Module 15: Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging

Book Summary:

Georgia Nicolson is your average 14 year old girl in England. She is trying to assert control over her life, she is boy crazy, and she hates school. This book follows her through her daily life and reveals her thinking in each situation she finds herself. She brings most of the drama on herself because she doesn't ask her mom for help. She learns about boys from her mom's magazines and her friends. She even takes kissing lessons from a neighbor boy. Georgia and her friends see just how far they can push the rules at school and at home. 

APA Reference:

Rennison, L. (1999). Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging: confessions of Georgia
     Nicolson. New York, NY: Harper teen.  

My Impressions:

I could not stop laughing through out this book. I chose to listen to it and that really helped with the British slang. To me this was like the author took all the stupid, idiotic, and embarrassing things we girls did at 14 rolled them up into one girl. I can remember when I taught myself to shave and thought my legs would never heal. I never shaved off my eyebrows but i did have a friend burn her off when she use household bleach to try to lighten hers. The thoughts and confusion she has over boys, kidding, and dating where spot on. I plan on getting the next book in the series.

Professional Review:

American readers wondering what on earth “full-frontal snogging” is will find the answer in the helpful (and hilarious) glossary appended to this antic diary of a year in the life of an English girl named Georgia Nicolson. Snogging is, simply, “kissing with all the trimmings,” and it’s much on 14-year-old Georgia’s mind these days. For even though she’s still reeling from her devastatingly bad decision to go to a party dressed as a stuffed olive, she has fallen in love with an older man (he’s 17), a Sex God named Robbie. The trouble is, S. G. is dating a girl named Lindsay who--brace yourself--wears a thong. Honestly, how wet (idiotic) can you get! In the meantime, life on the homefront is spinning out of control. Dad has gone to New Zealand in search of a better job, and pet cat Angus, who can usually be spotted stalking the neighbor’s poodle, has gone missing. Although performer and comedy writer Rennison clearly owes a large debt to Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary (1998), her Georgia is a wonderful character whose misadventures are not only hysterically funny but universally recognizable. This “fabbity, fab, fab” novel will leave readers cheering, “Long live the teen!” and anxiously awaiting the promised sequel. (Reviewed July 2000)— Michael Cart 

Cart, M. (2000, July). [Review of the book Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging

      Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison]. Booklist. Retrieved from:

      http://booklistonline.com/Angus-Thongs-and-Full-Frontal-Snogging-Confessions-

      of-Georgia-Nicolson-Louise-Rennison/pid=1073977 

Library Uses:

I think this book would be great as a book club reading for high school girls. They could read and discuss and maybe have an adult female they are comfortable with there to answer series questions that come up. 

Module 14: Take Me Out of The Bathtub

Book Summary:

This is a book of songs set to the tunes of children's songs. The title poem "Take Me Out of The Bathtub" is set to the tune of "Take Me Out to The Ball Game". The poems allow children to relate to their lives. Topics include cleaning your room, smelling diapers, siblings, and even babysitters.

APA Reference:

Katz, A. (2001). Take me out of the bathtub and other silly dilly songs. New York, NY: Margaret
      K. McElderry Books.  

My Impressions:

I love the songs in this book so much I bought it and the sequel. I enjoyed sharing them with my class when we started our poetry unit. I think my favorite is "Stinky Diaper Change" because id does catch the way we feel about smelly diapers. The songs are silly and show kids that poetry is fun.

