Module 15: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman by Dav Pilkey

Summary: Two school-aged boys named George and Harold get in trouble for using what they call  their "imagination."  What they did was to use their imagination to create a comic book about a "really mean" teacher named Ms. Ribble.  The problem is, Ms. Ribble is actually their teacher and she sees the comic book. After spending time in detention, Ms. Ribble is surprisingly happy to see them.  She has a surprise for them.  They are not happy with the news. As the story progresses, Ms. Ribble becomes the wicked Wedgie Woman...going around and giving wedgies.  I can't give away the ending. So find out the ending of the story when you check out this crafty book at your local library. You are sure to love it!

Citation: Pilkey, D. (2001). Captain Underpants and the wrath of the
        
        wicked Wedgie Woman. New York, NY: Scholastic.


My Impression:  This book is very similar in nature to the first four books from Pilkey.  Boys and girls of many ages are sure to enjoy the crazy adventure of Captain Underpants once again as he meets with the Wicked Wedgie Woman. The pictures help move the story along in Pilkey fashion.  One thing I enjoy most about Pilkey's books is the titles for each chapter.  I think the creative names for the titles make you want to read on to find out how the chapter unfolds.  This is a great option for reluctant readers to find enjoyment within the pages of a book.

Reviews:

Kirkus Review 

"Trying to salvage failing grades, George and Harold use their handy 3-D Hypno Ring on termagant teacher Ms. Ribble-and succeed only in creating a supervillain with a medusa-like 'do and a yen to conquer the world with wedgie power. Using a pair of robot sidekicks and plenty of spray starch, she even overcomes Captain Underpants. Is it curtains (or rather, wedgies) for all of us? Can the redoubtable fourth graders rescue the Waistband Warrior (a.k.a. Principal Krupp) and find a way to save the day? Well, duh. Not, of course, without an epic battle waged in low-budget Flip-O-Rama, plus no fewer than three homemade comics, including an "Origin of Captain Underpants" in which we learn that his home planet of Underpantyworld was destroyed by the . . . wait for it . . . "Starch Ship Enterprize." As in the previous four episodes, neither the pace nor the funky humor ("Diapers and toilets and poop . . . oh my!") lets up for a moment. Pilkey is still having entirely too much fun with this popular series, which continues to careen along with nary a whiff of staleness. (Fiction. 8-10)"

Kirkus. (2001, July 15). [Review of the book Captain Underpants and the 

        
        wrath of the wicked Wedgie Woman, by D. Pilkey]. Retrieved from

         http://www.kirkusreviews.com/

School Library Journal

"Gr 2-5-Fans need not worry. Pilkey's imagination shows no sign of flagging here. When George and Harold's evil teacher announces her departure, she forces the class to write "Happy Retirement" cards for her. Instead, the two boys create a comic book in which they turn Ms. Ribble into the titular "Wicked Wedgie Woman." She sees the book, tells them that they are not allowed to use their imagination in school, and sends them posthaste to the principal. The two friends seize the opportunity to get him to sign a blank card to which they add his protestations of love for Ms. Ribble. Hilarious wedding high jinks ensue (but no marriage). To prevent the villainous woman from retaliating, the protagonists hypnotize her with their 3-D Hypno-Ring. Their plan backfires and a cosmic battle follows, complete with the familiar Flip-O-Rama feature. Among the highlights of this book is an alliterative post-wedding food fight in which, for example, the "creamy candied carrots clobbered the kindergarteners." There is a great deal of laugh-out-loud humor that will appeal to a wide audience. "Captain Underpants" is still one of the best series to get reluctant readers reading."

Wadham, T. (2001, October 1). [Review of the book [Review of the book
        
        Captain Underpants and the wrath of the wicked Wedgie Woman, 

         by D. Pilkey]. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Super Hero Day: Have students create their own super hero that loves books.  Students will name their super hero, create a life-size super hero and create a biography about their super hero. Hang the super heroes and bios around the library.

2. Super Hero Dress Up: Students will dress up as their favorite super hero to support the school library.  All students who dressed up will participate in a parade around campus.  Students will carry various, brightly colored signs with library slogans.  Examples of slogans are, "Read a Good Book Today", "Come check out the library", "New Books Arriving Daily", "What good book have you read lately?"

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of Mansfield Public Library. Retrieved
from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 14: A Curious Collection of Cats: Concrete Poems by Betsy Franco

Summary: This thirty-two poem collection of concrete poetry provides an opportunity for cat lovers to read poetry shaped as their favorite cat or cat body part.  Franco uses things such as a cat's tail to shape the poems within the book.  Wertz does a magical job making these poems jump from the pages.  The illustrations appear to show the movements of the cats in the story.  One poem per page allows readers to focus fully on the page they are reading.

Citation:


Franco, Betsy. (2009). A curious collection of cats: Concrete poems.


        New York, NY: Tricycle Press.

My Impression:  This is a creative book of poetry that cat-lovers are sure to enjoy.  The concrete poems feature cats and cat parts that show creative genius on the part of Franco.  Wertz will entertain readers with wonderfully colorful illustrations that show-off the poems within the book.  Readers who are not "crazy" about poetry may change their mind after reading this book.  One favorite poem is the "Princess" poem that uses arrows to show how the cat Princess paces around.  Children will enjoy trying to follow the path of the arrows.


Professional Reviews:


Kirkus Review

"Franco's witty but uneven collection of concrete poems celebrating feline antics is accompanied by striking illustrations done in pencil and finished in monoprint and Photoshop. Atop rich, textured backgrounds, cats--each one bursting with personality--stretch, fight, perch, leap, rest and pounce. Each image is saturated in bright, often fluorescent colors, incorporating the text within them. One poem, for example, called "Prickles vs. the Golden Retriever," is printed on the spiked-up fur of a cat's back. It reads: "Prickle's [sic] fur / is sticking out / His back is arched. / His teeth are bared. / The dog he caught / in our backyard / is whimpering / and very scared." An orange cat, with angry, puffed-up tail, arched back and bared teeth, occupies a quarter of the page, towering over the dog, who has flattened himself to the ground; readers see only his head, with a single tear coming from his eye, and a stretched-out paw. Capturing the spirit of each verse, Wertz turns a collection of otherwise unremarkable visual poems into a true treat for the eyes. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10)."

Kirkus Reviews. (2009, March 15). [Review of the book A curious

       collection of cats: Concrete poems, by B. Franco]

       Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

School Library Journal

"Gr 3-6-Franco understands the nuanced world of the fluffy, fractious, and faithful feline friend. Thirty-two unusual, concrete poems, one per page with a single exception, are matched by Wertz's monoprints. The words move in several directions and sometimes inhabit multiple objects. The poems are so embedded within the illustrations that it is hard to imagine them without the artwork; they are virtually inseparable. In a print of a cat licking its neck, its exceptionally long tongue is created out of words. Readers following the poem will find they are forced to turn the book to the side, and may crane their own necks, experiencing an odd identification with the activity of the cat. The poem "Princess" uses arrows as part of the illustrated content to keep readers on the language path as "Princess paces down and up" awaiting her supper. At times, the path isn't obvious, but youngsters delight in solving puzzles, and these are merely little challenges that prove fun to master. In "Hot Daze," a red devilish arrow points to the poem's beginning. Among the various subjects are fat cats, shy cats, a kitty who "sips from toilet bowl," and a polydactyl cat with "poofy fur" and "prissy looks." Cat lovers will recognize their felines stretching, purring, and napping. This collection would pair nicely with Sharon Creech's Hate That Cat (HarperCollins, 2008)." 

