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/