Professional Review:

Katz, a comedy writer who has worked on children’s programming for Disney and Nickelodeon has created his own “silly dilly” versions of beloved childhood tunes. Kids will rejoice in the hilarious, “I’m Filthy, I’m Dirty,” sung to the tune of “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring,” and parents have songs to celebrate, too: “Go Go Go to Bed” is a clever remake of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” With the possible exception of the lesser-known “Polly, Put the Kettle On,” most children will be familiar with the original versions of these songs, which will make it easy for them to join right in. Catrow’s animated double-spread pictures are at least as silly as the song lyrics, offering action-filled scenes bursting with odd-looking creatures. For an easy enrichment activity, have kids create a silly-dilly adaptation of their own. — Lauren Peterson 

Peterson, L. (2001, July). [Review of the book Take Me Out of The Bathtub and Other Silly

     Dilly Songs, by Alan Katz]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Take-Me-Out-

     of-the-Bathtub-Alan-Katz/pid=1098610 

Library Uses:

I would use a different song each week in the library to help expose students to poetry. 

Module 13: The Plain Janes

Book Summary:

This graphic novel follows Jane as she is forced to move from the city after a bomb is set off. She helped save a stranger and visits him in the hospital until she leaves, then she writs to him. Once in her new town, Jane tries to make friends with a group of outcast girls, all names Jane. She is asked to join the popular girls but Jane doesn't want to be that person anymore. She finally convinces the Janes to join her in a scheme to add beauty to the town by making art projects at night and leaving them in different locations. The Janes feel free and the other kids love it. The adults try to catch them but can't. They call their group P.L.A.I.N. which means: People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. Through all of this Jane still writes to the stranger she saved who is on a coma but later her letters are returned. She runs off to the city and learns the stranger woke up and went home. She is given his name but she doesn't know how to reach him. With help from Damon she finds him and continues writing him. The book ends leaving you waiting for more to come.

APA Reference:

Castellucci, C.; Rugg, J. (2007). The plain Janes. New York, NY: DC Comics.

My Impressions:

I enjoyed this graphic novel. It was realistic to see how the girls started sharing more and taking on each others' strengths. The art work was very well rendered in black and white. I think I connected to this story because the Janes were all so different from each other and that reminded me of my high school friends. We all had different interests yet we hung out together. Many teens do not think they can have friends who are not just like them. It was refreshing to see teen friendship portrayed realistically.     

Professional Review:

For the first book in a new series aimed at teenage girls, DC comics recruited novelist Castellucci (Boy Proof, 2004, and The Queen of Cool, 2005) to write this story about outsiders who come together, calling up themes from the author’s popular YA novels. Relocated to suburbia after a brush with disaster in the big city (and fueled by an urge not to be terrified of the world as a result), Jane rallies a small group of outcasts into a team of “art terrorists,” shaking the town from its conservative complacency by putting bubbles in the city fountain and wrapping objects on the street as Christmas packages. Their activities end up rallying the local teenagers to their cause and working the adults into a dither. The book has its share of stereotypes—the science geek, the psychotically overprotective mother, the irrepressible gay teen—but this is thought-provoking stuff. The art, inspired by Dan Clowes’ work, is absolutely engaging. Packaged like manga,this is a fresh, exciting use of the graphic-novel format.

— Jesse Karp


Karp, J. (2007, March 15). [Review of the book The Plain Janes, by Cecil Castellucci and Jim
     Rugg]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/The-Plain-Janes-Cecil-
     Castellucci/pid=1911749


Library Uses:

I would use this in a collaborative project with the high school art teacher to allow students to create and display their art around the school.

Module 12: Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein

Book Summary:

Albert Einstein is a famous mathematician and scientist. At one point we will all learn about his mathematical equations and his theories, but what was he like as a child? Einstein was mean to his sister and tutors, and was lazy in school when it came to subjects he didn't like. When something fascinated him , he could spend hours working on it. He did not have many friends at school and preferred his own company to playing with others. He impressed the adults around him with his mathematical thinking. When He tried to attend college could not pass his placement exams in the subjects he had ignored so he must go back and earn his high school diploma. Jobs were hard to find so he took one in a patient office and helped raise his family. He continues his great thinking and becomes the famous man we know.

APA Reference:

Brown, D. (2004). Odd boy out: young Albert Einstein. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

My Impressions:

I knew Einstein was not a normal child but I did not know he threw violent fits. It seems strange to me to think of him as cruel and mean after seeing some of the silly photographs that have been taken of him. Even though this biography was written for children, I would like to know more about this man. Is it true that he did not speak until age five? Why did his parents let him wander the city? 

