopping block, is now I-SAIL’s biggest advocate and ISLMA’s Standards chair. Her library’s vitality illustrates the value of aligning the work of the library to the Common Core State Standards. With the help of I-SAIL, she was able to demonstrate the cross-curricular value of her work.

Get your I-SAIL document at
www.islma.org/ISAIL.htm

Christy Semande is the district librarian at Canton USD #66, Canton, IL, an original member of the I-SAIL committee, and a current ISLMA board member. To submit an On Common Core opinion piece, please contact Rebecca T. Miller at rmiller@mediasourceinc.com.

Pick of the Day: Bunnies on Ice

SLJ — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:00:05 +0000

WRIGHT, Joanna. Bunnies on Ice. illus. by author. 32p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-404-2. LC 2012001187.
PreS-Gr 1–This budding champion (a white snow bunny) loves to ice skate so much that she patiently waits for perfect conditions. When the other bunnies are doing summer things, she is planning what she will do when the snow falls. She proceeds to wait through the fall as she dresses her scarecrow with a pair of skates. Then when the snow arrives and the conditions seem right, she heads for the ice with her family as her support team. She boasts about all the maneuvers she hasn’t quite perfected yet, all while proclaiming her champion status. After a rigorous workout of not-so-perfect figure eights and leaps, she rewards herself with après skate indulgences, including hot chocolate, toasted marshmallows, and a warm bath. After her busy day, this little bunny goes to bed, ready to try again tomorrow. Wright has created a charming and determined character. The youngster’s fortitude and enthusiasm are admirable even if she isn’t as accomplished as she makes out to be. The dark-outlined illustrations are painted in soft hues. This sweet story about a bunny who is determined to follow her dream is a great addition.–Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CT

Pictures of the Week: Random House Authors; The 14th Annual Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators Conference

SLJ — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:28:43 +0000

Please send your pictures of the week to sdiaz@mediasourceinc.com.

Random House authors N.D. Wilson, Jeanne Birdsall, and Rebecca Stead at a lunch with librarians in New York City, discussing writing for middle school students. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Author Meg Rosoff and illustrator Sophie Blackall at the 14th Annual Society of Children Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Conference in NYC. Photo by Rocco Staino.

Pick of the Day: Hi! Fly Guy (DVD)

SLJ — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:00:20 +0000

Hi! Fly Guy. DVD. 7 min. Weston Woods. 2012. ISBN 978-0-545-47807-6. $59.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-47823-6: $29.95; CD with paperback book, ISBN 978-0-545-47822-9: $18.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-47806-9: $12.95.
PreS-Gr 2–Fly Guy’s adventures begin with Tedd Arnold’s Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book (Cartwheel, 2005), and the sweet series for beginning readers soars to new heights with this outstanding DVD version. Buzz is looking for a smart pet to take to the Amazing Pet Show, and finds one talented fly for his jar. Is it a pest or a pet? Despite the naysayers, Fly Guy proves himself to be one fine flyer and a loyal pet. MacLeod Andrews gives an energetic and varied vocal performance and the animation by Soup2Nuts is hilarious. Best of all, the accompanying music and the Fly Guy song set the scene for a completely satisfying production. Rusty Young and Jack Sundrud’s musical stylings include a sliding clarinet, a guitar, and a harmonica as they steal the show while providing a spot-on match for Fly Guy’s humor and loop-the-loop aerial act. Special effects, from burps to buzzes, further enliven the text. Children will love the DVD and the CD as read-along aids or as pure, joyful entertainment. A delightful interview with the author follows the production. A brilliant marriage of text, art, and music.–Lonna Pierce, MacArthur and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Binghamton, NY

Sullivan Award Deadline Extended

SLJ — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:32:23 +0000

The deadline has been extended until February 15 for the prestigious Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. The annual award honors an individual who has shown exceptional understanding and support of library services for kids. Sponsored by Peggy Sullivan, the former dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Rosary College, in River Forest, IL, and the American Library Association’s (ALA) one-time executive director, the award is administered by ALA. Nominees should also have management, supervisory, or administrative experience that has included public library service to children. But you have to hurry—the deadline for submitting an application has only been extended to February 15. For more information and to check out an application form, visit the Sullivan Award’s webpage.

