Children's Books For Storytime and Beyond

Book Review: Black and White by David Macaulay

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:34:00 +0000

Title: Black and White
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Sandpiper (October 24, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0618636870
ISBN-13: 978-0618636877
Themes: Caldecott Medal, Perception, Imagination, Ages 4 - 8

When more than one person experiences something, be it a train wreck, a snowstorm, or even a drive out in the country, each persons story is going to be slightly different. Their story will depend upon a number of factors, including where they were during the event/trip, their previous knowledge base, and how much they were paying attention at the time.

What the book Black and White does is to take the idea of how the same event can be perceived in many different ways, and places 4 different views on each page. Each view is an individual story, which when combined with the other three stories (or viewpoints) creates a fifth story. The individual stories are: Seeing Things, Problem Parents, A Waiting Game, and Udder Chaos.

This is an amazingly inventive and creative way to tell a story. It is a book which can be read numerous times, and each time will be a little different from the last. I wouldn't recommend reading this to a large group of children, but it would be a fantastic book to read with one or two children.

Although the recommended reading level is 4 - 8, I think this could be a fantastic book for older students to teach about point of view and perception.

Book Review: Penny From Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:20:00 +0000

Title: Penny from Heaven
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Yearling (December 26, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0375836896
ISBN-13: 978-0375836893
Themes: Prejudice, World War II, Death, Family, Italian-Americans

Eleven-year old Penny lives with her mother, Me-Me and Pop-Pop in New Jersey in the early 1950's. Her late father's Italian-American family love to give Penny gifts, and Penny greatly prefers Nonny's cooking over Me-Me's!

Penny's two favorite people are her mother and her Uncle Dominic. Uncle Dominic is a bit different, but he and Penny share a love of the Dodger's. Although all her uncles love to give her gifts, Uncle Dominc's are her favorite.

Frankie, an older cousin, is Penny's best friend. He talks Penny into escapades which aren't always good ideas. This summer, one of Frankie's escapades takes a tragic turn. One that ultimately brings family secrets into the open, and changes the lives of both sides of Penny's family.

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Penny from Heaven is one of those books which grabs you from the beginning and makes you not want to put it down until you are finished. It will make you laugh, cry, gasp in horror, cringe, and rejoice. This book deals with a little known aspect of World War II in the United States. Most people know about how the Japanese-Americans were treated during that time, but not so much has been written about the treatment of Italian-Americans. Just one innocent incident, and two families lives changed forever.

I would suggest reading this book with your child - especially a 9 or 10 year old. It will certainly spark many thoughtful conversations on the effects of prejudice, the importance of family, and learning how to forgive.

Book Review: Best Friends and Drama Queens (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls) ; by Meg Cabot

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Title: Best Friends And Drama Queens (Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls)
Series: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls
Volume: 3
Author: Meg Cabot
Publisher: Scholastic Press (February 1, 2010)
Reading Level: Ages 9 - 12
ISBN-10: 0545040442
ISBN-13: 978-0545040440
Categories: Bullies, Friendship, Boy-Girl relationships, Family

Eleven year-old Allie Finkle looks at life with a sense of humor and wisdom beyond her years. In each of the books in this series, Allie makes a "rule" that she thinks is good for girls, based on events in her life.

In Best Friend's and Drama Queens Allie and her best friend's are coming back to school after winter break. There is a great deal of excitement due to the new girl joining the class from Canada. Cheyenne, the new girl, quickly becomes popular with the students of Room 209, mainly due to her apparent lack of timidness and how she dresses.

At first, Allie and her friends think that Cheyenne is pretty great, and they try to befriend her. But soon enough they find out that Cheyenne's way of dealing with people is to belittle and demean. Allie questions whether or not she and her friends are being immature for enjoying the games and activities they do, and which Cheyenne makes fun of.

The troubles in Room 209 threaten to end the friendships of several of Allie's best friends. Can Allie stand up to the bully like behavior of Cheyenne? Will her friends forgive each other and find the strength to stand up to Cheyenne?

