Module 14 - Poetry and Story Collections



Florian, D. (2007). Comets, stars, the moon, and Mars.
Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc. 



Summary:
Florian shares many facts about comets, stars, the moon, and Mars through the use of poetry.  There are 20 poems for a young astronomer to enjoy while they explore the colorful illustrations.  The book gives many facts about our solar system including A Galactic Glossary.

My Impression:
What a great way to learn about our solar system than through these wonderful poems.  Children will enjoy the illustrations throughout this great book.  Florian exposes children to the use of poetry through a subject that children take great delight in.

Reviews:
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars
Booklist
Gr. 3-5.  This large-format book looks at astronomy through the magnifying, clarifying lens of poetry. Each broad double-page spread features a short, accessible poem about a subject such as the sun, each of its planets, a comet, a constellation, or the universe, set within an impressive painting. A concrete poem entitled "a galaxy" is a curling spiral of words set against the midnight-blue sky and surrounded by other galaxies. Stamped type, cutout pages, collage elements with printed papers, and sweeping brushstrokes all figure prominently in the expressive collage artwork, which ably illustrates the verse. The last pages carry "A Galactic Glossary" with a paragraph on the topic of each poem, followed by a list of books and Web sites. Florian's ode to Pluto matter-of-factly notes its demoted status, but even better is his pithy poem on Jupiter: "Jupiter's jumbo, / Gigantic, / Immense, / So wide / Side to side, / But gaseous, not dense. / With some sixteen moons / It's plainly prolific-- / So super-dupiter / Jupiterrific!" Read this aloud.
Phelan, C. (2007). Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars. Booklist, 103(15), 50.

Suggested Library:
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars could be used as a study of poetry to illustrate the different ways poems can be used and written.  Children who might be resistant to poetry should enjoy this book and see how great poetry can be.
 

Module 13 - Graphic Novels & Series Books

Warner, G. (1977). The boxcar children.
Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Co.

Summary:
The four Alden children are orphans and they are determined to stay together.  They run away and soon find themselves living in an old railroad boxcar in the woods.  They experience many adventures as they attempt to survive living in a boxcar.


My Impression:
The Boxcar Children series is a delightful series involving various mysteries these children take part in solving. This first book in the series sets the stage for the numerous books to follow.  The first book in the series was originally published in 1942.  The story of these responsible children does reflect the way of life of the 1940s.  Inspite of the age of the story students do still enjoy the adventures of these children.

Reviews:

The Boxcar Children
Children's Literature Comprehensive Database
K-3rd.  This is the first book in the series about the Boxcar Children. The Alden children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny, are orphans. They could live with their grandfather, but they are afraid he would be mean to them. So they decide to take care of themselves and find a home in an old, abandoned boxcar. They are very resourceful and take care of themselves rather well. But when Violet gets sick, they must find help. Find out if Violet gets well and learn about the surprise in store for the Boxcar children when they finally meet their grandfather.
Jeanenne. (n.d.). The Boxcar Children. Children's Literature Reviews. Retrieved from www.clcd.com

Suggested Library Use:
A lesson could be developed taking the original Boxcar Children book(s) and the new graphic novel adaptation of the Boxcar Children and compare and contrast the two books. 

Book Trailer - How Angel Peterson Got His Name

Animoto Productions. (2012). Animoto. Retrieved from

http://animoto.com/create

Paulsen, G. (2004). How Angel Peterson  got his name. 

New York, NY:  Random House Children's Books.

Book Trailer - Disasters

Animoto Productions. (2012). Animoto. Retrieved from
http://animoto.com/create

Guiberson, B. (2010) Disasters: Natural and man-made catastrophes
through the centuries. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Module 12 - Biography & Autobiography

Paulsen, G. (2004). How Angel Peterson  got his name. 
New York, NY:  Random House Children's Books.


Summary:
Gary Paulsen writes an autobiography of his life as a 13 year old.  He shares the many daredevil stunts he and his friends perform.  Some of the stunts include going over a waterfall in a wooden barrel, attempting to set a new world record for speed on skis, and to wrestling a bear.

My Impression:
This book was unlike any autobiography I have ever read.  It was very entertaining and scary to think that a 13 yr. old boy would attempt some of these stunts.  It should be a grat read for boys this age.

Reviews:
How Angel Peterson Got His Name
Booklist
Suggested Library Use:
A librarian could use this book as part of an author study on Gary Paulsen.  Its use would be a great addition to the writing of an autobiography doesn't have to be dry and uninteresting.