Pfeifer, T. (2009, April 1). [Review of the book A curious collection of cats: 

  

        Concrete poems, by B. Franco]. Retrieved from http://

  

        www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Read to the Principal: Students make prior arrangements to go to the principal's office to read selected poems for the day.  Repeat the process until all thirty-two poems have been read and all students in the class have had a turn to participate.

2. Story Web: Have students sit in a circle with a giant ball of yarn that any kitty cat is sure to love.  Have students hold an end of the yarn to begin the web.  The first student tosses the ball of yarn to a child across from them as they tell the class their favorite concrete poem from the book.  Each student after that will hold on to the yarn and toss across the circle.  The process is continued until all students have had a turn and a web is created.  Make sure to take a picture!

Book Cover: Book cover provided courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 13: The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Summary: A shy eleven year-old boy named Jack Clark lives in Kansas in the year 1937.  His family's farm is faced with disaster during the Dust Bowl that has allowed the drought to creep into their lives.  As the drought threatens their farm, Jack is faced with meeting a character that is lurking in the barn.  Jack soon learns that the character is the "Rain."  Jack, who is used to not being of much use around the farm will be the hero of the story.  It will take determination and muster suspense for Jack to save the day.  Readers can learn a lot about history as they remain in suspense about Jack's next moves throughout the story.

Citation:


Phelan, M. (2009). The storm in the barn. New York, NY: Candlewick.

My Impression:  This graphic novel is very engaging.  It provides creative and entertaining pictures with few words.  The pictures do an excellent job telling the story.  Readers will enjoy the air of suspense that follows throughout the story.  Phelan provides notes about the history of the Dust Bowl to give readers more insight into the happenings within the story.  The history from Phelan also allows readers to have empathy for what the farmers at the time faced.

Professional Reviews:


Booklist starred

"Grades 5-8. Ten-year-old Jack and his family suffer the hardships of Dust Bowl America, while a secret in the barn may alter their fortunes forever in this superb graphic-novel evocation of childhood’s yearning and triumphs. Phelan (illustrator of the Higher Power of Lucky, 2006) turns every panel of this little masterpiece into a spare and melancholy window into another era, capturing an unmistakable sense of time and place—as found in James Sturm’s Satchel Paige (2007)—even as he takes full, masterful advantage of the medium’s strengths by using fantasy elements to enrich the deep, genuine emotional content, much as Shaun Tan did in The Arrival (2008). All the more impressive is how he balances fleet pacing (thanks to low word density) with a thoughtful, contemplative homage to storytelling and storytellers, which, in the tradition of the greatest tall tales, presents an empowering message that all a child needs to change the world is courage and ingenuity. Great for a wide range of readers, this will work particularly well as a gentle introduction for those new to graphic novels or as an elegant argument on the format’s behalf against dubious naysayers. A single warning: there is a restrained depiction of a rabbit slaughter, which could upset more sensitive readers."

Booklist. (2009, August 1). [Review of the book The storm in the barn, by M. 

        Phelan]. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com

Horn Book 

"Illustrator Phelan's graphic novel debut brings 1937 Kansas, wracked by drought and hardship, to life, adding a supernatural twist that fits well with the extremities of the Dust Bowl. Populated with Phelan's trademark loose-lined, sparely sketched, emotive characters, this is the story of eleven-year-old Jack, who hasn't seen rain since he was seven. Exploring an abandoned barn, Jack encounters a mysterious, threatening figure with a face of rain and a bag that flashes lightning. The minimalist approach to text complements the measured, masterful panel pacing; whole spreads are wordless, forcing the reader to slow down and follow the visual details of the action. Phelan's use of color is simply stunning; his palette of sepias, dusty browns, and charcoal grays perfectly evokes the desolate landscapes of the Dust Bowl and makes the occasional pop of color -- memories of green fields, stylized depictions of folktales, the angry blood-red of a "rabbit drive" -- that much more striking. The emotional landscape is equally well developed: an older sister who suffers from "dust pneumonia" and reads Ozma of Oz aloud, between coughing fits, to her younger siblings; a father who too easily dismisses his son, who never had an opportunity to prove himself on the farm, as useless. The potent subtext informs both Jack's climactic showdown with the rain figure and the book's tender, triumphant resolution."

Horn Book Magazine. (2010, November 10). [Review of the book The storm 

        in the barn, by M. Phelan]. Retrieved from http://www.

        

        hbook.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Historical Stories: Have students research historical events during a timeline provided by the classroom Social Studies teacher.  Once they choose their favorite event, have them write their own graphic novel about the chosen historical event.  Allow a "Reading Day" for children to pass around their graphic novels for others to read.

2. Ten Fact Fun: Have students write down ten facts that they found in the story.  Read all facts anonymously and determine if the facts in the book were accurate or embellished.

Book Cover: Book cover provided courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 12: One Beetle Too Many by Kathryn Lasky

Summary: The story begins with the details of Charles Darwin's childhood.  Darwin grew up in a poor family, but relied on his curiosity to bring good things his way. The main focus of this biography is the five years that Darwin spent aboard the Beagle.  Darwin's adventures are portrayed within the pages of the story to bring his journey to life for young readers. Darwin finds many creative creatures throughout his journey.  The beetle appears to be his favorite.  Lasky concludes the story with Darwin's publication of The Origin of Species.


Citation:


Lasky, K. (2009). One beetle too many: The extraordinary adventures


       of Charles Darwin. New York: Candlewick.

My Impression:  Many young readers cringe when they find out they have to read a biography.  This story is one that is sure to change their negative thoughts.  Lasky uses such clever words to create a well-flowing story that will not bore young readers.  So many details about Darwin's life are packed into the pages of this story that readers will also walk away with new knowledge.  This is a must-read especially for those little scientists of the world.  Trueman adds an amazing touch to the story through beautiful illustrations that jump from the pages to enthrall readers.


Professional Reviews:


Library Media Connection 

"This new biography arrives just in time for the Bicentennial of Charles Darwin?s birth. During his lifetime, Darwin was an avid collector of specimens of various plant and insect life, especially beetles. The author gives young readers a well-rounded look at the man who collected and cataloged the animal and plant life he observed while traveling to South America and on to the Galapagos Islands in the early 1800s. The author also shows Darwin as a family man who enjoyed his brood of 10 children. This well-rounded look at Darwin is enhanced by the illustrations, which add a touch of whimsy to the pages. At times Darwin looks a bit like Henry David Thoreau, a person with whom he might have much to discuss, while in others he stares at his surroundings intently concentrating on what he sees, though the reader may not see the object. Readers can watch the scientific method in action as the author describes the thesis, synthesis, and information gathering that was done by Darwin as he struggled to make sense out of his findings. Highly Recommended."

Radloff, L. (2009, August 10). [Review of the book One beetle too many:

     
        The extraordinary adventures of Charles Darwin,by K. 

        Lasky]. Retrieved from http://www.librarymediaconnection.com/

Publishers Weekly

"Distilling tough concepts into light, conversational prose, Lasky (John Muir) gives middle-graders a just-right introduction to Charles Darwin. In colorful, cut-to-the-chase language ( "He found anatomy class disgusting, and he once rushed out of an operating room, unable to stand the sight of blood"), she highlights Darwin's insatiable curiosity, his failures at school and his voyage aboard the Beagle. The author invites readers to follow Darwin's reasoning and the questions that led up to his theory of evolution. Taking advantage of the large trim size, Trueman (Noah's Mittens) up-ends perspective with multilayered mixed-media illustrations; mostly paint, these also incorporate bits of flowers and weeds as well as string, paper and fabric. Like the text, they aim for a homely, friendly style, as when young Darwin and his brother are shown gleefully exploding things in their homemade lab. Highly accessible. Ages 7-12."