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I read this book because the series was listed on the syllabus of the Children's Lit class section I thought I was going to be in. (I'm however in a different section, and this book isn't on that list.) I listened to it while traveling on various planes over the holidays, and many times had to stifle my laughter. Recently, I recommended this series of books to my mom for one of her tutoring students who is a reluctant sixth-grade reader. They both are now addicted to the books. :)

I've read many other books by Meg Cabot (Princess Diaries) and I feel that she has really outshone herself with Allie Finkle. If you know of a child who is having trouble dealing with a bully, or is wondering about whether or not they are "too old" to be playing different games, and they love to laugh ... then I suggest checking out this book series!

Starting a New Semester

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:10:00 +0000

Today a new semester has begun. One of the classes I am taking is all about Children's Literature. An ongoing assignment in that class is to make blog posts about a certain number of books each week. We also will have five journal entries. So, this blog is going to see some activity again. :)

I am very much enjoying the classes I have taken so far to become a school librarian, and am looking forward to my classes this semester.

(I am also trying out something new to me - emailing a post. If this works well, then I might just be able to be more active on ALL my blogs.) :)

Book Review: Being Jacob - First Day of School

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Title: Being Jacob: First Day of School
Author: Suzy Koch
Illustrator: Willow Raven
Publisher: 4RV Publishing; 2009
Pages: 24
ISBN: 978-0-9840708-1-7
Ages: 3 - 6
Themes: First Day Jitters, School, Family

This is a sweet story of a little boy named Jacob who is very nervous about starting pre-school. His family all come along to send him off into his new adventure. Once he sees a familiar face, he becomes much more comfortable with the idea of going to school.

If you have a little one who is nervous about starting their first day, this would be a good book to help alleviate some of their fears.

Book Review: Benny and Penny In Just Pretend

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Title: Benny and Penny: Just Pretend
Author: Geoffrey Hayes
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Raw Junior, LLC (April 7, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0979923808
Themes: Sibling Relationships, Bravery, Graphic Novel

Benny likes to pretend that he is a brave pirate. His little sister Penny wants to play with him too, but Benny isn't very excited about that idea. After getting Penny to leave him alone, he finds out that playing by himself may not really be what he wants.

--

This is a classic story of a little sister who looks up to her older brother and wants to be like him, but he doesn't want anything to do with her. Then by the end of the story, he learns a lesson about the value of his little sister.

The comic book layout and the repetition of words both help the young independent reader to be able to enjoy the story on their own. The story itself is one which would be good for group sharing, and many repeated readings. It reminds me somewhat of Kevin Henkes book, Julius, the Baby of the World.

To Dance: a ballerina's graphic novel By: Siena Cherson Siegel

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Title: To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
Author: Siena Cherson Siegel
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 64 pages
ISBN: 0689867476
Themes: Non-fiction, Biography, Dance, Graphic Novel

From the time I was in Kindergarten until the fourth grade, I had the opportunity to take ballet lessons once a week. I absolutely loved it. My parents put me in ballet to help me with my lack of coordination. I ended up choosing to give it up so I could continue my piano lessons, because I thought piano would be a better skill for a teacher to have than ballet.

Siena, at a very early age loved to dance. She felt that everywhere she went with wide open spaces called to her to fill the space with dance. After being diagnosed with flat feet, her parents put her in dance classes. Her family at that time lived in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

As the years went by, her love of dance never waned. She eventually was accepted into the School of American Ballet in New York City. Though it was a lot of hard work and sacrifice, she loved what she did. Dance.

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This book does not have a lot of words. It doesn't really need it. The pictures and the words work together seamlessly to tell the story. The beginning and the ending tie in together in a magical and heartwarming way.

If you have a child, or know of a child, who loves to dance, then this is a book that they will treasure.

Branching Out Into a New Genre

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:39:00 +0000

Two weeks from today I will be starting my first class towards my Master's of Library Sciences. Since I am starting during a 5-week summer term, I am only able to begin with one class. That actually suits me quite well since it has been a few years (8?) since I've had to do any college level coursework.

I was told that I would have to start with my elective. The main option available for this particular term is about Grapic Novels and Comics for Youth and Adults.

While looking at the course requirements, I noticed that it listed quite a few books which we would read. All but a few of them were comic books. Personally, I enjoy some of the short comic strips such as Cathy, Peanuts, or even Garfield, but I've never really understood the appeal of reading an entire book written in comic strip form.

