Module 15 - The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

Mackler, C. (2003). The earth, my butt, and other big round things. Mass:
        Candlewick Press.

Summary:

This is a young adult novel about a teen girl named Ginny.  Ginny struggles with her body image, and comments from her mother (an adolescent psychologist) don’t help.  The youngest child in a family of very successful parents, and two overachieving siblings, Ginny struggles to find her place in the world.  She navigates a relationship with a boy at school, Froggy, that includes some detailed making out.  These scenes show a lot about how Ginny feels about her body.  Ginny won’t claim the relationship as romantic due to her poor body image.  When the brother she idolizes commits date rape while at college, Ginny must decide who and what she believes, and begin to be her own person. Ginny experiments with some self harming behavior along the way.  In the end, Ginny begins to become the person she wants to be, stands up to her parents, and begins an ‘official’ romantic relationship with Froggy.

My Impression:

I enjoyed this novel, which is written in the first person and allows the reader to see the great person Ginny is before she realizes it herself.  It realistically expresses the experiences and feelings of many teenage girls, including body image, family issues, school, boyfriends, and friendships.  The book does describe some of the making out scenes in detail, but I don’t feel it is inappropriate for the age group (high school) for which the book is intended.  These scenes allow the reader to understand Ginny’s body image issues.  The topic of date rape is also handled appropriately, and the scene where Ginny goes to meet the girl who her brother date raped allows the reader to hear the victim’s side.  It is interesting to see the perspective of date rape as seen from the perpetrator’s sister.  I don’t feel that anything in this novel was inappropriate for the intended audience.  Those challenging this book must not realize what high school students know and deal with every day. 

Library Usage:

An extension to this book  is to use  it as a lead in for research on the topic of date rape.  The incident in the book occurred at a party involving a lot of drinking.  Students could research the topic of date rape, and when and where it often occurs.  They then could create a presentation about preventing date rape.  This would serve not only as a way to increase research skills, but also provided safety tips to teenagers

Review:

"You can tell that Ani is angry, but at the same time she's also funny and strong and sassy." Though she's talking about punk folksinger Ani DiFranco, fifteen-year-old Virginia could easily be describing herself. Unfortunately, Virginia buries her anger (toward her picture-perfect but dysfunctional family) and is unable to see herself as anything but a fat girl who's kind of smart. When her brother Byron, whom she worships, is found guilty of date rape, Virginia finally begins to acknowledge what her older sister Anais has tried to tell her: that Byron and their parents are far from perfect. Virginia's transition from an insecure girl desperate for her family's approval to a confident young woman might be a little messagey, but it's believable, and she doesn't do it on her own. Support comes from her best friend, from a teacher with eating-disorder experience, from a doctor who stresses health not weight and recommends channeling anger through kick-boxing, and even from the college student her brother assaulted. Readers will cheer Virginia on when she tells her father not to comment on her weight loss ("my body [is] just not yours to discuss"); tells her brother he's "an asshole for date-raping someone"; ignores clothing advice from her appearance-obsessed mother (who recommends "strategic layers and camouflaging colors") and buys a sexy purple dress instead; and realizes that the guy she's been making out with behind closed doors actually wants to kiss her in public. Mackler does a fine job introducing girls to a very cool chick with a little meat on her bones.

Brabander, J. M. (2003). The earth, my butt, and other big round things. Horn Book  

          Magazine, 79(5), 614-615.

Module 14 - Insectlopedia

 

Florian, D. (1998). Insectlopedia: Poems and paintings.  San Diego:  Harcourt Brace.

Summary:

This book of 21 poems about various insects also includes great illustrations.  The poems are often humorous, for example the poem titled “The Mosiquotoes” on page 33 states, “Mosquitoes are thin. Mosquitoes are rude.  They feast on your skin for take-out food.”  They also contain factual information as well.  For example, the poem titled “The Giant Water Bug” on page 37 describes the way the mother water bug takes care of the eggs, stating “The mother glues them to the day, and on his back they stay.”  There are a few poems about spiders and ticks, which are not considered insects.