Professional Review:

Young readers won’t come away from Brown’s newest picture-book biography understanding the theory of relativity, but they will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy. The author-illustrator of Mack Made Movies (2003) and other books presents the future Nobel Prize winner as a sallow, sunken-eyed little boy who lingers on the sidelines as other boys roughhouse, spends hours building a house of cards “fourteen stories high,” and vexes his teachers (one tells him that “he would never get anywhere in life”). Brown’s language dips into vagueness when it’s time to describe the mature scientist’s contributions, and the accompanying artwork is often disappointingly generic, awkwardly incorporating computer-generated elements that overwhelm the delicate ink-and-watercolor style used elsewhere. Still, this joins Frida Wishinsky’s What’s the Matter with Albert? (2002) as one of the very few picture-book biographies of Einstein available. Try giving it to older elementary students, who will get the most out of the detailed author’s note and bibliography featuring many books for adults. — Jennifer Mattson

Mattson, J. (2004, September 1). [Review of the book Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein, by

      Don Brown]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Odd-Boy-Out-The-Story-

      of-the-Young-Albert-Einstein-Don-Brown/pid=256549 

Library Uses:

I would use this in a story time to start off research for the science fair.  

    

Module 11: Actual Size

Book Summary:

This book gives information on the actual sizes of wild animals. The illustrations are draw to the measurements specified for that animal. This means that the eye of the giant squid takes up more than one page of the book because it is 1 foot across. 

APA Reference:

Jenkins, S. (2004). Actual size. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.  

My Impressions:

I was fascinated by how the information was presented in this book. It is one thing to read about the dimensions of these animals but it is very different to see it. The gorilla hand on the cover is what drew me to this books. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The fold out page for the saltwater crocodile and the Goliath frog really give you a true sense of their sizes. 

Professional Review:

  As in many of his previous bestiaries, including the Caldecott Honor Book What Can You Do with a Tail Like This? (2003), Jenkins’ newest presents a parade of cut-paper animals, each accompanied by a pithy line of text. The difference here is the scale: everything appears at actual size. Jenkins’ masterstroke, though, is his inclusion of creatures both great and small, so while petite critters fit comfortably within 12-by-20-inch spreads, larger ones appear as evocatively cropped bits and pieces: a gorilla’s massive hand; a Siberian tiger’s snarling mug; the unnerving, basketball-size eye of a giant squid. The resulting juxtapositions will leave children marveling at one species’ daintiness, then shuddering as they mentally sketch in the unseen portions of more formidable beasts. Jenkins’ artwork is gorgeous (a gatefold of a frog in midleap is particularly memorable), and, at the end of the book, thumbnail images of the featured animals paired with information about habitat and behavior put the piquant visuals into a broader context. An unusual, unusually effective tool for connecting children to nature’s astonishing variety.

Reviewer. (2004, May 15). [Review of the book  Actual Size, Steve Jenkins]. Booklist. 
     Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Actual-Size-Steve-Jenkins/pid=1154508


Library Uses:

I would use this in a story time to introduce measurement to older elementary students. They have to estimate measurements and this would help them picture it.

Module 10: The Hallelujah Flight

Book Summary:

Based on a real transcontinental, this fictional books takes us on a journey with a pilot and his mechanic. They cross the United States and ask people to sign the wings of their plane in exchange for food, gas, and help. In some states they are met with prejudice and hatred but in most people help. After 21 days they reach their goal, New York. Their flight is celebrated in Harlem and the name it the Hallelujah Flight.