However, I am more than willing to stretch my mind, and even get graduate credit for reading Spiderman 3, and then watching the movie of Spiderman 3. :) There were also a number of other comic book/movie options, such as Iron Man, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Fantastic Four. I considered choosing Iron Man, because, well ... I've seen it twice already and wouldn't mind seeing it a third time. But instead, I decided to expand my horizons by choosing American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar which was in the genre of Non-Fiction/Independent.

Some of the other books I will be reading (and have picked up from the library already) include: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, Watchmen, Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History and Pedro and Me.

Remember how earlier I mentioned that I had never really understood the appeal of reading a full book written in the form of a comic strip? Well, last week as I was stacking my books by my desk, I just so happened to open up Pedro and Me. I started reading it from about the middle, and could not put it down.

Pedro and Me definitely is not a book for the ten and under set, but it is an extremely powerful book. It is written and illustrated by Judd Winwick, who along with Pedro and 5 other people appeared on the show The Real World: Los Angeles. Telling Pedro's story through using comics I think made a story which was already powerful, even more so.

If the other comic strip based books are even half as good as Pedro and Me, I may just have to add a new genre to my reading repertoire.

Book Review: Now One Foot, Now The Other by Tomie De Paola

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:40:00 +0000

Title: Now One Foot, Now the Other
Author: Tomie De Paola
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Puffin (June 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0142401048
Themes: Grandparents, Illness, Love

This is a beautiful story of the love between a grandfather and a grandson.

When little Bobby was born, his grandfather, who also was named Bobby, decided that he should be called Bob.

Bob spent lots of time with Bobby. Eventually Bobby said his first word, "Bob." As Bobby grew, Bob taught him how to walk. "Now one foot, now the other," Bob would say.

Bob and Bobby enjoyed playing with a set of 30 wooden blocks. They would work together to stack them. Sometimes they could get half of them stacked, and other times all but one. The elephant block would always go last.

Shortly after Bobby's fifth birthday, Bob had a stroke. At first Bobby was scared because Bob wasn't the person he remembered. Then one day Bob showed Bobby that he did recognize him.

Bobby then tirelessly worked with his grandpa. He remembered how Bob had taught him how to walk, and did the same for his grandpa. "Now one foot, now the other."

Illustrator Interview: Rachel Henson and The Angry Thunderstorm

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:20:00 +0000

Rachel Henson, the 17-year old niece of Carol Keesee who wrote The Angry Thunderstorm, took some time out of her summer vacation to help us get to know her better.

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1.When did you know that you wanted to become an artist?

It was only in the past two or three years actually. I started drawing in the eighth grade and it just sort of spiraled on from there.

2. What was your inspiration for the drawings in the Angry Thunderstorm?

My little sister Sarah. She's deathly afraid of thunder and lightning, so I wanted to draw a character who could look mean but still be cute and fluffy at the same time.

3. Were you frightened of thunderstorms when you were younger?

I think I was, but only because of tornadoes. Storms frightened me because I associated them with tornadoes. If it was just rain and thunder I would have probably been outside playing in it, worrying my Grandma to death. Any mention of a tornado and I was laying on the bathroom floor with every blanket in the house reading books to my dollies.

4. What is your favorite medium to express yourself?

It really depends on what I'm drawing, but I always start with pencil & pen outlines then I make copies so I can experiment with other mediums without messing up the original drawing. Pastels are fun. I hate charcoal with a fiery passion, but only because I have no patience. I like pretty much everything.

5. What advice would you give to others who may want to become an artist?

Just go for it, even if you don't think you're good enough. Rome wasn't built in a day and artistic skill doesn't just happen overnight. It takes practice and passion and accepting that sometimes you're going to mess up. You have to keep at it if it's what you want. At the risk of sounding like a Disney movie, you have to follow your dreams because even if you aren’t that good in the beginning (like me). If you keep practicing and wait awhile you can churn out some masterpieces that will blow all previous attempts out of the water.

6. What do you like to do when you're not drawing?

Playing X-Box or Nintendo, depending on my mood; or hanging out with friends discussing serious things and completely random things.