Pick of the Day: Ozomatli Presents OzoKids (CD)

SLJ — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:57:17 +0000

Ozomatli Presents OzoKids. CD. approx. 37 min. Hornblow Group/Megaforce Records. 2012. ISBN unavail. $11.98.
PreS-Gr 3–The Grammy award-winning Los Angeles-based Latin fusion group, Ozomatli, continues to defy being pigeon-holed. Never afraid to try new things, they accepted a challenge from PBS television to shed gang-violence and explicit lyrics and record several education-focused songs. Their new album is aimed at youngsters yet maintains a gritty, urban edge that should have wide appeal. Fusing Latino, hip-hop, reggae, techno pop, and rock, these 14 original tunes will teach youngsters and please grownups, too. The sophisticated and engaging arrangements feature a wide variety of musical styles and instrumentation. “Trees” explains what’s necessary for a tree to grow. “Germs” talks about good and bad germs. “Exercise” espouses its importance and various forms. “Water” lists the many forms it takes. “Pirana” encourages facing fears. Among the catchy numbers are “Moose on the Loose” (a techno rap), “Balloon Fest” (a cha-cha), “Like It’s Your Birthday,” “Let’s Go to the Movies” (features a strong percussion beat), “Spelling” (a fusion-infused spelling lesson), and “Changito” (a high-octane song sure to get kids up and moving). Rock on, Ozo!–Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Pick of the Day: The Goldilocks Variations

SLJ — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:00:16 +0000

AHLBERG, Allan. The Goldilocks Variations. illus. by Jessica Ahlberg. 40p. Candlewick. 2012. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6268-4.
PreS-Gr 2–With whimsical illustrations and interactive features such as flaps, pop-ups, and pull tabs, the Ahlbergs showcase six silly variations on the classic tale. The standout of the bunch has the heroine wandering into the “trood (or spaceship) of The Three Bliim.” Full of silly alien words, the tale begs to be read aloud. In other adventures, Goldilocks takes on 33 bears, the furniture (chair, bowl, and bed finally get starring roles), and a host of fairy-tale characters such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Pigs. Jessica Ahlberg’s fanciful watercolor and ink illustrations sprinkle the pages and are the perfect counterpoint to the text’s cheeky humor.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD

Game and Music Reviews from Young Adults

SLJ — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:27:57 +0000

What a delight to see that Paper Mario is back in action, paperizing everything in sight! Our music reviews highlight two very different performers, both chart leaders in their own genres, who sweep away listeners with their unique voices and styles.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (Nintendo)

The annual Mushroom Kingdom holiday of Sticker Fest is taking place at the festival grounds in Decalburg. But Mario’s old nemesis, the evil Bowser, disrupts the event, scattering the kingdom’s sticker collection far and wide and kidnapping Princess Peach. It’s up to Mario and the spirited royal sticker caretaker, Kersti, to set things right. With Kersti’s help, Mario can paperize any environment, taking three-dimensional objects and flattening them into an ever-folding paper world. Mario’s trusty hammer and stiff boot are his main weapons, but he also uses a variety of stickers to enhance his power. Most battles are enjoyable and follow the classic running, swinging, and jumping associated with Mario games. Mario is such a happy and charming character that players can’t help but laugh alongside this mustached hero. Throughout the game, you collect specific items to turn into stickers, which are needed to solve puzzles and mazes. Some of the best and most rewarding parts of the game are in finding the solutions to move to the next stage. There’s lots of Mario-style fun here that will provide hours of adventure, making you smile over and over again. Rating: E for Everyone. Platform: Nintendo 3DS.—Ryan A., grade 9, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Burning Lights, Chris Tomlin (Sparrow Records)

Music has always been an important part of my life, as is being a person of faith. That’s why it’s really cool to have an opportunity to listen to Christian themes in modern music. Worship leader, musician, and songwriter Chris Tomlin does just that on Burning Lights, his seventh studio album. Tomlin’s trademark songs express Biblical themes combined with personal reflection, and they’re truly meaningful and inspirational to the listener. The appeal of many of the 12 tracks is in Tomlin’s emotional call to his audience. He recognizes the difficulty and challenges we face on a daily basis, and that in tough times, we need to seek comfort from God. He does this by mixing Christian lyrics with electronic beats, strings, and rap vocals in a traditional Brit-rock style. For example, on the opening track, “Awake My Soul,” featuring Lecrae, he recites a passage from the Book of Ezekiel, which adds a whole new dimension to the power of the song. The same goes for “Crown Him,” in which Tomlin reconstructs the timeless hymm “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” with the help of Karl Jobe’s vocals. Other notable tracks include “Whom Shall I Fear,” “Lay Me Down,” and Thank You God for Saving Me.” Although this album is definitely not for everyone, it’s worth taking a listen to.—Latyese M., grade 11, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Contrast, Conor Maynard (Capital)