APA Reference:

Bildner, P. (2010). The hallelujah flight. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

My Impressions:

I was drawn to this book because it was on the Bluebonnet Award list. My son had read all of them and raved about this one. When it turned up on my class reading list, I knew I had to read it. I enjoyed the artwork in this books. It brought the whimsical side of the story out. It also kept the darker parts of the book from being overwhelming. I liked how people laughed until they found out they could sign the wings if they agreed to help. It is amazing to me what people will do for simple recognition.   

Professional Review:

In 1932, James Banning was the first African American to complete a transcontinental flight. Told from the viewpoint of his young copilot and mechanic, Thomas Allen, this dramatic picture book relates of their historic journey, in which they flew in a small plane from Los Angeles to New York in 21 days. Unframed, double-page paintings show the pair close-up in the cramped cockpit as they fly over the Grand Canyon and head into storms, the propeller whirring, while the ground passes not too far below. Some locals help, showing “the kindness of family and friends,” but the dramatic pictures also reveal the prejudice the pilots encountered when they are refused use of washrooms and restaurants. Finally, they reach New York and receive a hero’s welcome in Harlem. Along with the drama of the pioneer flight, kids will also enjoy the irreverent fun of the Flying Hoboes in their “flying jalopy.” The story of the pilots’ bonding is as memorable as the breakthrough flight. An introductory author’s note offers cultural and historical context.

— Hazel Rochman


Rockman, H. (2010, February 1). [Review of the book The Hallelujah Flight, by Phil Bildner]. 
     Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/The-Hallelujah-Flight-Phil-Bildner/pid=3760855




Library Uses:

I would use this book in a story time for historical fiction. 

Module 9: Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery

Book Summary:

Cam Jansen has a photographic memory and an eye for detail. When she see something she thinks is important, she closes her eyes and says click. Then she has the image forever. She uses this skill to solve crimes. When her friend Eric and herself are out selling chocolate bar and rice cakes for charity they see a suspicious looking woman. They follow her to see what she does. The soon discover that she may be helping a bank robber who may be hiding in a house. Cam's dad calls the police and Cam follows the strange woman until the police arrive. When she is corned in the groceries store the woman takes off her disguise and tries to blend into the crowd but Cam can remember her shoes and helps the police catch her. At the end, Cam, Eric, and Mr. Jansen watch the bank robber being taken to jail.

APA Reference:

Adler, D. (1993). Cam Jansen and the chocolate fudge mystery. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

My Impressions:

This is a good book to introduce younger elementary kids to mysteries. The plot is not overly complicated and the students could solve it. It moves at a fast enough pace to keep them interested and there are no extra facts. This is important for young readers because too much information will turn them off to the genre.

Professional Review:

Cam (short for Camera) Jansen and her faithful companion, Eric Shelton, encounter yet another mystery as they try to raise funds for charity by selling fudge bars and rice cakes. (They never do explain the mystery of that unlikely combination.) This time Cam spots a woman behaving suspiciously in the vicinity of a supposedly vacant house. It requires only Cam’s photographic memory (which she activates by saying “Click” constantly), deductive reasoning, and a short surveillance for the duo to ascertain that a criminal is hiding out and to alert a grateful police force. Cam satisfies the childhood fantasy of being smarter than adults and dealing successfully with mystery and danger, and young readers seem to be able to tolerate the clicks and to suspend reality in order to marvel at her wonderful ways. Another fix for the beginning readers who demand mystery books. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1993)— Sheilamae OHara  

OHara, A. (1993, October 15). [Review of the book Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery, by David A. Adler]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Cam-Jansen-and-the-Chocolate-Fudge-Mystery-Susanna-Natti/pid=125539?pid=125539

Library Uses:

I would use this book to introduce younger elementary students to the mystery genre by using it in story time. I would leave off at an exciting point so the kids can guess what will happen.   