Publishers Weekly. (2008, December 15). [Review of the book One beetle too

       many: The extraordinary adventures of Charles Darwin, 

        by K. Lasky]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Comic Book Creations: Students will create their own comic book based on Darwin's adventures and life story.  Allow students to share their comic books with another grade to pique interest in One Beetle too Many.


2. Giant Word Search: Create a giant word search with a giant piece of vinyl or plastic tablecloth using vocabulary from the book.  Students can use a dry erase marker to circle vocabulary as they find them.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 11: An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston

Summary: A large speckled egg from a Black-necked Stilt sits quietly nestled in its home. As the story progresses many other eggs from over 60 other species are shown to compare to the Black-necked Stilt.  Tiny eggs, medium-sized eggs and huge eggs are all depicted with beautiful artwork and labels for readers to view.  The life-cycle of the eggs of several animals are shown to differentiate the wide variety of incubation times for animals.  This quiet Black-necked Stilt egg is shown again with several others of the same variety.  The author shows what happens when an egg is no longer quiet!

Citation:


Aston, D. (2006). An egg is quiet. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle.

My Impression: This book is an amazing journey into the life-cycle of the egg.  Sylvia Long provides the most amazing illustrations with ink and watercolor.  Her eggs are so life-like it is as if you are looking at them in nature.  Over 60 eggs are pictured to the correct life-size scale.  Only a few that are either too small or too large in real life are not pictured to scale.  If this is the case, they are labeled as such.  Readers can enjoy the progression from a quiet egg to a fully developed "noisy" egg at the end.  Aston consulted a multitude of experts to create this informational book which provides the credibility necessary with a book of its type.  Venture into the world of animal eggs with An Egg is Quiet, you will be glad you came.


Professional Reviews:


Publishers Weekly 

"Like the subject matter it describes, this book packages with understated elegance the substantive matter found within it. "An egg is quiet. It sits there, under its mother's feathers... on top of its father's feet... buried beneath the sand," Aston (When You Were Born) begins, as spot illustrations zero in on a hummingbird, emperor penguin and sea turtle, respectively. The narrative then launches into a kind of survey about the characteristics of eggs, which follows a simple format. In most spreads, different adjectives (colorful, shapely, textured, etc.) complete the sentence, "An egg is...." This repetitive rhythm contrasts with the visual variety of the illustrations. Long's (Sylvia Long's Mother Goose) skilled use of contrast and compositional balance prevent monotony. For example, a border that resembles a color test pattern runs down the outer edges of a spread of nearly 40 carefully placed "colorful" examples, set against a white background, which dazzle the eye. The main text appears in large, flowery cursive, while a smaller printed typeface serves as labels and brief factual captions. "An egg is clever," in fancy script, for instance, sits alongside examples of camouflage: "An egg might be speckled to resemble the rocks around it." The letters' dramatic curlicues mimic curvy grasses and vines dappled with tiny insect eggs. Long introduces breathtaking color into the final spreads, as a concluding scene "hatches from" this peacefulness, reminding readers of an egg's purpose. This attractive volume pleases on both an aesthetic and intellectual level. Ages 5-10."

Publishers Weekly. (2006, March 6). [Review of the book An egg is quiet, 

        by D.Aston]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com

School Library Journal 

"K-Gr 2-An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs ("An egg is clever," for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's splendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp-Steller's jays are not spelled with an "ar," though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of "the egg.""Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Manning, P. (2006, June 1). [Review of the book An egg is quiet, by D. 

        Aston]. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Uses within the Library:


1. "Egg-citing" Information: Provide students with colorful plastic eggs for them to decorate like eggs in the book.  Have them research the type of egg they chose and write informational facts on strips of paper to stuff inside each of their plastic eggs.  Allow those students who want to read their facts out loud to do so.

2. Kuddos by Kiddos: Have students brainstorm ideas for types of medals that could be awarded to this book.  Then allow students to create actual medals of honor for both Aston and Long.  Display the book in a special location with the medals it received.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 10: The Eraserheads by Kate Banks

Summary: This creative book features an owl, a pig and a crocodile who are nothing more than erasers sitting on top of a little boy's pencils at the beginning of the story.  The erasers help the little boy fix his mistakes when he needs them.  One day the little boy creates a road, but needs to erase part of it.  Well, the crocodile goes a little crazy erasing the road and before you know it, the road has completely disappeared.  This leads the owl, the pig and the crocodile to get stuck inside the boy's drawings.  Once inside, the erasers find fun, adventure and face a variety of dangers.  How will the erasers make it back to safety?

Citation:


Banks, K. (2010). The eraserheads. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus

        and Giroux.

My Impression: This clever tale is sure to provide hours of entertainment for readers.  The adventures of the erasers as they journey through the boy's artwork is a lot of fun for readers.  It is easy to sit at the edge of your seat to find out whether or not the eraserheads will get out of their sticky situations depicted within the pages of the book.  Boris Kulikov provides wonderful illustrations.  Kulikov's colored pencil pictures engage readers in a world of whimsy as they venture through the story. It would be interesting to see if any of the drawings correspond to real-life places all over the world.

Professional Reviews:


Kirkus Review

"Banks imbues three pencil erasers--a pig, a crocodile and an owl--with earnest personalities and important jobs to do for an artistic boy, who is never named. The critters correct math errors, check vocabulary and interact within the boy's elaborately rendered tableaux. When a sketched road disappears, the croc reacts by over-erasing--and quickly, they're stuck in the middle of nowhere. The premise--we learn from mistakes--is nearly submerged by author and artist. Menaced by an island's wild animals, the erasers are suddenly stranded when the boy crumples his drawing and leaves in irritation. Crocodile redeems himself by erasing bits of a snake till there's an "SOS" for the boy. Smoothing out his drawing, he rescues the trio by adding a boat and a sign reading "Beach." The complex story line doesn't always cohere--the setup for the stranding seems too random for primary children. Kulikov delivers a dizzying visual stew that includes everything from the boy's penciled and crayoned drawings, the erasers' shiny opacity, a Sendakian Wild Thing and a big frothy wave evocative of Hiroshige. A bit gimmicky but nonetheless engrossing. (Picture book. 5-8)"

Kirkus Reviews. (2010, March 15). The eraserheads. [Review of the book


        The Eraserheads, by K. Banks]. Retrieved from http://www.kirkus

        reviews.com

Publishers Weekly

"Banks and Kulikov's (Max's Words) latest collaboration stars three plucky pencil-top erasers-a green crocodile, blue owl, and pink pig-who work conscientiously to erase the mistakes of their owner, a dark-haired schoolboy. When they find themselves stranded on the surface of one of the boy's drawings, they realize that they can save themselves from various dangers by strategic erasing (the pig is too scared to erase some scary tiger fangs, so the owl does it; "my head is sore," he remarks afterward). Kulikov combines loving attention to detail-it's possible to read the labels on the pencils and count the hairs on the paintbrushes-with beguiling portraits of the erasers in various attitudes of dismay and distress. In the story's dueling realities, the "real life" sections of the spreads feature three-dimensional figures, while the boy's drawings are done in gawky crayon. Once the erasers learn to control their surroundings, trepidation turns into triumph. It's a fruitful exploration of the important role of error: "Hooray for mistakes," the owl says, as the crocodile agrees that without them, "There'd be nothing to learn." Ages 4-8." (Apr.) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly. (2010, February 15). [Review of the book The eraserheads,

         by K. Banks]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Dear Diary: Have students write a story using a "Dear Diary" format.  The story of The Eraserheads will now be told from the point of view of one of the characters.  Have students choose either the little boy, the owl, the pig or the crocodile in the story.  Then students will share their stories if desired.