This 20-year-old YouTube sensation has hit it big and may just be a continuation of the British invasion that began with One Direction and Adele. With his debut album, Contrast, Maynard has already conquered the U.K. pop chart and is now bringing his success to the States. Lucky for him, he has all the ingredients for a recipe for fame—good looks, sex appeal, a great voice, self-esteem, and the backing of powerful people in the music industry. On the track “Pictures,” written by Frank Ocean, Maynard’s voice comes across with such depth and maturity it literally shines. On “Lift Off,” the fast-paced beat and pumped-up pop sound produced by the Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams works perfectly with Maynard’s voice. One of the best tracks is “Better Than You,” where he’s paired up with the feisty Rita Ora. Listeners will definitely feel the great chemistry between these two performers. Other tracks to check out are “Turn Around,” with Ne-Yo, “Animal,” and “Vegas Girl.” It will be interesting to see what comes next from this new heartthrob of the music industry.—Maureen L., grade 12, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Hank and John Green: Using Their Powers for Good

SLJ — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:15:15 +0000

Anyone who works with teens should know about and embrace Hank and John Green. You can get to know the siblings through the VlogBrothers, a YouTube channel where Hank and John trade video conversations back and forth on every topic under the sun. This vlog inspired a host of followers christened Nerdfighters, not because they fight nerds, but because they are nerds who endeavor to be awesome.

As you probably know, John Green is the author of Looking for Alaska (Dutton, 2005), An Abundance of Katherines (Dutton, 2006), Paper Towns (Dutton, 2008), and this year’s Odyssey award winner, The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton, 2012), four titles sure to appeal to even your most reluctant readers. Dedicate 18 minutes of your life to watching his TED Talk entitled The Paper Town Academy. In this talk, he delivers the best response I’ve ever heard to the question, “Will this be on the test?” It’s worth printing out and putting on the walls of classrooms everywhere:

“Yeah, about the test… The test will measure whether you are an informed, engaged, and productive citizen of the world, and it will take place in schools and bars and hospitals and dorm rooms and in places of worship.You will be tested on first dates, in job interviews, while watching football, and while scrolling through your Twitter feed.The test will judge your ability to think about things other than celebrity marriages, whether you’ll be easily persuaded by empty political rhetoric, and whether you’ll be able to place your life and your community in a broader context.The test will last your entire life, and it will be comprised of the millions of decisions that, when taken together, will make your life yours.And everything, everything, will be on it…. I know, right?”

Hank Green co-founded DFTBA Records, a distribution network to help talented musicians find audiences. His own musical talents are evident in the song “This is Not Harry Potter.” The lyrics, all by themselves, are positively brilliant:

“And in the darkest hours, of my darkest nights

I found myself curled up with twilight

And I couldn’t help but wonder as I ravenously read

Can you avada kedavra the undead

’cause Edward Cullen totally has it comin’

and if he saw Voldemort he’d better start runnin’

Cause there’s not much that the dark lord and I

could agree on but I think that we would both hate that guy.”

I am eternally grateful to Hank for producing The Lizzie Bennett Diaries, a modern twist on Jane Austen’s story. My husband has tried reading Pride and Prejudice, really he has, and has valiantly stayed awake for portions of various movie adaptations of the book, but it wasn’t until Hank’s vlog version that the characters and plot became interesting to him.

Individually, the brothers are talented and creatively prolific. Taken together, they are forces for good on our planet. For the last year, Hank and John have been teaching classes via YouTube. Hank Green earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Eckerd College and a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Montana. John Green graduated from Kenyon College in 2000 with a double major in English and religious studies. They both have the educational credentials for their YouTube tutorials in which Hank teaches biology and ecology, and John teaches world history and literature. The buzz phrase in education right now is “student engagement,” and you’ll certainly feel that when you view these incredible videos (CrashCourse and SciShow), which are gateways to engagement: funny, entertaining, and informative.

