WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE by Barbara Kerley

Bibliography:   

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE.  Ill. Edwin Fotheringham.  New York, NY: Scholastic Press.   ISBN 9780439922319 

Plot Summary:   

The author, Barbara Kerley, thought out of the box and used a fun and creative way to educate young readers about one of our nation’s beloved presidents, President Roosevelt.  Readers will go on a journey through time with Alice, the president’s headstrong daughter.  With all of the adventures President Roosevelt experienced, Alice was his greatest challenge and greatest job.   

Critical Analysis:   

Teachers will love using this fun informational book to educate their students about President Roosevelt through his young, spirited daughter, Alice.  The author has done a wonderful job in creating a high quality informational book that is accurate with historical details.  The story follows a logical path as it follows Alice from a young girl to the wife of a congressman.  What to do About Alice is wonderfully designed as Fortheringham’s illustrations bring Alice and her life alive in an attractive and inviting way.  The author’s style is lively and interesting, and shows a fun twist on learning about our nation’s history.  Readers will be curious to turn the page to see what Alice is going to get into next.   

Wonderful Author’s Notes can be found in the back of the book that provide the reader with additional historical information, including and excerpt from a letter President Roosevelt wrote to his daughter, Alice, while he was on tour in Puerto Rico.                                   

Reviews:   

·        Sibert Honor Book

·        2002 Randolph Caldecott Metal Honor Book

·        2002 ALA Children’s Notable Book

·        Publishers Weekly:  “It is hard to imagine a picture book biography that could better suit its subject than this high-energy volume serves young Alice Roosevelt.”

·        School Library Review:  Kerley’s text gallops along with a vitality to match her subject’s antics, as the girl greets White House visitors accompanied by her pet snake, refuses to let leg braces cramp her style, dives fully clothed into a ship’s swimming pool, and also earns her place in history as one of her father’s trusted advisers … Fascinating.”

·        Booklist:  “Irrepressible Alice Roosevelt gets a treatment every bit as attractive and exuberant as she was … Kerley’s text has the same rambunctious spirit as its subject, grabbing readers from the first line…” 

Connections:  Age Level:  7 and up

·        President Study:  Teddy Roosevelt

·        Students create a poster displaying facts found within the informational book (Ideas:  book jacket or graffiti map)

·        Create a “DID YOU KNOW” bulletin board in the hallway about President Roosevelt and his daughter, Alice.

·        Create a Flow Map displaying the events seen within the text.

·        Create a Heart Map for Alice, showing the things she loves and cares about as seen within the text.

THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST by Sy Montgomery

Bibliography:    

Montgomery, Sy. 2004. THE TARANTULA SCIENTIST.  Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.   ISBN 0618147993 

Plot Summary:   

The Tarantula Scientist is a treasure-trove of realistic pictures and detailed information about tarantulas.  Readers will learn what parts of our world each spider can be found in.  The jumping spider with its big black eyes will have viewers jumping.  Young scientists will learn about scientific classifications like arachnids and animals, including tarantulas, that belong to it.  Close-up photos will make the scientists feel like they have a magnifying glass as they identify the spiders various anatomy parts and their functions.  Readers will see what is on the menu for tarantulas, but also what other animals might have them on their menu, educating readers about predator and prey.   

Critical Analysis:   

Viewers might not want to pick up this creepy book about tarantulas for the extremely vivid photographs.  Do not let the pictures scare you away from this wonderful educational tool.  The author’s love for these animals is apparent by many of the pictures where he is seen in the forest looking for and examining these creatures.  

The author provided great amounts of detail accurately and discussed this subject as an expert in this field.  Reference aids are included and help guide the reader to learning more about the subject matter.  Pictures, taken by Nic Bishop, help the reader gain a better understanding.  Subheadings, maps, and an index are all sections of the book to help enhance the learning. 

The design would be hard to describe as attractive and inviting with the spiders at every page turn.  Concerning being “readable”, I would say that this book might overwhelm some readers, but they will need to be reminded that some books, such as informational books like these, are not designed to be read from cover-to-cover.  The book definitely encourages curiosity and wonder on the part of the reader.   

Teachers can use the resources listed in the back in connection with the book. 

Reviews:  

·        2004 School Library Journal, Best Books of the Year

·        2005 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

·        2005 Texas Bluebonnet Award

·        Kirkus:  “Montgomery has a gift for scene-setting and deftly weaves clear explanations into the main text.  Bishop’s phenomenal photos show spiders mating, shedding their skin, even leaping through the air.  It’s enough to make Miss. Muffet fall in love.”

·        The Bulletin:  “This book would liven up a science curriculum … and it might also convince young readers to go beyond the elemental pleasures of “Ew, gross’ to the more sophisticated appreciation of “Wow, cool.” 