7. What subject(s) do you like best in school?

I like Chemistry and English (and art of course) the most. I would like math, but it's basically memorization and I don't do that well. Plus, I'm one of those obnoxious kids who wants to know why the rules exist instead of just accepting that A x A + B x B = C x C just because some dead guy ( no offense Pythagoras) said so.

8. What was one of your favorite books as a child and why?

Dr. Seuss is still my all time favorite just because I love the pictures and the stories are so cute, quirky, and they rhyme! What more can a child ask for?

Book Review: Alejandro's Gift by Richard E Albert

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:00:00 +0000

Title: Alejandro's Gift
Author: Richard E Albert
Illustrator: Sylvia Long
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 40 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 1, 1996)
ISBN-10: 0811813428
Themes: Friendship, Environment, Gifts, Animals, Gardens, Deserts

A lonely man lives in the desert. He didn't have very many visitors, and even when he did, he'd still feel lonely after they left. To help pass time he decided to make a garden.

As he made his garden a curious thing began to happen. First he had a visit from a ground squirrel. After the squirrel left, Alejandro realized that his loneliness had left for a little while, and he hoped that the squirrel would return.

Eventually, as the garden continued to grow, more and more animals came to visit. Time passed more quickly for Alejandro, and he realized that he didn't feel so lonely anymore. One day he was thinking about whether there was anything more important than making himself less lonely. He realized that there was, and then he began to take measures to accomplish it.

In the end, Alejandro realizes that when you do something for someone else, or for something else, that the gift you receive back is so much more than what you give.

Poetry Spotlight: Shel Silverstein's The Missing Piece

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 +0000

The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein is the story of a circle who is missing a piece. It is sad because it feels that the only way to find happiness is to acquire the missing piece. So the circle begins a journey to find what it is missing. Along the way, it learns many lessons as it finds various missing pieces. By the end of the story, the circle learns a very important lesson about the value of being happy just as you are.

This story can be enjoyed by all ages, but I think the deeper meaning of it would be more appreciated by older students.

This is a song that the circle sang as it looked for it's missing piece:

Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
I'm lookin' for my missin' piece
Hi-dee-ho, here I go,
Lookin' for my missin' piece.

Shel Silverstein wrote a companion book to the Missing Piece, called The Missing Piece Meets the Big O. This is the story of one of the Missing Pieces that the circle met. The Missing Piece is looking for it's perfect fit. It wants to roll like others. Finally one day it meets the Big O who teaches the missing piece how to achieve his dream.

National Center for Children's Illustrated Books

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:00:00 +0000

This past March I had the opportunity to visit the National Center for Children's Illustrated Books (NCCILL) located in Abilene, Texas. I had never heard of it until I started researching for ideas of things to do while I was in Abilene to take my GRE (Graduate Record Exam.)

Needless to say, seeing as though I am wanting to become a Children's Librarian, I was quite excited to find out that there was something like that where I was going. It also helped that the admission was priced just right, free.

The NCCILL is divided into two parts. Part of it is comprised of a bookstore. All of the books in the bookstore are by authors/artists who have had their books displayed at the museum. I found out that there are many books available for purchase which are signed by the author.

I was quite excited to see books by Kevin Henkes. Unfortunately, they did not have any copies of his books which were signed. However, they did have a selection of William Steig's books, alas, no signatures, but on sale. So, of course, I had to pick up a copy of Brave Irene .

The second part of the NCCILL is comprised of a showing of one author/illustrator's work. On display when I was there was Ashley Bryan. There were about 15 of his books located on podiums around the room, along with numerous displays of the illustrations. I found it very interesting to see some of his sketches and compare them to the final product.

Each author/illustrator's work remains on display for approximately 10 weeks.

If you are ever in the Abilene area, I would highly recommend a visit here, especially if you have children.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of NCCILL

Author Interview: Carol Henson Keesee

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:13:00 +0000

Carol Henson Keesee, the author of The Angry Thunderstorm was kind enough to answer some questions to help us know her better.