2. Characters Come to Life: Have the students cut out a cardboard cube that has been copied for them.  While the cube is still lying flat, have students draw a picture of their favorite character in the story.  Then have students write character traits that they get from within the actions of the characters in the story.  Have students label a particular action of the character to identify how they arrived at the character traits.




Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/department/library/

Module 9: The Black Tower by Betsy Byars

Summary: Herculeah Jones is a young private detective wanna be.  As the daughter of both a police detective and a private detective, Herculeah can't help but get caught up in solving a good mystery.  When Herculeah's private detective mom asks her to go to Hunt House to read to old Mr. Hunt, she can't imagine what mystery awaits for her to solve.  She has heard rumors about Hunt House that her friends tell. Herculeah learns that Mr. Hunt is a stroke victim, so he can only answer "yes" or "no" with a blink or two blinks from his eyes.  As Herculeah begins reading a scary story, a book Mr. Hunt chose, she realizes the book has the same black tower in the story that Mr. Hunt has attached to his house.  Herculeah can tell that things are not quite right in the house.  It is up to her to solve the mystery with her best friend Albert who goes my the name of "Meat."  Check-out this book in your local library and help Herculeah solve the mystery of the black tower.

Citation:
Byars, B. (2006). The black tower. New York, NY:
     
        Penguin Group.

My Impression: Herculeah Jones is a fun, like-able character who can't help but stick her young nose into a good mystery.  Not to mention Herculeah's hair begins to frizzle when trouble is in the air.  Hunt House makes the perfect setting as the mystery unfolds.  Byars does an excellent job allowing the mystery to unfold without giving away too many details or being too predictable.  Readers are sure to enjoy the edge-of-your-chair mystery that awaits them within the pages of The Black Tower.


Professional Reviews:

School Library Journal

"Gr 4-6 --Herculeah is back in another exciting adventure. Here, she is reading to her mother's friend, a lonely stroke victim who cannot speak, and becomes involved in a family feud and mystery involving money and murder. Against her friend Meat's better judgment, she keeps going back to the house and puts her own life in danger. A fast-paced plot and well-developed, likable characters keep readers turning pages. Fans of the series as well as those new to it will enjoy the suspense that Byars is so famous for building.

KEY: * excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre; Tr: Hardcover trade binding; RTE: Reinforced trade binding; PLB:Publisher's library binding; BD: Board Book; pap.: paperback; CIP: Cataloging in publication."

Tokarz, K. (2006, December 1). [Review of the book The black tower, by 

  

       B. Byars]. School Library Journal, 52(12), 35. Retrieved from http://

       

       www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Booklist

"As usual, Byars wastes no time plunging Herculeah Jones into a new mystery, this one taking the girl sleuth to an old mansion with a dark tower that piques her curiosity.  Best friend Meat, once again plays the comedic role of timorous but devoted sidekick, while the plot spins out in a series of increasingly suspenseful scenarios that lead the unstoppable Herculeah right into the arms of a villain.  Kids need not have read previous adventures in this series to appreciate this one, which, like the others, delivers breathless adventure moderated by amiable comedy."

Zvirin, S. (2006, October 15). [Review of the book The black tower, by 

     
        B. Byars]. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Uses within the Library:


1. Build a Black Tower: Build your own black tower in your library using appliance boxes and smaller cardboard boxes.  Have students write their own ending for the story and display their work around your own black tower for others to read.  Create a display of all Herculeah Jones mysteries to encourage children to read others.

2. Book Challenge: Challenge students to read as many other Herculeah Jones mysteries within the month. For each story they read and summarize, the students receive a ticket to enter in a drawing for a prize.  Find a local business or PTA willing to donate gift cards or other prizes to be given to the winners.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 8: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Summary: A little boy named Milo who never knows what to do with himself.  When he goes to school, he wants to be out.  When he is going home, he thinks about leaving.  When he is leaving he thinks about going home.  His lack of focus and motivation is what apparently leads to the Phantom Tollbooth showing up mysteriously at his house one day.  This magical tollbooth appears in his house one day in a large package.  Milo is sure that it is not his birthday, but is quite amused.  He discovers the tollbooth promises to take him to lands beyond.  Since Milo has nothing else he wants to do, he enters into the adventures of the tollbooth.  He takes his little car on a journey to many strange lands.  All characters in the story seem to be telling Milo the same thing: "you should have some motivation and focus to decide where you want to go in life."  This lesson is cleverly told throughout the story and Milo seems to understand.  Milo returns to his house with a new focus and motivation to "go places" in his life.  Milo is disappointed when he wakes up the next morning and discovers the Phantom Tollbooth has disappeared.  It is obvious that Milo doesn't need it any more.  His concern only lasts a minute because he has a lot to do!

Citation:


Norton, J. (1961). The phantom tollbooth. New York, NY: Knopf


My Impression:  This book provides a strong lesson to children.  It would be a great read for a teenager struggling to decide where to go in life.  For a middle school child, it is a cute story with a valuable lesson that is made enjoyable through the crazy characters that Milo meets.  The creative black and white illustrations from Jules Feiffer provide a look into these crazy characters and strange places.  Feiffer takes places like "The Sea of Knowledge" and brings them to life for readers.  When I checked the book out of the library, I was upset with the condition of the book.  Then, I realized that I have the original publication date of 1961.  Since the book is older than me, I guess it is good to still be in circulation.  The book was republished in 2011.  I have not seen the current publication, so I cannot comment on any changes that may have been made.

Professional Reviews:


Horn Book

"If ever there were a twentieth-century children's book that deserved an annotated edition, it's Juster and Feiffer's masterpiece, first published fifty years ago. Filled with wordplay, math puzzles, social satire, and irony, it's a book that many young readers have returned to at different life stages, each time finding something new. In his introduction, Horn Book columnist Marcus provides biographical sketches of the author and illustrator, whose lives first intersected when they shared a duplex in Brooklyn and began to collaborate on a creative effort that would become The Phantom Tollbooth. Marcus frequently refers back to their creative process in meticulous margin notes that accompany the text. He also uses them to define and explain selected words and expressions (dillydally, toe the line); make connections between the text and the author's life (Juster's own toy car at age six, for instance, was a more modest version of Milo's electric car); and point out references to literary works such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. Also included in the marginalia are photographs and illustrations by artists who inspired Feiffer; for example, conductor Arturo Toscanini served as the model for Chroma, and a crowd scene that appears at the end of chapter eight shows the influence of Edward Ardizzone. Marcus's insightful and often wry observations take us far beyond what we'd get from a careful and informed reading, as he had access to the book's early drafts through Lilly Library at Indiana University, and he frequently includes original passages in the marginalia so that we can see how the story evolved. In-depth interviews with the author and illustrator further inform and elucidate the text. (Juster answers a burning question that's puzzled readers for years: there is no secret code to be broken in the Mathemagician's letter to Azaz.) Feiffer also gave Marcus access to many character sketches that are published here for the first time. With all the care and attention to detail that obviously went into this work, it's unfortunate that the source materials aren't cited with more specificity. Citations such as "N.J. Notes I, p. 35" aren't linked with accompanying back matter; thus the note is as cryptic as the one written by the Mathemagician himself. But even with this shortcoming, the annotated edition is a welcome and important contribution to the field of children's literature."