My Impression:

I enjoy all of Florian’s poetry books and find that elementary students like them as well.  This book was no exception.  Florian uses humor, facts, and wonderful illustrations to entertain and educate readers about insects.  I was disappointed that he included a few poems about arachnids in a book titled, Insectlopedia. The difference between insects and spiders is an important concept taught in elementary grades.  However, this does provide a great opportunity for discussion about this.

Library Usage:

As a read aloud, the librarian could read Insectlopedia, and then parts of a nonfiction book on insects, such as What’s the Difference?  Insects.   The two genres could then be compared, discussing the differences not only in information, but also illustrations.  This is a TEK in many elementary grades, and an excellent way for the librarian to support the curriculum.

Reviews:

Grades 2-6. As he did in Beast Feast (1994), On the Wing (1996), and In the Swim (1997, all Harcourt), Florian offers 21 short, inventive poems and paintings that create playful images of animals.  Here, the subjects are arthropods such as the mayfly, praying mantis, hornet, black widow spider, and weevils.  The verse form is as varied as the creatures presented.  Shaped or pattern poems about the inchworm, whirligig beetles, and mound-building termites work particularly well.  The words are arranged in pleasing patterns and the rhythms fit the characteristics of the subjects.  The design adds to the overall appeal.  Each selection is given its own page, allowing for the use of large type and plenty of glossy white space, and paired with a full-page watercolor with a neat border of white.  These portraits build on the imaginatively integrated realistic and anthropomorphic images created in the text.  There are other books of poetry about insects and lots of collections of humorous verses about animals but none match Insectlopledia.

Angus, C. (1998). Preschool to grade 4: Nonfiction. School Library Journal, 44(4), 115

Module 13 - The Storm in the Barn

 

Phelan, M. (2009).  The storm in the barn. Somerville, Mass.:  Candlewick Press.

Summary:

This is a graphic novel about an eleven year old boy named Jack who lives with his family in Kansas during the Dust Bowl in 1937.  His family’s farm is suffering due to the four year long Dust Bowl.  Jack feels helpless to change things, his sister has ‘dust’ pneumonia, and Jack is often teased by the local bullies.  His only friend seems to be the general store owner who tells him stories.  The doctor thinks Jack might have ‘dust’ dementia.  Jack fears this is true after he begins to see a terrorizing figure in the abandoned barn.  He learns that this monster is ‘Rain’ who wants everyone in town to worship him.  Jack fights the monster, which results in rain for the community.

My Impression:

I am not a fan of graphic novels, and this book did not really change my mind.  I enjoyed the storyline up until the part about the monster, which made the story confusing for me.  However, I think fans of graphic novels would enjoy this book.  It’s a good example of historical fiction educating readers about a specific time in history.  It does contain the words ‘hell’ and ‘damn’ which I feel are used appropriately to convey the way characters are feeling.  There is also some violence as men in the town round up the rabbits and kill them with bats and clubs.  This book was a Bluebonnet nominated book in Texas for 2011-2012. 

Library Usage:

This novel could be used as a writing activity.  Students could choose a page, or one could be assigned, and write a paragraph about that page.  Peers could then read the paragraph and compare it to the page in the graphic novel.  The writer would need to include enough elaboration and details in the paragraph to convey what the page from the graphic novel showed.

Review:

Matt Phelan's debut graphic novel is part thriller, part historical fiction and part coming-of-age story. Long obsessed with the photographs of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans that chronicled the Dust Bowl, Phelan was eager to introduce a new generation to one of the most storied eras in American history. "Any kid is going to be blown away by the starkness and the amazing spectacle of dust," says Phelan. "The drama of the environment catches their imagination." The Storm in the Barn tells the story of Jack Clark, 11, who lives in Kansas in 1937, in the heart of the Dust Bowl. As Jack and others around him try to make sense of the war that the environment is waging against them, Phelan wields his mighty watercolor brush to evoke life in a haunting palate of browns that transport the reader back in time. "By limiting the palette, I had more control over the use of color as a tool in the storytelling," says Phelan. Ironically, the artist chose to work with watercolor. "With watercolor you don't know what you're going to get," he says. "You stick your brush in the water and see what happens. I had a medium that I couldn't control, just like the dust, which was going to go where it was going to go." (Ages 10 & up)

Storm in the Barn. (2009). Kirkus Reviews, 77(22), 12.