________________________________________
What inspired you to write the story of the Angry Thunderstorm?

When my children were small, they were frightened by storms. They would run into my bedroom in the middle of the night and crawl into bed, between my husband and I. We would lay in bed and their little bodies would tense at the sounds of the wind whipping about, the rolling thunder and the crashes of light. To calm them, I told them that the winds were blowing so hard because they had to clean the air we breathe. The lightning helped animals find their way home when the clouds grew too dark. The thunder gave us a warning to find shelter. Instead of focusing on the nastiness of the storm, I tried to help them focus on all the nice things the storm was doing for us; only using the intensity that was necessary for him to do his job. One stormy afternoon, I went to pick up my son from pre-school and I overheard him telling a little friend that the storm wasn’t really angry, he was just very busy. It was that moment that prompted me to write the story of The Angry Thunderstorm.

2. Have you written any other stories?

I have written other stories that we hope to publish in the near future.

One story is about a Texas landmark, a great oak tree that has stood for hundreds of years. He has witnessed many events in Texas history, including the signing of treaties. In fact, that is how he got his name, Treaty Oak. The story is told through a conversation among other trees native to Texas - the Cedars, the Pines, the Willows and the sweet Magnolias. They have heard rumors in the breeze that’s come from all the whispering from the other trees that their legendary friend has fallen victim to a tragic misdeed. They recount stories of many historical events the tree has witnessed, the Texans that who found shade beneath his branches and the symbol that Texas will lose if he indeed perishes. This story encourages us to consider the environment, to appreciate nature and to treasure our heritage.

There are two others stories that have been produced but not yet copyrighted. I cannot share many details about them at this time, other than to say that they have been well received by children we have shared them with.

3. Have you heard from any of your readers? What do they say?

Our biggest response has been from teachers and reading specialists across the country. We have a wonderful relationship with Reading Instruction Co., based in Austin, Texas. Ann B. Fiala, the Founder, is a wonderful friend and reading mentor to teachers across the country. She read The Angry Thunderstorm and loved it so much that she provided the blurb on the back cover and created a vocabulary study, graphic organizer and Reader’s Theater focused on the book. Ann seizes every opportunity to read the book aloud to educators; then brainstorm with them the many ways this picture book can be used as an instructional resource.

The Angry Thunderstorm is currently being used in classroom settings that range from reading instruction in elementary levels to creative writing in high school English classes. Teachers appreciate the rhyme & rhythm included in the book language, its robust vocabulary, and personification. Teachers are delighted to find multiple ways to use The Angry Thunderstorm as excellent tool to teach many different reading dynamics, including the literary elements of a short story.

Very young children have embraced the book as well. I wrote an article not long ago about the measure of a truly good children’s book and the three little indicator words that are telling of a book’s success. I always listen for, “Read it again.” I have yet to do a read aloud when I am not asked to read the book again. As an author, that is truly a great feeling.

4. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I do not make my living by writing. I work for a large advertising agency in Austin, Texas and I love my career. So, writing is really my escape. When I’m not working or writing, I love the outdoors. I like to walk every morning. My morning walk is when I get a lot of ideas for new stories. I also like to explore new trails and cooking and entertaining my friends. And… I love Texas Longhorn football. Hook ‘Em Horns!

5. What was one of your favorite subjects when you were in school?

My favorite subject in school was English and Creative Writing. One teacher in my high school was so passionate about writing that her love of writing spilled over into the classroom. Every other day, she would put a simple sentence fragment on the blackboard, i.e. “The old woman sat by the fire…” At the end of class, we would turn in our completed stories. The next day, we would read the different tales that had been spawned from that one sentence fragment. It was really interesting. That class truly ignited a passion for writing.

6. Were you frightened of thunderstorms when you were younger?

As a child, I was frightened by thunderstorms. I witnessed the fury of a storm and associated it with something unseen – and much bigger. That fear later turned into resentment during my teen years. The rain was never welcomed because it always seemed to put a damper on plans that I had made. As I reached adulthood, I began to look at storms differently. I realized they were a necessity and their presence became calming – even relaxing. Today, for me, there is nothing better than to see a dark cloud on the horizon and hear the low grumble of a thunderstorm in the distance. I always know that after the storm, everything will be clean and recharged – including my spirit.