Connections:  Age Level:  10 and up 

·        Before Reading: 

o   Introduce vocabulary words to support the scientific research and discussion topics

o   Teach students how to use tools that are found within text.

§  Index; Subheadings; Maps

·        Arachnids Unit: 

o   Characteristics

o   Identification

o   Animals in this classification

o   Habitat

o   Food/hunt/prey

·        Download the activity guide designed to be used in the classroom under “Teacher Resources”

o   http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/librarians/teacher.shtml or http://www.authorwire.com

INTO THE A, B, SEA by Deborah Lee Rose

Bibliography:   

Rose, Deborah Lee. 2000. INTO THE A, B, SEA.  Ill. by Steve Jenkins.  New York, NY: Scholastic.  ISBN 0439096960 

Plot Summary:   

Readers follow the alphabet from A to Z and see ocean creatures for each letter.  The beautiful artwork created by Jenkins draws the viewer in with warm ocean colors that are very soothing and pleasing to the eye.  Readers can learn interesting facts about each animal from the book’s “More About the A, B, Sea…” section that is full of clear and factually correct information.   

Critical Analysis:   

Into the A, B, Sea meets the highest standards on many levels.  This wonderfully colorful book is full of accurate information for children to learn about animals built around the alphabet, using it as a guide through the ocean and its animals.  Readers are invited to dive into the ocean “where Crabs crawl in…”, then the reader can find out more information in the back of the book in the “More about the A, B, Sea…” section, where they can read more about “Crabs Crawl In”.   

This text has a logical layout as it uses the alphabet as its guide.  This makes the journey through the ocean fun and interesting for readers.  The design is very attractive and inviting to the viewer, as well as being enjoyable to the reader as the book progresses all the way to “Z”.   

Rose’s passion and enthusiasm for the ocean and its animals within it is clear.  She has created a research tool for children that will make learning fun, sparking their curiosity with each turn of the page.

Reviews:   

·        Kirkus:  “Vivid collages combined with sprightly verse offer readers a glimpse into the fascinating world of the deep.  Older children…will enjoy the challenge of identifying the animals alphabetically while the artwork provides a luminous introduction to marine life.”

·        Saffron Tree:  “…this oceanic adventure showcasing exquisite sea creatures using simple rhyming sentences.” 

Connections:  Age Level:  3-8 

·        Before Reading:  Introduce vocabulary words

·        Ocean Unit: 

o   Animals

o   Habitats

o   Food/Hunting

o   Prey/Where they are on the food chain

·        Art:

o   Students create their own ocean pictures, inspired by Jenkins’ book cover and pages within.

THE FIREFLY LETTERS: A SUFFRAGETTE'S JOURNEY TO CUBA by Margarita Engle

Bibliography:   

Engle, Margarita. 2010. THE FIREFLY LETTERS: A SUFFRAGETTE’S JOURNEY TO CUBA.  New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co., LLC.  ISBN 0805090826 

Plot Summary:   

Readers hear through four individual's stories how their lives were affected by slavery in Cuba during the 1850’s.  The reader experiences heart-breaking betrayals through the eyes of Cecilia, who is traded by her father for a stolen cow.  Seven years pass when the reader is introduced to Elena, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner.  This same family is the owner of Cecilia.  Cecilia, though still very young, is married and now pregnant.  Frederika brings new life into the story with her unconventional thinking and hope for a free future for Cecilia’s unborn child.   

Critical Analysis:   

With each newly titled page, Engle gives the reader new insight into the lives and the hearts of each of the four characters they are following in the story.   It is heart-wrenching to find out this poetic masterpiece is based on true historical letters and diaries.  Readers will enjoy the story told through verse, rather than being told in an original fiction style.  The verse style seems to allow the reader to get to the heart of the story, cutting out all of the unnecessary words.  Each word is carefully picked by the author to carry the weight of this sad story.  There is hope for change through the sacrifices of others for one sweet slave.

Reviews:   

·        Pura Belpre 2011 Author Honor

·        Jane Addams Award

·        ALSC Notable Children’s Book

·        Kirkus:  “…effectively alternates the voices of the three protagonists … and demonstrates how each character affects the others, all learning a measure of freedom.”

·        Booklist:  “Through this moving combination of historical viewpoints, Engle creates dramatic tension among the characters, especially in the story of Elena, who makes a surprising sacrifice.” 

Connections:  Age Level:  10 and up 

·        First Person Narrative

o   Point out features of this type of point of view as it is modeled for readers.

·        Pre-Reading: 

o   Discuss our rights today.

o   Discuss past topics about people’s struggles with rights to activate background knowledge about prior lessons if taught (Woman voting, African-American’s rights, etc.)

·        During Reading:

o   Students will make notes about rights that they notice characters in the book do not have.

o   Create a timeline of events seen in the story from beginning to end to track the reading and its details.

o   Create a character analysis sheet for each character and add details to it as new facts arise. 