Horning, K. (2011, November 10). [Review of the book The phantom 

        tollbooth, by N. Juster]. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com

Kirkus Review starred

"Still ferrying dazzled readers to Dictionopolis and beyond 50 years after his first appearance, young Milo is accompanied this time through by encyclopedic commentary from our generation's leading (and most readable) expert on the history of children's literature and publishing. Expanding considerably on a chapter in his Funny Business: Conversations with Writers of Comedy (2009), Leonard opens with typically lucid and well-organized pictures of both Juster's and Feiffer's formative years and later careers, interwoven with accounts of the book's conception, publication and critical response. In notes running alongside the ensuing facsimile, he puts on an intellectual show. He serves up for the book's second line ("When [Milo] was in school he longed to be out, and when he was out he longed to be in") references to Max Weber, Jane Jacobs and the Marx Brothers' Animal Crackers, for instance, and closes with a spot-on characterization of Feiffer'sBlakean force field, a whirlwind of energy both potential and real." In between, he delivers notes on topics as diverse as the etymological origins of "BALDERDASH!" and mimetic architecture to textual parallels with the Wizard of Oz and echoes of Winsor McKay and George Grosz in the art. Family photos, scrawled notes and images of handwritten and typescript manuscript pages further gloss a work that never ages nor fails to astonish. A timeless tribute to learning as play, much enriched with background on even the (seemingly) throwaway lines and puns. (Literary criticism. 10-12, adult)"

Kirkus Reviews. (2011, September 15). [Review of the book The phantom 

        tollbooth,  by N. Juster]. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com


Uses within the Library:


1. Concentration: The students will create a concentration memory game.  Each set of giant cards will have a character from the story and the land where Milo met them.  For example the Lethargians are from the Doldrums. Play the game to see how many of the characters and lands the students remember.

2. Character Trait Diagram: Divide the students into groups of three.  Allow the students to choose two characters from the story.  The students will then create a Ven diagram to see how the two characters are different and alike.  Students will present their Venn diagrams to the class when completed.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 7: Confetti Girl by Diana Lopez

Summary: When faced with her mother's unexpected death, Lina needs her father more than ever.  Unfortunately, her father, a self-professed bibliophile, buries himself in his books rather than giving his daughter the needed attention.  Luckily, Lina has her best friend Vanessa to see her through this difficult time.  Together, Lina and Vanessa navigate through boys, school, friends and their social life.  Lina and her father learn valuable life lessons about the meaning of family throughout the story.

Citation:


Lopez, D. (2009). Confetti girl. New York, NY:

       Little Brown.

My Impression:  This realistic fiction story will touch your heart as you immerse yourself in the lives of the characters in the story.  Lina's journey with her father provides great insight for others to learn from.  Middle school readers will relate to the difficulties of being a teen and not being understood by anyone.  Overcoming the trials and tribulation of school and friends is sure to inspire others.

Professional Reviews:


Booklist

"Grades 4-7. Living in Corpus Christi, Texas, sixth-grader Lina Flores, along with her father, is trying to put her life back together following her mother’s death. To divert herself, she and her best friend, Vanessa, write Vanessa’s recently divorced mom love poems under the name Silver Fox. Meanwhile, the girls have romances of their own; Lina has set her heart on a classmate with a speech impediment, while Vanessa sneaks around with her boyfriend to evade her disapproving mother. Misunderstandings abound when Lina reacts to her father’s seeming absence, as well as her own grief, by doing poorly in school, but fortunately a supportive counselor helps pull her through. López effectively portrays the Texas setting and the characters’ Latino heritage; Vanessa’s mother deals with her divorce by obsessively making Mexican cascarones—confetti-filled eggshells—and Spanish is sprinkled throughout. This debut novel puts at its center a likable girl facing realistic problems on her own terms."

Booklist. (2009, May 15). [Review of the book Confetti girl, by D. Lopez].

        Booklist, 105(18), 43. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com

Horn Book

"Since her mother's unexpected death, Texas middle schooler Lina has had a lot to cope with: a distracted dad, boyfriend-preoccupied best friend, her own new beau, and a failing grade that's keeping her from playing sports. Encouraged by the guidance of dichos (Spanish-language proverbs), Lina realizes that she needs to let her feelings out. Lina is a sympathetic and realistic character."

Horn Book Magazine. (2009, October 10). [Review of the book Confetti 

        girl, by D. Lopez]. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Characters in a Bottle: Each student will use plastic bottles that they brought from home.  Students will decorate the outside of the bottle with their favorite character from the story.  Next, students will write character traits about their character on slips of paper that they will then place in the bottle.  Allow students to share their Character in a Bottle to others as desired.

2. Thumbs up...Thumbs down: Students will speak in front of the class and tell three things they like about the book to give a big "Thumbs up" or three things they didn't like about the book for a "Thumbs down." Then a discussion comparing the critiques will engage students to express their opinions.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 6: Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

Summary: What happens when a shark goes head to head with a train.  It really depends on what activity they decide to do as a competition.  Shark and Train compete in everything from a diving contest to a pie eating contest.  They sell lemonade and give carnival rides.  They have swimming contests and ping pong contests.  It brings new meaning to the fun things in life to watch Shark and Train try to out-do each other. What do Shark and Train really look like?  Find out at the end of the story!

Citation:


Baron, C. (2010). Shark vs. train. New York, NY: Little Brown.

My Impression:


This is absolutely one of the most adorable picture books of all times.  Shark and Train are fun to watch as they enter into competitions with each other.  One wins and the other loses.  Then the other wins and the first one loses.  It excites readers to watch Shark and Train go back and forth. Tom Lichtenheld adds a delightful flair to the story with creative well thought out illustrations. Lichtenheld's illustrations are so detailed that new things can be found with each reading.  Readers are sure to love this story.  Parents who read aloud will love it too.

Professional Reviews:


Kirkus Review starred

"With two boys at a toy chest, one clutching a shark and the other a train, thus begins the most unlikeliest of competitions. Who will win--shark or train? Well, it does depend on the situation. If underwater, the shark will surely triumph. But at roasting marshmallows? The train beats the shark's soggy mess every time. From one wacky circumstance to the next, from bowling to hot-air ballooning, there is always a clear winner. Until, suddenly, there is not. Both the shark and the train are not very good at playing hide and seek. They also stink at video games ("Sure would help if we had thumbs"). Just when the competitors can't bear it any longer, it's time for lunch. The boys toss them carelessly aside--until next time, that is. Lichtenheld's snarling shark and grimacing train are definitely ready for a fight, and his scenarios gleefully play up the absurdity. The combatants' expressions are priceless when they lose. A glum train in smoky dejection, or a bewildered, crestfallen shark? It's hard to choose; both are winners. (Picture book. 3-6)"

Kirkus Reviews. (2010, March 15). [Review of the book shark vs. train, by

        C. Barton]. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Publishers Weekly 

"This is a genius concept-the kids' equivalent of a classic guy bull session, centering on two playmates' favorite toys. So, who's better-Shark or Train? That all depends. When trick-or-treating, Shark is the clear winner, thanks to his intimidating smile ("The clown is very hungry," he says, as a bowl of candy is poured into his bag). But in a marshmallow-roasting contest, Train triumphs by virtue of his built-in, coal-stoked rotisserie. Just when readers will think the scenarios can't get more absurd (bowling, a burping contest), the book moves into even funnier territory: hypotheticals in which neither comes out on top (their imposing presences make them ripe targets for getting shushed in a library, and their lack of opposable thumbs means neither is very good at video games). Lichtenheld's (Duck! Rabbit!) watercolor cartoons have a fluidity and goofy intensity that recalls Mad magazine, while Barton (The Day-Glo Brothers) gives the characters snappy dialogue throughout. "That counts as a strike, right?" says Shark, having eaten an entire lane of bowling pins. "This is why you guys have a bad reputation," retorts Train. Ages 3-6. (Apr.)"

Publishers Weekly. (2010, February 15). [Review of the book shark vs. train,

        by C. Barton]. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Interview with a Character:  Have students choose either the Shark or Train to develop an interview that they would present to their character.  Students will write the questions and then answer them as if the Shark or Train would if they could talk in real life.  Allow the students to dress up as reporters and either the Shark or Train and conduct the interview while it is being filmed by the "camera man" you appoint.