7. What would you suggest to someone who would like to become a writer?

My suggestion to other writers is, “Don’t hold back.” Write from the heart and with purpose. The purpose for The Angry Thunderstorm was to help children deal with their fear of storms by providing an alternative and positive way to look at them. My purpose for writing any story is to provide a medium for addressing topics in a manner that is honest, understandable and encouraging or inspirational.

8. What was one of your favorite books when you were a child and why?

I always loved Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. Goosey Goosey Gander. Little Jack Horner sat in a corner. Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye... Nursery rhymes were short and melodic, nonsensical – and always fun. Perhaps Mother Goose shaped my love of poetry ; I have always been drawn to stories that use rhythm and rhyme. Now that I am an author, using rhythm and rhyme to tell my stories, I can honestly say that I have a new appreciation for both Mother Goose and Dr. Seuss. There I go with the rhyming again...

______________________________________________

Thank you Carol for letting us know a little more about you and the story behind The Angry Thunderstorm. I for one, am quite interested to see what your next books are like.

Book Review: Wump World by Bill Peet

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Title: The Wump World
Author: Bill Peet
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Sandpiper (April 27, 1981)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0395311292

The Wump World by Bill Peet is the story of a gentle and gracious species called Wumps.

The Wump World was a small world, very much smaller than our world. There were no great oceans, lofty mountains, giant forests or broad sandy deserts. The Wump World was mostly grassy meadows and clumps of leafy green trees with a few winding rivers and lakes. But it was perfect for the Wumps who were the only living creatures there.

Everything in Wump World was peaceful, really quite a pleasant place to live. Until one day a new group invaded their world -- The Pollutians.

The Pollutians were from the planet Pollutus. Their planet had become worn out, so they were in search of a new place to live.

In a very short while, Wump World is no longer the beautiful and peaceful world the Wumps had always known. The Pollutians completely took over their world. Would Wump World ever be the same again?

Book Review: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:28:00 +0000

Author: Dr. Suess
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 72 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (August 12, 1971)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0394823370
Themes: Environment, Pollution, Citizenship, Greed

The Lorax by Dr. Suess is the story of the Once-ler. It is a story of how greed can destroy not only friendships, but also the world around you. The Once-ler learns that his actions do have consequences, sometimes long lasting consequences, which can be difficult to change.

Unless.

In The Lorax, you will meet the Swanee-Swans, the Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Humming Fish, the Lorax and of course the Truffula Trees. The Truffla Trees play an integral part in the story of the Once-ler and the Lorax.

Air, water and land pollution eventually cause the departure of most of the creatures we meet. At the end of the story when it seems as though all hope is lost, a glimmer of hope is given.

This story is good for introducing children to the effects that over-industrilization can have on our environment. Other themes which can be explored are that of greed, friendship, pollution, and how we can help make changes for the better.

Where the Grickle-grass grows
and the wind smells slow-and-sour when it blows
and no birds ever sing excepting old crows...
is the Street of the Lifted Lorax. And deep in the Grickle-grass, some people say,
if you look deep enough you can still see, today,
where the Lorax once stood
just as long as it could
before somebody lifted the Lorax away.
The old Once-ler still lives here.
Ask him. He knows.

What was the Lorax?
And why was it there?
And why was it lifted and taken somewhere
from the far end of town where the Grickle-grass grows?

Video: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:42:00 +0000

A video of The Lorax can be viewed on YouTube. It is shown in six different parts. In consideration of those on dial up or slower DSL connections, I will only embed the first section, and then provide the links to the remainder. A DVD version which includes Dr. Seuss - The Lorax/Pontoffel Pock & His Magic Piano is also available for purchase.

The Lorax, Part 1 of 6:

The Lorax, Part 2 of 6

The Lorax, Part 3 of 6

The Lorax, Part 4 of 6

The Lorax, Part 5 of 6

And finally, The Lorax, Part 6 of 6

Book Review: Saving Strawberry Farm by Deborah Hopkinson

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 24 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Title: Saving Strawberry Farm
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Rachel Isadora
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 26, 2005)
ISBN: 06881744000
Themes: Great Depression, Citizenship, Auctions, Country Life

It’s 1933 and in the midst of the Great Depression. A time where many families lost their jobs and struggled to get by. Farmers had additional problems due to a lack of rain, and times of great heat. It was difficult for many farmers to keep their farms.