Book Trailers

Book Trailer for Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbock:


http://animoto.com/play/93eIGMaILu2NgpHPWlyjNQ







Book Trailer for Frogs by Nic Bishop:

http://animoto.com/play/A5TwMnBFVswJXuiSwrQkgA






Book Trailer for All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor:

http://animoto.com/play/3tEW8AZy2By5z71TTPWJ1w

Module 12 - Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way

Golenbock, P. (2001). Hank Aaron:  Brave in every way.  New York:  Gulliver Books.

Summary:

This picture book tells the biography of Hank Aaron.  It begins with his childhood, highlighting the fact that he was very poor, but lived in a house full of love.  His parents’ high expectations for him are emphasized, with their advice of “be the best you can be, and keep your eyes on the goal” repeated throughout the book.  His baseball career is told from his beginning in the minors through his time with the Minnesota Braves.  As he begins to approach the record Babe Ruth made hitting home runs, the reader is reminded of both his determination and his parents’ advice.  The hate mail and death threats he received as he approached his goal are discussed, and examples of them can be read in the illustrations.  The story also tells about the thousands of letters of support he receives when a newspaper publishes an article about the hate mail.  The story ends with Hank Aaron making his 715^th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record.  As he crosses the home plate, he is met by his mother. 

My Impression:

I did not expect to like this book as I don’t have an interest in baseball.  I had no idea that Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record.  I certainly had no idea about the hate mail and death threats he received.  The book is told in such a tender way, the reader feels the love in his family.  At the end of the book, when the other players make room for his mother as he crosses the home plate, I became teary.  This is a wonderful book.  It not only tells about Aaron’s life, but includes opportunities to discuss families, determination, racism, and overcoming obstacles.  I am so glad I read it.

Library Usage:

This book could be read to third and fourth graders prior to a research project on the Civil Rights movement.  The book contains dates that Aaron achieves certain goals, and students could find out what was occurring in United States at those times.  They could create a timeline for Aaron’s life and compare it to a timeline of Martin Luther King, Jr’s life.  Students could discuss how King’s work influenced Aaron’s life and choices. 

Review:

Gr 1-3 --This richly illustrated biography tells the story of the Hall of Famer by placing him in the proper historical context and attempting to humanize him. Aaron, a southern country boy, followed his dreams under the strict, but loving guidance of his parents. Despite his mother's wish that he attend college, he took a job on a professional team and rose quickly to the top as a home-run hitter. However, with racial tensions at an all-time high in the United States, his journey was not without problems. Hate mail and threats began to chip away at his hopes for success, until Aaron's adoring fans helped keep his dream alive. What Golenbock does well is capture the feel of 1960s' America, swelling with civil-rights tension. He deftly tells the athlete's story and proves that his subject certainly was "brave in every way." At times the narrative is a bit slow and the style is dry. Still, this baseball giant is brought down to earth as readers learn of his humble past and his personal struggles. Lee's strong, full-page acrylic illustrations in rich tones and textures work well and give the story depth and intensity.

Jones, T. E., Toth, L., Charnizon, M., Grabarek, D., Larkins, J., & Sneeringer, H. T. (2001).     
          Hank Aaron: Brave in every way. School Library Journal, 47(8), 168.

Module 11 - Children of the Great Depression

Freedman, R. (2005). Children of the Great Depression.  New York: Clarion Books.

Summary:

Children of the Great Depression is an informational text describing the lives of children during the 1930s and early 1940s, a time of severe economic hardship in the United States.  The author includes children whose lives were impacted by various degrees during the Great Depression.   The way in which families attempted to deal with the crisis is told through interviews and letters.  Several excerpts are included from letters children wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt.  The change in schooling is described, and also the fact that many children left school to go to work.  The effect of the Dust Bowl on families in that region is described, and the attempt of those families to find work elsewhere is described.  Another chapter of the book describes the lives of boxcar kids, children who survived by traveling in groups and hopping trains.  Throughout the book, the lives of black children are compared to those of white children, highlighting the segregation that was common in the country at that time.  The book also includes some bright moments during the depression, such as games and movies popular during that time period.  The book concludes with an explanation of how World War II brought closure to the Great Depression.