2. Biography Chart: Have students develop a biography chart describing the life of Shark and Train.  Allow the students to use the boys at the end of the story as their focus of the biography if they desire.  Display the students' biography charts in a special location within the library.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.manfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 5: Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto

Summary: A young flower girl named Maya takes readers on a journey through the events of Isabel and Rafael's wedding.  The young couple have a beautiful church ceremony as family and friends look on at the heart-felt service.  The wedding moves on to the reception where guests have a fabulous time.  The guests are treated to a mariachi band and plenty of delicious wedding cake dripping with frosting.  After feasting on food and having fun dancing the night away, the guests leave happy and tired, especially young Maya.  Tired little Maya falls asleep on the car ride home.

Citation:


Soto, G. (1997). Snapshots from the wedding. G.P. Putnam's Sons.

My Impression:


This is a beautiful story with darling illustrations made of clay.  Maya has a fabulous time at the wedding as the "snapshots" clearly show.  Readers will enjoy the details that help tell Maya's wonderful story.  The only questionable aspect of the book is the mention of beer at the reception.  It is unclear what Soto's decision was to include that in a story for very young children.  I do not think it added anything to the story, but definitely detracted from its loveliness
.
Professional Reviews:


"Photographs of shadowboxes filled with sculpted clay figures form the eye-catching art for Soto's ""diary"" of Maya, a flower girl. The text, sprinkled with Spanish words, is eloquent and funny (a bride's hands are ""soft as doves""; a cousin wiggles his tongue ""in the space between his baby teeth, white as Chiclets"")-and it deftly captures the flavor of a Latino wedding, complete with mariachi band. Garcia's singular, deliciously creative artwork steals the show here, however. More playful than the dioramas she composed for The Old Lady and the Birds, these lifelike, three-dimensional scenes serve as an elaborate stage set. Readers will be enthralled by Garcia's use of details, from the ""actors"" and ""actresses"" decked out in wedding finery to the garlanded ribbons festooned across the shadowboxes to the objects that enhance each scene (tiny silk flowers in the bride's bouquet; potato chips on the buffet table). Using Soto's words as a springboard, Garcia tweaks the perspective, offering a legs-and-feet-only view, for instance, of a scene in which Maya describes the younger wedding guests' ""shoes off"" romp down the hallway (complete with authentically dusty soles of socks). Another ""snapshot"" shows a pair of sculpted hands holding a plate with a flower-topped slice of wedding cake. A happy marriage of talents. Ages 4-8."


Publishers Weekly. (1997, January 21). [Review of the book Snapshots from 

          the wedding, by G. Soto]. Retrieved from http://www.publishers
 
          weekly.com

Kirkus Review


"From Soto (Off and Running, 1996, etc.), a celebratory, child's-eye look at a wedding that captures the traditional mingling of the surreal and the sublime. A flower girl, Maya, tells in a pitch-perfect accent about the groom, Rafael, who is at the altar with his arm in a cast (he slid into home playing softball and scored, but broke his wrist), and a host of other relatives and strangers. Crying babies, the altar boy's dirty sneakers, an inconvenient sneeze, and the glow in the bride Isabel's eyes are reported with equal fervor. At the reception, Maya puts a pitted olive on each finger, finds mole sauce on her gown, and dances, riding on her father's feet. While the family is Mexican-American, the wedding's touching and silly moments are universal. Garcia's illustrations, photographs of Sculpy clay figures and collage, are pink and white and delicious, reminiscent of both reredos and scenes from a dollhouse. With all the problem books in the world, it's a delight to encounter one that talks about a happy event and its attendant joys. This is a triumph of true-to-life storytelling, with all the good parts left in. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)"

Kirkus Reviews. (1997, February 1). [Review of the book Snapshots from the 

       wedding, by G. Soto]. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Book Report Sandwich: Give the students copied sheets of a tomato, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise and ham.  Students will cut out the parts of their "sandwich" and write events in order for their book report.  Then students will build their "sandwich" for others to see.  Find a special place to display their book reports in the library.

2. Readers Bingo: Choose reading words from the story that support students' classroom curriculum.  Use these 25-30 words to create one Bingo card per student.  Play Bingo to allow students to increase their reading vocabulary.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 4: Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Summary: Jeffrey Lionel Magee was born in the town of Bridgeport.  When he was three years old, his mother and father were killed in an accident.  Jeffrey was forced to go live with his aunt and uncle.  Jeffrey is tired of his aunt and uncle's constant fighting, so he decides to run away.  On Jeffrey's adventure he learns many life lessons about perseverance, independence, love and prejudice.  Jeffrey also earns the name "Maniac" from his amazing running, batting and tremendous speed.  Maniac Magee spends many nights at the zoo with the animals, but also finds a home with a nice family willing to take him in.  Maniac thinks that the color of a person's skin does not make them any different, however, many others think a "white" boy should leave the "black" side of town.  Together the town and Maniac learn many lessons of tolerance and togetherness.

Citation:


Spinelli, J. (1990). Maniac magee. New York, NY: Little Brown.

My Impression: The story of Maniac Magee is as heart warming as they come.  A young boy finds himself alone and desperately wants a family to love him.  The undercurrents of racial tension and divide show the struggles that face our world.  It is easy to see why Maniac Magee won the Newbery Medal for the writing of the story.  The descriptive writing moves the reader seamlessly through the story.  It makes the reader want to keep reading to find out the next trials and tribulations that happen to Maniac.  The story helps you believe in the good inside people waiting to get out.  This is a definite must-read for all ages.

Professional Reviews:


Kirkus Review (1990)

"An occasionally long-winded, but always affecting, parable-like story about racism and ignorance. Jeffrey Magee is twice homeless--once involuntarily, at age three, when his parents plunge with a high-speed trolley off a bridge; the second time eight years later, when he voluntarily leaves the troubled home of his aunt and uncle. Jeffrey's subsequent yearlong flight generates a host of legends:, his sudden appearances and astonishing athletic prowess earn him the name "Maniac," and his just-as-sudden disappearances ensure his fame. Innocently, he crosses between two strictly segregated parts of town, the white East End and the black West End, making friends and enemies in both camps and managing to soften the lines of segregation; later, he finds a new home in the West. If this is sometimes a bit like a chalkboard lesson, it may be because racism is still a volatile subject that is more comfortably dealt with in parable form. The metaphorical style is a brave change from the realism of Spinelli's other books, while fans of his earlier, tongue-in-cheek, streetwise tone will find it also an integral part of this story--ballast for the mythic, shifting picture of Maniac's year on the run."

Kirkus Reviews. (1990, May 7). [Review of the book Maniac magee, by

        J. Spinelli]. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Publishers Weekly

"In this modern-day tall tale, Spinelli ( Dump Days ; Jason and Marceline ) presents a humorous yet poignant look at the issue of race relations, a rare topic for a work aimed at middle readers. Orphaned as an infant, Jerry Magee is reared by his feuding aunt and uncle until he runs away at age eight. He finds his way to Two Mills, Pa., where the legend of ``Maniac'' Magee begins after he scores major upsets against Brian Denehy, the star high school football player, and Little League tough guy, John McNab. In racially divided Two Mills, the Beales, a black family, take Maniac in, but despite his local fame, community pressure forces him out and he returns to living at the zoo. Park groundskeeper Grayson next cares for the boy, but the old man dies and Maniac moves into the squalid home of the McNabs, who are convinced a race war is imminent. After a showdown with his nemesis, Mars Bar, Maniac bridges the gap between the two sides of town and finally finds a home. Full of snappy street-talk cadences, this off-the-wall yarn will give readers of all colors plenty of food for thought. Ages 8-12."