In 1933 a penny could buy several pieces of candy, or even a pound of sugar. It also could be the catalyst for saving someones farm from being foreclosed on.

In Saving Strawberry Farm Davey earns a penny for helping Elsie Elkins take her groceries out to the car. He could use that to buy candy for him and his sister, who rarely have the chance for a treat like that.

But before he has a chance to spend that penny, he learns that Elsie Elkins is about to lose her strawberry farm that evening in an auction. Mr. Russell, the store owner offers a suggestion which may save Strawberry Farm – a penny auction.

Will the neighbors come together and support Elsie Elkins? Will Mr. Russell’s idea for a penny auction save the day? Will Davey spend his penny?

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This is a fantastic story to illustrate to younger children some of what the Great Depression was like, although it never mentions The Great Depression. It also would be a wonderful way to springboard a discussion about what it means to be a good neighbor and how something great can start from something small.

Poetry Spotlight: Today Is Very Boring by Jack Prelutsky

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 22 May 2009 07:18:00 +0000

Today's Poetry Spotlight focuses on the poem "Today Is Very Boring" by Jack Prelutsky." This poem can be found in the book, The New Kid on the Block.

Unlike in last weeks poem, Sara Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out, by Shel Silverstein, which used the device of exaggeration to make a point, todays poem uses understatement.

Although the poet claims that the day is very boring, he continuously suggests things which are happening that are not boring. The use of understatement in this poem, especially if read in a very bored tone and slow pace, easily causes children to burst into gales of laughter.

Today is very boring,

it's a very boring day,

there is nothing much to look at,

there is nothing much to say,

there's a peacock on my sneakers,

there's a penguin on my head,

there's a dormouse on my doorstep,

I am going back to bed. . .

Someone made a video using pictures from Flickr reading it in the most perfect tone and pacing. Unfortunately towards the very end, they chose a picture which has a curse word. With that in mind, here is a link to it: Today Is Very Boring.

Book Review: A Packet of Seeds by Deborah Hopkinson

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Title: A Packet of Seeds
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Bethanne Andersen
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow (March 30, 2004)
ISBN: 0060090898
Themes: Pioneers, Homesickness, Friendship, Gardens

Pa is restless and wants to move his family out west to where it isn't so crowded. Ma doesn't want to leave her sister and her friends, but out of respect for Pa she doesn't argue.

On the morning the family was leaving, Ma was surrounded by her sister and friends. Each one of them hugged her and gave her one last kiss – and a packet of seeds.

Ma loved flowers, she would say that

friends and flowers are a lot alike. No matter how bad your troubles, they gladden your heart.

Soon Ma and Pa and Mary and Jimmy started on their long journey west. When they finally arrived at their destination, Ma was disheartened to see how brown and dusty it was. Pa though was excited and full of hope and ready to work hard.

As time passed, Pa built a sod house to keep them sheltered during the winter storms. The house kept them warm and safe, but it didn't keep out the sound of the prairie winds, or the howls of the coyotes.

When spring came a new baby also arrived. Ma missed her old home and her friends so much that she didn't even have the energy to name the baby.

Then one day, Mary came up with a plan to help her Ma feel better, and maybe not miss their old home so much.

- - -

This is a sweet, touching story of a pioneer family and some of the struggles they faced. It also shows how a daughter's love for her mother can help find a way to bring sunshine back.

Book Review: The Angry Thunderstorm by Carol Henson Keesee

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:42:00 +0000

Title: The Angry Thunderstorm

Author: Carol Henson Keesee

Ages: 2 - 8

Pages: 40

ISBN: 9781438943343

Publisher: Authorhouse (April 3, 2009)

Themes: Weather, Emotions, Personification

A little girl is sound asleep in her bed, when suddenly she is awoken by a flash of lightning and a boom of thunder. She is frightened by the angry sounds and startling light flashes of the thunder and lightning. Soon, in her window, appears the Angry Thunderstorm.