The brothers Green clearly love learning, reading, and exploring the world we all share.They proudly embrace the word “nerd” and they make learning cool, and all of our students will be stronger, wiser, and kinder having made their acquaintance.

For more on the Green brothers, see SLJ’s coverage of An Evening of Awesome, featuring Hank and John at Carnegie Hall.

SLJTeen Talks to James Patterson

SLJ — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:29:43 +0000

Photo credit: D. Feingold

In addition to best-selling mysteries and thrillers for adults, James Patterson also writes for young readers, and he’s extremely proud of his “Middle School” series. The latest entry, I Funny, is told from the point of view of a middle schooler who uses humor to help him cope with a physical handicap and the loss of his family. In this case, laughter really is the best medicine for Jamie Grimm, the narrator of I Funny.

Your series for young adults, like “Maximum Ride” and “Daniel X,” have been checked out so many times from my library that they’re falling apart. What makes them so popular with teens?

Well, when my 14-year-old son, Jack, was younger, I told him that I expected him to read every day during his summer break. Jack was never a huge reader, but his mother and I told him that we would make sure he had really cool books to read. Cool books are ones that he wouldn’t put down and when he got done he would ask for another one. When kids are younger, we want them to read, read, read, and they will only do that if they like what they read. Kids in middle school need books with stories that move along, stories that they love, and pages that practically turn themselves so kids won’t pick up a book and say that they don’t like it and they don’t like reading. I think that books need a lot of meat in them. For example, Maximum Ride is really about a couple of things beyond the story line like dealing with being different. It is really about kids taking responsibility for their own lives. My most popular books are the Middle School books.

Why did you create the website Read Kiddo Read? Has it made a difference in kids’ lives?

Absolutely! Part of my interest in creating the website was watching Jack grow up and watching his attitude toward books. Even with his friends who are very bright, it has always been a struggle to get them to read at least on their own time. That is a big stimulus for me. As individuals we cannot do much to help the health care crisis, budget situation, or global warming. Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time just talking about these things, which doesn’t help anything, and I am big on doing stuff. As individuals, we can most times get the kids in our houses reading or our grandchildren reading, or we can even help our local school get more books. So doing something to get kids reading is a big deal for me. I have been trying other things too, like working with independent bookstores to hold essay contests, where kids write about a book that most affected them. I have set up over a 100 scholarships at different colleges across the U.S., and they are all for teachers. We plan to double this number in the coming year. We have even set up a program at Vanderbilt University to bring in kids every Saturday to help improve their reading skills. I am testing an after-school program in four middle schools in Palm Beach County to get kids help with their reading, and we pumped 700 to 1,000 books in all these schools. If we can get a cadre of kids reading, the teachers will notice when their reading improves and more kids will start reading and over time this will improve the neighborhoods. I do all of this because I can. We must help kids build good habits and break down bad ones. Getting kids to read will not happen overnight. We must keep at it and get the right books into the right hands.

Why does the “Middle School” series focus on humor?

Humor is one of the ways to get to kids. Combining the prose and illustrations makes the book more like a movie, and that’s a cool thing. All the Middle School books are good stories. I think that I Funny is my best.

I like I Funny‘s main character, Jamie Grimm. Could the story have played out the same way if he wasn’t in a wheelchair? Are you worried that some people might be offended because he makes fun of his handicap?

I like the idea of a kid having a terrible break in life, rising above it with comedy, but yes the story would still be valid if Jamie didn’t have a handicap. Nobody should be offended by this book. I am not big on political and social correctness, because I think it is more important to be a good human being.

Which gets us to the contest for the Funniest Kid in America. What kind of response are you hoping for? How does the contest relate to your literacy work?

Some kids are going to be brave enough to submit videos, but we are going to put a lot of videos up on the website for kids to watch and that should be fun. I recorded a bunch of short pieces with Zach Gordon, who was in the Wimpy Kid movies, to introduce the idea of the contest. We want to get kids attention and hopefully this will help them start building the habit of reading.

Elizabeth Kahn is the librarian at Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy in Jefferson, LA. She writes reviews for School Library Journal and Library Media Connection as well as a blog to chronicle the happenings in her school library at Tales from a Loud Librarian.