Module 8: The City of Ember

Book Summary:

Lina faces Assignment Day, this is the day she leaves school and begins her work. She does not draw the job she wants but is able to trade with Doon. She can't understand why he would want to work in the pipeworks when he could be in the streets running messages Lina can't understand. Her sister finds a strange piece of paper and chews part of it. Her grandmother seems to be ever more forgetful then normal. With Doon's help Lina decodes the paper and discovers the way out of Ember. No one will listen and Lina is about to be put in jail when she escapes and meets up with Doon. They take Poppy,, Lina's sister, and escape. When they reach the surface this is the first time readers realize for sure they have been underground the entire time. Items like matches and candles can't be used because these words are unknown to the citizens of Ember. The book end leaving readers waiting for the next book.

APA Reference:

DuPrau, J. (2003). The city of Ember. New York, NY: Random House Children's Books.

My Impressions:

I enjoyed this book. I liked there I was surprised at the end. That doesn't happen often in books. I was impressed that the author thought to include items that the characters where have no idea how to use, what they, or what to call them. Matches and candles came with instructions. I liked that they never did find out what the boat paddles were for. At the end when they see the moon and tress and again have no words for them I realized they never knew they were under ground. That made me go back and think about why Lina didn't want to work in the pipeworks. Through out the book I kept wondering what happened to the other people in the war. They must be out there somewhere. I look forward to reading the next book.

Professional Review:

Ember, a 241-year-old, ruined domed city surrounded by a dark unknown, was built to ensure that humans would continue to exist on Earth, and the instructions for getting out have been lost and forgotten. On Assignment Day, 12-year-olds leave school and receive their lifetime job assignments. Lina Mayfleet becomes a messenger, and her friend Doon Harrow ends up in the Pipeworks beneath the city, where the failing electric generator has been ineffectually patched together. Both Lina and Doon are convinced that their survival means finding a way out of the city, and after Lina discovers pieces of the instructions, she and Doon work together to interpret the fragmented document. Life in this postholocaust city is well limned--the frequent blackouts, the food shortage, the public panic, the search for answers, and the actions of the powerful, who are taking selfish advantage of the situation. Readers will relate to Lina and Doon’s resourcefulness and courage in the face of ominous odds. — Sally Estes    
Estes, S. (2003, April 15). [Review of the book The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau]. 
    Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/The-City-of-Ember-Jeanne-DuPrau/pid=592238

Library Uses:

I would use this book in high school to introduce post-apocalyptic writing.  

Module 7: Speak

Book Summary:

This is the story of a high school freshman girl who is living with a violent attack that no one knows about except her and her attacker. While at a party, Melinda gets a little drunk and is raped. Then she ruins the party by calling the police. Everyone now hates her but she doesn't tell why she called the police. When school starts her old friends leave her behind and she tries to become friends with the new girl. This almost works. Melinda enjoys her art class and starts working on various projects. She skips a lot of school and her grades slip to failing. Her parents show concern but do not know how to reach her. At school she spends her time hiding in an unused closet. He parents become concerned because she never speaks. Then when her former best friend starts to date her attacker, Melinda must find the courage to speak up and tell what happened. When she tries her old friend doesn't believe her. He attacker hears what she has been saying and tries to silence her and this time she finds the strength to fight back. The truth comes out and she is freed from her silence.

APA Reference:

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

My Impressions:

This book is very realistic. Girls face this situation everyday and it is ever easy. This book invokes a definite emotional response. I found myself getting anxious when the character was and even jumped at strange noises. I guessed from the start what the issue was but it took most of the book before we found out for sure. I was uncomfortable when she describes what happened but he responses make sense. At the end when she fights back I wondered if she would kill her attacker or just hurt him, would anyone come to her rescue? Then when she finishes the art project even though she has just come through this second attack, you know she will be okay.