Publishers Weekly. (1990, May 11). [Review of the book Maniac magee, by J. Spinelli].

        Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Zoo Mania: Have students create a paper zoo to decorate a special location of the library to highlight the book.  Allow the students to use word bubbles to write comments that the zoo animals might have said to Maniac for sleeping in the zoo with them.

2. Tennis Shoe Tuesday: In honor of Maniac's running abilities, choose a Tuesday to collect gently used tennis shoes to distribute to needy children in the community.

3. Feeling Folder: After reading the story, have students create a tri-fold of feelings.  Describe three types of feelings that Maniac felt in the story and illustrate the events that caused these feelings.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 3: Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman

Summary:  This delightful story is about a loving grandpa who is giving his grandchildren a taste of vaudeville.  The grandpa takes his three grandchildren into a special place in his house to see what vaudeville was like.  He shows them costumes, hats and the type of performances that might have been on the vaudeville stage.  Sing and tap along with the Song and Dance Man when you find the book at your local library.

Citation:
Ackerman, K. (1988). Song and Dance Man. New York,

       NY: Dragonfly.

My Impression:  This uplifting story is sure to inspire the young dancers of the world.  This is especially true for those who are close to their grandpas.  It is easy to see spending a day with grandpa reminiscing about days gone by.  This Caldecott Medal winner will delight readers with wonderful illustrations by Stephen Gammell.  The expressions of happiness depicted on the characters faces provide a sense of peace as you read the story.

Professional Reviews:

Horn Book starred

"A former vaudeville performer, Grandpa can still set his feet to tapping, recall the favorite old songs, and chortle over ancient jokes before his three delighted grandchildren. Ackerman's quiet text is brought to warm and affectionate life by Gammell's superb artistry in this Caldecott medal winner and welcome reissue."

Horn Book Magazine. (2003, October 1). [Review of the book Song and Dance

       

       Man by K. Ackerman]. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com

Kirkus Review 

"Lucky kids--Grandpa used to be in vaudeville, and when he takes them to his attic, gets old costumes and tap shoes out of his trunk, and not only sings and dances but tells jokes and does magic tricks, "the show is better than any show on TV." Dumpy old Grandpa is comfortable in his modest retirement, but he can still enthrall his loving audience of three, bringing the past to life with a little improvisation and a lot of spirit. Though he's soon out of breath, "his voice is as round and strong as a canyon echo"; and when he starts to tap-dance, the sounds "are too many to make with only two feet." Gammell's colors illuminate the uncommon joy of these homely folks and capture the ghostly images of Grandpa's memories as well as the ebullience he conveys to the children. A warm portrait of a grand old man at peace with his past."

Kirkus Reviews. (1988, May 1). [Review of the book Song and Dance

    

        Man by K. Ackerman]. Retrieved from http://www.

     

       kirkusreviews.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Vaudeville Day: Schedule a Vaudeville Day complete with a portable stage and acts that have auditioned to perform.  Have students research vaudeville before the Vaudeville Day to determine the types of acts, costumes and music that should be included.

2. Letter to the Author: Have students write a letter to Karen Ackerman to ask questions about how the book was created, the idea that inspired the book and any other questions of interest.  Display any responses received in a special display section that highlights the book.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 2: Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel

Summary: A tiny mouse is relaxing while reading a book when a weasel catches him.  The weasel decides to make the mouse into mouse soup.  The mouse convinces the weasel that if he has stories to add to his soup it will taste much better.  The weasel agrees to hear the mouse's four stories.  The mouse tells stories about bees and mud, stones, crickets and a thorn bush.  When the stories are finished, the weasel is ready to continue the creation of his mouse soup.  The mouse convinces the weasel that he must collect the items from the stories to add to his soup.  Much to the weasel's dismay, he runs into a lot of problems trying to accomplish this task.  See how the mouse outsmarts the weasel when you read Mouse Soup at your local library.

Citation:


Lobel, A. (1977). Mouse Soup. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

My Impression: Arnold Lobel has a way of drawing readers into his stories while rooting for the character in trouble.  Through creative pictures, Lobel adds to the scenery of the words within the story.  Children can be fully engaged while they cheer for the safety of the little mouse.  This is a must read for a variety of ages.


Professional Reviews:


School Library Journal


"K-Gr 3-A little mouse reads a story aloud to himself under a tree when a weasel comes along and asks how the story ends.  The mouse runs away, but is caught by the weasel and taken to his home to become mouse soup.  The mouse suggests that stories are a necessary ingredient and relates the four stories that cause the weasel to rethink his soup.  Lobel's drawings have their won charming appeal to add to the story."

Bixler, B. (1993, March 1). [Review of the book Mouse soup, by A. Lobel].

        Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com


All Readers


"Mouse Soup is another wonderful children's story by Arnold Lobel. For any 1st to 3rd grader learning to read, this book will allow the child to feel confident and very successful!

Four stories are presented by the mouse, who was captured by the weasel for his mouse soup. The mouse tells the weasel that his soup will not taste good unless he puts stories into the soup. One plain old mouse will not a soup make! The stories are: Bees and the Mud, Two Large Stones, The Crickets, and The Thorn Bush. After the mouse has finished his delightful stories, the weasel cannot comprehend how he will get the stories into the soup! Mouse instructs him to find bees, two large stones, crickets and a thorn bush. Not very smart, weasel dashes out of the house to find the items and mouse escapes to the warmth and comfort of his home, a great meal and a good book!

The stories told by mouse are entertaining, lively and a hoot! They will keep the little reader guessing and wanting to know what is going to happen! The illustrations are entertaining and really help to contribute to the charm of the story!

A true delight! I love Arnold Lobel's books for children!!"

Pavluvcik, J. (2010, February 10). [Review of the book Mouse soup, by A. Lobel].

        Retrieved from http://www.allreaders.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Reading Timeline: Have students create a reading timeline of the story collaboratively.  Review parts of the story and discuss story "ingredients" such as plot, beginning, middle and ending.

2. Musical Chairs: Have each student draw a picture of a scene from the story.  Place chairs in a circle and put a picture from the story under each chair.  As the music starts, children circle around until the music stops.  Once the music stops, the child left standing must choose a picture from under a chair and try to tell others what they scene represents.  Repeat until only one chair is left to declare a winner. Display the students' pictures on a special display highlighting the book for others.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 2: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

Summary: A lovely young Alice enjoys her grandfather's stories about far away places.  Alice assures her grandfather that, she too, will visit far away lands.  Her grandfather tells her that she must also do something to make the world a more beautiful place.  As Alice journeys through her life, she remembers her grandfather's words and decides she will make the world more beautiful with Lupines; her favorite flower.  Alice carries seeds wherever she goes and soon makes the world a more beautiful place.  The children of the town enjoy listening to the old lady Alice has become as she tells of her travels.  Alice's granddaughter says that she too wants to travel to far away places.  Alice repeats her grandfather's words of wisdom to remember to do something to make the world a more beautiful place.

Citation:


Cooney, B. (1982). Miss Rumphius. New York, NY: The Viking Press.

My Impression: This timeless book uses old fashioned pictures to tell a beautiful story of the words of wisdom passed down through generations.  Barbara Cooney does a phenomenal job of meshing words with pictures to allow the reader to escape to different locations whether on a beach, near the sea or inside a grandparent's home.

Professional Reviews:

School Library Journal

"As a young girl Alice Rumphius is told by her grandfather that she must do three things: 1) Travel the world 2) Live in a house by the sea 3) do something to make the world more beautiful. While we may not all get a chance to travel the world or to live in a house by the sea, we are all given the opportunity to make the world more beautiful. This is a lovely book with a wonderful message to share."

Henry, M. (1982, May 1). [Review of the book Miss Rumphius, by B. Cooney].

        Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Kirkus Review

"This book may appear to be nothing more than a lovely illustrated child's book containing a heartfelt tale. Without a doubt, the illustrations are rich; Ms. Cooney is an extremely talented woman. However, I also believe its message (which is never, ever preachy) is extremely powerful. As such, it is my favorite children's book, and I think every child (and adult) on this earth should read it.The answer provides the impetus as to how Miss Rumphius led the rest of her life. It seems as if nearly every reviewer has already given the entire plot, so it's no surprise that her grandfather's answer to why we are here is to simply make the world a more beautiful place. When my daughter heard that, her reply was, "Mommy, you've already made the world a more beautiful place." When I asked how, she replied, "By having me!" I couldn't begin to argue against such wisdom from one of God's small miracles."

Kirkus Reviews. (1993, June 1). [Review of the book Miss Rumphius, by B. 

        Cooney]. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Use the story to enhance a geography lesson.  Help students remember the types of places mentioned in the book; near the sea, tropical islands and tall mountains.  Allow students to work with a partner and choose a location that fits one of the descriptions of the types of locations within the story.  Have students use three types of information resources that you have been using in the library.  Have students present their findings to their classmates.

2. Within the illustrations of the story is a picture of an old fashioned card catalog.  Use this opportunity to explain to your students how children used to locate books within the library.  Make a chart detailing the benefits of the computer catalog system that is used within the school district as compared to the old fashioned cataloging system.


Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 2: The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

Summary: A young boy named James has the pleasure of building a snowman in the cold, white snow.  After James's snowman is all finished, James goes off to bed.  In the middle of the night, James decides to sneak outside to visit his snowman.  The snowman comes to life and discovers James's house.  The snowman takes James flying and they have fun together.  The next morning James is sad to discover his snowman has melted in the warm morning sun.

Citation:


Briggs, R. (1999). The snowman. New York, NY:
       
         Random House.

My Impression: This simple story illustrates the excitement that children feel when they play in the snow.  The short sentences provide numerous sight words to allow early readers to feel successful.  The muted pictures provide gentle descriptions of the situations within the story.  Children are sure to enjoy the adventures of James and his snowman.  Parents of non-readers will relish the fact that the book can be read quickly on those nights when fatigue is an issue.

Professional Reviews:

Horn Book

"This lift-the-flap board book contains lessons in counting and colors and asks children to find the Snowman's clothes, play hide-and-seek ("Where could James be hiding? Can you help the Snowman find him?"), and peer inside houses to view cozy nighttime scenes. Of all books, Raymond Briggs's magical The Snowman seems least likely to inspire--or deserve--such a mundane and ordinary treatment."

Horn Book. (1999, February 1). [Review of the book The snowman, by R. 

   

         Briggs]. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com

School Library Journal

"PreS-Gr 3-Language is unnecessary to understand the affection between a boy and his snowman-and the child's sadness when the creature melts. In between, however, onlookers are swept up in the wonders of electricity, false teeth, skateboards, and the twosome's marvelous nighttime flight. Small panels propel the motion; panoramas slow it down. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted."

Media Source. (2011, April 1). [Review of the book The snowman, 

        by R. Briggs].  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com

        

Uses within the Library:


1. Snowman Stories: Provide students with large cardboard snowmen and title strips.  Allow the students to glue the title strip on their snowman.  Then, have students remember adjectives from the story and write them on their snowmen.  Hang the snowmen in the library with large snowflakes as a winter display.

2. Bookmark Contest:  Provide students with fine-tip black ink markers and white computer paper to design bookmarks telling about The Snowman using pictures.  Make copies of the bookmarks and cut them out for students.  Display bookmarks in a special winter container for students to grab when they come to the library to check-out books.

Book Cover:  The book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/

Module 1: Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don't) by Barbara Bottner

Summary: When a precocious elementary school girl goes to her school library she thinks her librarian is crazy.  Her librarian dresses up in costumes and shows a ton of enthusiasm to get students to love books.  This stubborn little girl is determined that she will never love a book the way her librarian does.  She is even willing to move out of town to escape going to the library.  An upcoming book project causes the little girl to read countless books in order to find just one that she can get excited about.  Finally, her mother tells her she is "...as stubborn as a wart."  The little girl decides she wants to read a book about warts.  She discovers the book Shrek and falls in love with it.  Her presentation is a hit and her attitude about books is forever changed for the best.

Citation:
Bottner, B. (2010). Miss Brooks loves books (and I don't).
        
        New York, NY: Random House.

My Impression: As a book fanatic myself, it is refreshing to experience a book that illustrates the joy of reading.  Barbara Bottner includes numerous titles of favorite books within the words of the story.  These gems of information are sure to increase interest among readers.  Michael Emberley does a fantastic job with his whimsical illustrations.  His pictures show the tremendous enthusiasm of the librarian and the quirky personality of the little girl.  Young children are sure to enjoy this book.

Professional Reviews:

Booklist

"Preschool-Grade 2. A scowling first-grader in spectacles, a knitted hat, and overalls cannot stand her bubbly librarian, who dresses up in costumes for reading circle, where she introduces books about dragons, Pilgrims, presidents, and Groundhogs, even! For Book Week, everyone in class has to bring a favorite story, and the young girl has only grouchy comebacks for the other kids, who enthusiastically share books about trains (too clickety), fairies (too flowery), cowboys (too yuppity), and dogs (too furry). When the librarian sends the little rebel home with a bagful of books, she does not like any of them––until she finds a story about a stubborn, smelly, snorty ogre with warts, William Steig’s Shrek, and that makes her grab more books about ogres, just like her. The cartoon-style illustrations extend the comedy in images of the expressive girl and her librarian, who dresses in wild miniskirts, boots, and flowers and is far from the usual stereotype. Lots of fun for avid and reluctant readers alike."

Booklist. (2010, March 1). [Review of the book Miss Brooks loves books 


        (and I don't), by B. Bottner]. Booklist, 106(13), 32. Retrieved from

           http://www.book listonline.com

     

Horn Book

"A first grader finds her school librarian's passion for books "vexing," to say the least. The free-spirited Miss Brooks communicates her love for books by dressing up in costumes ranging from a Wild Thing to Abe Lincoln, but while the rest of the class participates enthusiastically, the little girl remains unmoved. She also dismisses her classmates' book choices: "Too flowery"; "Too clickety." But when her mother brings out a book about an ogre with warts -- William Steig's Shrek! -- she finally meets a book she can love. In Emberley's ebullient pencil and watercolor pictures, Miss Brooks's engaging personality shines through in her colorful clothes and her wild hair, while the little girl's stubbornness is reflected in her wearing the same outfit day after day. This celebration of books and the need for kids to find the right book will make a great story to read during Children's Book Week -- and every week."

Horn Book. (2010, October 1). [Review of the book Miss Brooks 

        loves books (and I don't), by B. Bottner]. Retrieved from

        http://www.hbook.com

Uses within the Library:


1. Book Buffet: Have students rewrite the ending of the story. Then create a book buffet by placing each student's book at each pre-determined spot within the library.  Assign each student a spot.  The students will read  the new endings for the book at their spot for three minutes.  Use a timer to announce when the time is expired.  Students will rotate around to get a "sampling" of each new ending.  This will spark their interest in writing stories.

2. Sell-it: Allow students to set up a booth with copies of Miss Brooks Likes Books (and I Don't).  Students will create decorations and posters about why others should read the book.  When other classes come into the library allow the "book sellers" to use their booth to present all the reasons why kids should read the book to "sell" their book.

Book Cover: Book cover courtesy of the Mansfield Public Library.
Retrieved from http://www.mansfield-tx.gov/departments/library/