My Impression:

The photographs in the book tell as much about the time period as the text.  Vivid photos of poverty stay with the reader for a long time.  The text is easy to read.  Exploring the Great Depression through the effects it had on the children of the time makes it relatable to students today.  The author does not shy away from the horrors of racism and discrimination that occurred during that time period.  I think this is a very important book for children to have access to, especially as we begin to lose those that lived through this period of time.  I would recommend it for upper elementary and above.

Library Usage: 

This is great book to use for a writing prompt by using the photographs in the book.  Students can choose a child in a photograph, and using the text and clues from the picture, write a first person narrative describing an event in that child’s life.

This is also a wonderful book to use with fiction books dealing with the Great Depression.  The chapter titled “Go Home, Okies,” would be an excellent resource to use if a class is reading Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. 

Review:

In this magnificent volume, superb photographs by Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Russell Lee, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn and others help to tell the story of the Great Depression. Every spread includes either a full-page photograph or severalIn this magnificent volume, superb photographs by Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Russell Lee, Arthur Rothstein, Ben Shahn and others help to tell the story of the Great Depression. Every spread includes either a full-page photograph or several smaller shots. Great use is made of letters, diaries and memoirs to tell the story so beautifully complemented by the photographs. Freedman is a master of the photo-essay, and this is one of his best. More wide-ranging than most histories of the era, this tells, in clear and simple prose, the story of dust storms, soup kitchens, Hoovervilles, kids at work, kids on trains, popular culture and the beginning of WWII. Chapter notes are thorough, and the selected bibliography includes some of the best resources for young readers. An excellent companion to other fine photo-essays on the period, such as Elizabeth Partridge's Restless Spirit (1998) and This Land Was Made for You and Me (2002). (picture sources, index) (Nonfiction. 9+)

Children of the Great Depression. (2005). Kirkus Reviews, 73(23), 1274.



Module 10 - Henry's Freedom Box

Levine, E. (2007). Henry's freedom box. New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary:

This book is based on a true story about Henry 'Box' Brown.  He was born a slave, and eventually was separated from his mother.  He worked in a tobacco factory for his new owner.  The book often refers to birds that Henry watches, admiring their freedom.  Henry eventually marries and has children of his own.  One day he is informed that his wife and children are being sold.  Henry runs to the auction and sees his children and wife being taken away.  He goes into a depression which the book describes as a dark time when he could not sing or hum.  One day he sees a bird and decides he wants to be free as well.  He goes to a white man, who believes in freedom, and they think of a plan.  Henry burns his hand with oil of vitriol, which enables him to stay home from work without his master becoming suspicious.  With the help of friends, he packs himself in a wooden crate and mails himself to Philadelphia.  There friends of the white man helping Henry will unpack the crate.  Amazingly, Henry survives the journey and the crate is opened in Philadelphia where he is now a free man. 

My Impression:

This is one of my favorite picture books.  The artwork, by Kadir Nelson, is wonderful and it was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2008.   While the characters in the book are not allowed to share how they are feeling, Nelson shows their feelings in their faces through his art. This book describes the heartbreaking parts of slavery, including family separation and not having a birthday to celebrate.  Henry is presented as a good man, who follows all of the rules, only to be subjected to abuse and sadness.  When the box is opened in Philadelphia, the reader realizes they have been rooting for Henry all along.

Library Usage:

I think this would be a great book to read aloud to students during Black History Month.  Henry Brown is indeed a hero, willing to risk his life to escape slavery.  Younger students (K-2) could be asked to think about what they would put in a box to keep safe.  They could draw what they would want to keep safe, and write a sentence or two about why it is so important to them.  The librarian can help them make the connection between their important thing and the importance of Henry's freedom.

Older children can research to find out more about Henry Brown.  He traveled from Virginia to Philadelphia in 27 hours.  He took with him some water and a few biscuits.  Students could write a narrative passage pretending to be Henry and describe his experience in the box in first person.

Review:

Gr 2-5 --In 1849, after seeing his wife and children sold on the auction block, Henry "Box" Brown had himself shipped North to freedom in a wooden crate. The straightforward, sympathetic text imagines Brown's history while darkly radiant and haunting paintings reflect his emotional pain, determination, and eventual triumph.

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story. (2007). School Library Journal, 5326.