Gr. 6–9. Every boy who is 13 or about to be 13 or who remembers being 13 should read this short story collection based on people and events from Paulsen’s own life.  Even though the action takes place 50 or so years ago, they will recognize themselves.  And every girl who has ever liked a 13-year-old-boy, or been related to one, or wondered about one, should read this, too, because although the book doesn’t explain why boys like to do things like pee on electric fences, it does give an insight into how their funny little minds work.  Writing with humor and sensitivity, Paulsen shows boys moving into adolescence believing they can do anything: wrestle with bears; shoot waterfalls in a

barrel; fly eight-by-twelve-foot Army surplus kites—and hang on, even as they land in the chicken coop. None of them dies (amazingly), and even if Paulsen exaggerates the teensiest bit, his tales are sidesplittingly funny and more than a little frightening.

DeCandido, G. A. (2002). How Angel Peterson Got His Name. Booklist, 99(8), 754.

Book Trailer - The Teacher's Funeral

Animoto Productions. (2012). Animoto. Retrieved from
http://animoto.com/create

Peck, R. (2006). The teacher's funeral. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

Module 11 - Informational Books

Guiberson, B. (2010) Disasters: Natural and man-made catastrophes
through the centuries. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Summary:
Natural and man-made disasters have occured every since time began.  These disasters change people and the world around us.  Guiberson does a great job sharing about these events and the effects they've had on the the world.  Some of the disasters recounted are the Chicago fire of the 1870s, Hurricane Katrina, and many other disasters.

My Impression:
Brenda Guiberson wrote a great book with very solid historical facts woven among the great affects of these disasters on mankind.  There are well placed photos throughout the text to assist with this engaging informational text.

Reviews:
Disasters: Natural and Man-Made Catastrophes Through the Centuries
Booklist
Gr. 5-8  Taking on a theme with great dramatic appeal, each of the book's 10 chapters presents a notable disaster: outbreaks of smallpox in North America beginning in the 1600s, the Great Chicago Fire, the Johnstown Flood, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the sinking of the Titanic, the 1918 flu pandemic, the 1930s Dust Bowl, the 2004 tsunami, and the drowning of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Guiberson's thorough research and clear presentation occasionally goes beyond the obvious facts to broaden the scope of discussion and her readers' horizons. The chapter on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire ends with a discussion of sweatshops in the world today and how to avoid buying clothing depending on their labor. The Johnstown Flood chapter discusses industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, a member of the private club whose faulty lake dam gave way and caused the disaster. Illustrations, mainly photos and drawings, appear throughout the book. Chapter-by-chapter notes and bibliographies are appended. Useful for research and often fascinating, this is a very readable presentation of historical disasters.
Phelan, C. (2010). Disasters: Natural and man-made catastrophes through the centuries, Booklist, 106(18), 36.

Suggested Library Use:
This book could be a great resource for a librarian to suggest to students or teachers studying disasters in general or if they were to be focusing on one of these disasters.  There are accurate facts and photos that would be a great reference.

Module 10 - Historical Fiction

Ingold, J. (2005). Hitch.
Orlando, FL: Harcourt Books.

Summary:
This novel tells the story involving the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the Depression in Montana.  The creation of the CCC was to provide employment for young men to aid their families financially while improving various parts of the US by planting trees, building dams, and other land improvement projects.  These young men accomplished much while learning many of life's lessons.

My Impression:
This book was very engaging as these young men helped our nation through some tough times.  The day to day occurances were very typical lessons that young people can only learn through daily experiences.  I enjoyed reading about some of the projects that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) were involved in.

Reviews:
Hitch
Booklist
Gr. 8-11. Ingold does something quite interesting here. She takes a topic, the Civilian Conservation Corps, that few teens have heard of and even fewer are interested in and works a credible, involving story around it. Moreover, both her writing style and her 1930s setting feels totally true to the time. Often teens in historical novels seem like today's youth, merely plunked down in a different era. That's not true of protagonist Moss Trulawany, who seems utterly of his time. After being laid off from his job at an airstrip, Moss sets out to find his father, who is supposed to be working to help his family. But Mr. Trulawany is really an unemployed drunk, so it's up to Moss to find work. Through a string of fortunate events in which some people care enough to help him, Moss finds a job in Montana with the CCC, where, to his surprise, his leadership qualities surface. Some of the characters and situations are stock (as they might have been in 1930s books or movies), but the good versus bad simplicity of many of the incidents works in context. The story is often moving as Moss, through the CCC, changes lives, especially his own.
Cooper, I. (2005). Hitch. Booklist, 101(18), 1669.

Suggested Library Use:
Sharing this book with students could be used as an extension of their study of US history in the 1930's.  This historical fiction books will engage students in events that took place in the history of America.