Professional Review:

Having broken up an end-of-summer party by calling the police, high-school freshman Melinda Sordino begins the school year as a social outcast. She’s the only person who knows the real reason behind her call: she was raped at the party by Andy Evans, a popular senior at her school. Slowly, with the help of an eccentric and understanding art teacher, she begins to recover from the trauma, only to find Andy threatening her again. Melinda’s voice is distinct, unusual, and very real as she recounts her past and present experiences in bitterly ironic, occasionally even amusing vignettes. In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen’s struggle to find acceptance from her peers. Melinda’s sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers. (Reviewed September 15, 1999)— Debbie Carton        

Carton, D. (1999, September 15). [Review of the book Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson]. 
     Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Speak-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/pid=456480

Library uses:

This book would make a great book club reading for high school girls. I would use it as a way for girls to discuss current issues they face.  

Module 7: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day

Book Summary:

Allie Finkle is in fourth grade and her life is just perfect. She has a best friend that she likes (when she's not crying, whining, or being bossy), and her bedroom it jut the way she likes it. Then her parents drop a bomb on her by announcing they are moving to an old house to fix it up. Allie will have to go to a new school, make new friends, and she can't take a geode collection with her. Her life is falling apart. She plots and schemes so that her family won't move. When she see her new "old" house the neighbor boy tells her its haunted. Everyone else in the family is excited and happy, but Allie just knows the zombie hand will get her. When she tours her new school, she meets two girls that are very friendly. Allie plays with them and learns that best friends don't cry, whine, and boss all the time. By the end of the book she is happy to move, but she has to free the turtle from  the Chinese restaurant first.

APA Reference:

Cabot, M. (2008). Allie Finkle's rules for girls: moving day. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

My Impressions:

I laughed so much reading this book. It reminded me of all the crazy things I thought about doing every time I had to move as a kid. Unlike Allie, I never did them. I recommended this book to several of my students and they couldn't put it down. When she tries to ruin the open house by rigging her rocks to fall out of the closet, I couldn't help but think that would never work. I liked that the kids were realistic. Having a friend who cries over everything and has to always have their way reminded me of a girl I use to know. I did find stealing the turtle a bit over the top, but overall this book was very enjoyable.

Professional Review:

Nine-year-old Allie faces her world with humor and common sense by making a list of rules to live by. Each rule (often presented as a chapter heading) has a story behind it. “Rule # 1: Don’t Stick a Spatula Down Your Best Friend’s Throat” evolves from the terrible fight between Allie and wimpy, weepy Mary Kay. Other rules come about after Allie finds out that the family is moving across town to a creepy Victorian house (she tries her best to sabotage the plans). A prize cat, a stolen turtle, two younger brothers, and a willing coconspirator in the form of an uncle all play a part in the antics as adventures unfold. Lively Allie is an appealing heroine who has an uncanny knack for getting into (and out of) scrapes with friends and family. The talented Cabot, popular with both teen and adult readers, will attract a new, younger audience with this novel, which will surely leave readers looking forward to future installments. One note: the fold-out-to-poster-size dust jacket may pose a problem for libraries. Look for a review of the audiobook version on p. 124.

— Bina Williams  

Williams, B. (2008, June 1). [Review of the book Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls: Moving Day].  
     Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Allie-Finkle-s-Rules-for-Girls-Moving-Day-Meg-Cabot/pid=2684357


Library Uses:

I would use this book as part of a story time for upper elementary students.

Module 6: Epossumondas

Book Summary:

This books follows Epossumondas as he misunderstands his aunt's and mom's instructions. He crushes the cake in his hand, melts butter under his hat, wraps leaves around the dog, ties string to the bread, and steps in the middle of every pie. Every time he messes up it is because he did not understand that different instructions where meant for each item. 

APA Reference:

Salley, C. (2002). Epossumondas. New York, NY: Harcourt Books.

My Impressions:

I enjoyed the whimsy of this books. It reminded me of my son when he was little. He would purposely misunderstand instructions to get out of doing things. I found myself wondering the same thing about Epossumondas. The illustrations showed animals very realistically yet they were still cute. I would like to see more adventures of Epossumondas.