At first all the little girl notices is the powerful winds of the Angry Thunderstorm, and the frightening noises it made. But then the Angry Thunderstorm begins to talk to her. He is sad that she is frightened of him, and so he begins to explain to her why he causes the wind to blow so hard, and the reasons for the thunder and lightning.

As he continues to talk to her, both the little girl and the Angry Thunderstorm begin to calm. Gradually the Angry Thunderstorm begins to leave, and the little girl is lulled back to sleep.

---

If you have a child who is frightened when it is stormy out, this is a fantastic book to help calm their fears and give them a different perspective on what is happening. It also would be a very good book to use as part of a weather study or as an example of personification.

The illustrator, Rachel Henson, is the 17 year-old niece of the author. The illustrations express the changing emotions of both the Angry Thunderstorm and the little girl throughout the story beautifully.

Book Review: Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Title: Miss Rumphius
Author: Barbara Cooney
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Puffin (November 6, 1985)
ISBN-10: 0140505393
Themes: Environment, Citizenship,

When Miss Rumphius was a little girl she would sit upon her grandfather's knee and listen to his stories of adventures in far away places. She is enthralled with the idea of traveling the world and experiencing all that life can give her.

When she tells her grandfather that she wishes to have great adventures like him, he tells her that is wonderful, but there is one question remaining to be answered. How will she help make the world a more beautiful place?

As she grows from childhood and into adulthood, Miss Rumphius becomes a librarian and reads many stories of far away places. This isn't enough for her, and soon she herself travels to many different places, until one day she is injured when getting off a camel.

Miss Rumphius decides to recover from her injury by living by the sea. While there she finally discovers the answer to her grandfather's question: "How will you make the world a more beautiful place?"

This is a beautifully told story which emphasizes how each one of us plays an important role in making our world a more beautiful place. It also shows how it is possible to achieve dreams and goals you set for yourself, even as a young child.

How will you make your world a more beautiful place?

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Poetry Spotlight: Shel Silverstein Exaggeration Poems

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:19:00 +0000

In a recent Poetry Spotlight I talked about how Shel Silverstein uses onomatopoeia in some of his poems. Today, I'd like to talk about another device he uses, exaggeration or hyperbole. Exaggeration and hyperbole is simply overstating something that is true in order to make a point, or in the case of Shel's poetry, to be funny.

One particular poem which uses exaggeration to both make a point and make you want to giggle uncontrollably, is "Sara Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out." This poem can be found in "Where The Sidewalk Ends."

Sara Stout is a little girl who just doesn't see why she should have to take the garbage out. So she won't take it out. As the days pass, the garbage starts piling up, until the very end, when too late, she decides that maybe she should take it out.

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out!
She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans,
Candy the yams and spice the hams,
And though her daddy would scream and shout,
She simply would not take the garbage out.
And so it piled up to the ceilings:
Coffee grounds, potato peelings, Brown bananas, rotten peas,
Chunks of sour cottage cheese. It filled the can, it covered the floor,
It cracked the window and blocked the door
With bacon rinds and chicken bones,
Drippy ends of ice cream cones,
Prune pits, peach pits, orange peel,

Blog Makeover by Lady Java!

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:30:00 +0000

I've been incredibly blessed to have had the artistic talents and computer skills of two ladies in creating just the look I wanted for this blog.

Aidana created my header, and now Lady Java has taken the header and tweaked it to make it work even better! She also put together a great color scheme and created a badge.

I highly recommend Lady Java to anyone who isn't quite satisfied with the look of their blog, but isn't totally sure on how to make it better. She is very quick, very responsive, and very easy to work with.

Thank you so much Lady Java!

Psst... Lady Java also did a makeover on my Living Frugal and Simple blog. Check out the cool header she put together for it. :)

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Poetry Spotlight: The Old Dry Stone Wall by Ann Perrin

noreply@blogger.com (Laura) — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

The Old Dry Stone Wall by Ann Perrin is a lovely poem which invokes the rich imagination of a child. In the poem, a child comes across an old, dry, stone wall surrounding a garden and begins imagining what kind of things might live there.

I found this poem on youtube, but have been unable to locate a book it is published in, nor any other information about it. I'd love to know if anyone might have some information on the poet or on the poem. When I listened to it, it reminded me a lot of Frances Hodges "The Secret Garden."