·        After Reading:

o   Student will choose one of the rights that they noticed the characters did not have in the book and research how that became a right today. 

o   Create a Graffiti Board depicting the events seen throughout the story using the timeline as a guide.

o   Create a Heart Map for one of the characters depicting their characteristics, details about them, and things that are important to them.

LAUGH-ETERIA by Douglas Florian

Bibliography:   

Florian, Douglas. 1999. LAUGH-ETERIA.  Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace & Company.  ISBN 0152020845 

Plot Summary:   

Author, Douglas Florian, supplies the reader with pages full of humorous poems, with creatively simple drawings for each.  The topics are endless ranging from “The Last Piece of Cake” to “If You Suffer Smelly Feet” to “Sigh-clops”.  There is something for everyone within the pages of Laugh-eteria.   

Critical Analysis:   

Rhyme and rhythm are plentiful throughout the book.  Readers will find the poems fun and easy to read with these features.  The addition of the drawings for each make the poems even more interesting and bring the readers attentions to specific details that might otherwise be overlooked.  In the poem “Fishy”, one might think of a small fish truly biting “… cousins Jay and Joel”, but with the addition of the picture, the reader is able to imagine that there once were three people in the boat with a huge fish below.   

Reviews:   

·        Kirkus:  “Florian’s language and simple, thick-lined cartoons illustrations are equally ingenious, and he sticks to tried-and-true subjects, from dinosaurs to school lunch …”

·        Publishers Weekly:  “Florian repeatedly shows that he knows what makes kids giggle.”

Connections:  Age Level:  7 and up 

·        Rhyming Scheme

o   Use poems like “Bad Beds” or “Pass Out” to model various types of rhyming scheme for students. 

o   Allow them to gain insight/inspiration from the pictures Florian adds to each poem.

o   Then allow them to create their own poem with a similar rhyming scheme with an addition to their own illustrations as well.

·        Alliteration and Internal Rhyme

o   Modeled perfectly in “Batty”

o   Allow students to create their own poetry using alliterations and internal rhymes.

RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS: A YEAR IN COLORS by Joyce Sidman

Bibliography: 

Sidman, Joyce. 2009. RED SINGS FROM TREETOPS:  A YEAR IN COLORS.  Ill. by Pamela Zagarenski.  New York, NY:  Houghton Mifflin.  ISBN 9780547014944 

Plot Summary: 

Readers experience the celebration of each season:  spring, summer, fall, and winter.  Through the poetic words, each season comes to life beautifully.  The explosion of colors, from Zagarenski is magnificent, and takes the viewer on a journey through each season and nature in those seasons.   

Critical Analysis: 

This is a wonderful book to use with preschool and kindergarten age students as they learn the basics about seasons and colors.  Each color is spotlighted throughout the book and can be easily pointed out in the beautiful art work that covers every page.  Through the rhythmic words, the reader follows the colors through the seasons.  Many types of figurative language can be seen throughout, and can easily be pointed out.  Personification as “red sings … turns … squirms …”  The expansion of descriptive words is breath-taking, taking the reader deeper into the simple subject of seasons and colors than ever thought possible.   

Reviews: 

·        2010 Caldecott Honor Book

·        Claudia Lewis Poetry Award

·        Minnesota Book Award

·        CCBC Choice 2010

·        Horn Book:  “A poet known for multi-layered explorations of nature rejoices here in a way colors, and how we perceive them, change with the seasons …. The playfulness of the text and its sense of awe, mystery, and beauty.”

·        New York Times:  “Joyce Sidman’s language is vivid and deft … it draws mystery and magic around the most familiar scenes.”

·        Kirkus:  “Fresh descriptions and inventive artistry are a charming inspiration to notice colors and correlate emotions.” 

Connections:  Age Level:  Pre-K and up

·        Before reading:  Look at the cover of the book and begin adding thoughts and idea to a graphic organizer (For younger students:  Teacher list on the board from student’s responses.  For older students:  Allow them to use Post-It notes for each, tracking their active thinking)

o   Questioning Category

o   Noticed Category

o   Personal Connection Category

·        During Reading:  Discuss each season, animals seen on each page during those seasons, and colors seen on each page for each season.

o   Students add thoughts and ideas to each category, continuing to build on the chart.

·        After Reading:  Brainstorm a list of items and animals that are associated with each season. 

o   Create a chart and think of specific colors that go with those items and seasons. 

o   Students create art work depicting their ideas.

o   Students create poetry depicting their ideas.

§  Combine the two to display in the classroom or in the school hallways.

·        Figurative language:  Personification, metaphors, and similes can be pointed out as they are beautifully modeled throughout the book, and can inspire student’s own personal poetry.