Professional Review:


Salley, a noted storyteller, has turned her trademark tale into a giggle-and-guffaw-inducing picture book. This story, known in Salley’s Louisiana as Epaminondas, is transformed here with the title character becoming a cheery little possum. His mama and his auntie, however, are human, and Stevens has made sure they resemble Salley, whose flower prints, hats, and big glasses are familiar to many in the children’s-literature world. Epossumondas visits his auntie, and each day she sends him home with something. He carries home a piece of cake scrunched in his hands; Alligator allows how it doesn’t look much like cake. Mama tells Epossumondas that he doesn’t have the sense he was born with and instructs him to carry the cake under his hat. When he gets some fresh butter and puts that under his hat, the trouble (and the fun) begins. Children (and grown-ups) will squeal with laughter, both at the possum’s literal interpretations of Mama’s advice and at Stevens’ illustrations, with their waggish animals and sassy watercolor-and-digital interiors. — GraceAnne A. DeCandido   

DeCandido, G. A. (2002, August). [Review of the book Epossumondas, by Coleen Salley]. 
     Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Epossumondas-Coleen-Salley
     /pid=1123398 

 Library Uses:

I would use this book as a story time to focus on words and what they mean.   

Module 5: How I Live Now

Book Summary:

Daisy has been shipped off for the summer, forced to stay with her mom's unknown side of the family because her father has remarried and she doesn't get along with her step-mom. While she is with her family in England, Daisy learns about her mom and begins to fit in. Her Aunt Penn leaves the country to try to help stop the looming war. Daisy forms strong bonds with her cousins, especially Edmund. They begin an illicit romance until England is invaded. The kids are separated and sent to work at different farms. Daisy and Piper runaway when the battles get too close to the farm they are at and search for Edmund. They seem to be a few steps behind him the entire way back to the family's home. Once there reach the home, Daisy answers the phone and is "rescued" from the war. Later she returns to England to rejoin her family and try to help Edmund heal.

APA Reference:

Rosoff, M. (2004). How I live now.  New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

My Impressions:

I wish I could say I loved this book but I hated every minute of it, and yet I couldn't put it down. I complained to my husband the entire time I read it but I kept turning pages saying, "I have to know how it ends!" I found the lack of punctuation frustrating and the plot was very predictable at times. It was the surprises that kept me going. I was more fascinated by the cousins Piper and Edmond than by Daisy. Daisy seemed overly spoiled and angsty for no reason. I wish there was more history given about her relationship with her step-mom and dad. 

Professional Review:

A 15-year-old, contemporary urbanite named Daisy, sent to England to summer with relatives, falls in love with her aunt’s “oldy worldy” farm and her soulful cousins--especially Edmond, with whom she forms “the world’s most inappropriate case of sexual obsession.” Matters veer in a startling direction when terrorists strike while Daisy’s aunt is out of the country, war erupts, and soldiers divide the cousins by gender between two guardians. Determined to rejoin Edmond, Daisy and her youngest cousin embark upon a dangerous journey that brings them face to face with horrific violence and undreamt-of deprivation. Just prior to the hopeful conclusion, Rosoff introduces a jolting leap forward in time accompanied by an evocative graphic device that will undoubtedly spark lively discussions. As for the incestuous romance, Daisy and Edmond’s separation for most of the novel and the obvious emotional sustenance Daisy draws from their bond sensitively shift the focus away from the relationship’s implicit (and potentially discomfiting) physical dimension. More central to the potency of Rosoff’s debut, though, is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations. — Jennifer Mattson     

Mattson, J. (2004, September 1). [Review of the book How I Live Now, by Meg Rosoff]. 
     Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/How-I-Live-Now-Meg-Rosoff/pid=1163010

Library Uses:

I would use this book to help teachers teach editing and why it is important.  
 

Module 5: My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Book Summary:

This picture book tells the story of the life of Colombian author, Gabriel Marquez. It is told in English and Spanish and chronicles his childhood. He had a vivid imagination, including not sitting in a rocking chair because he might sit on the ghost. Marquez would make up stories and tell them to his family. He spent most of his time exploring his home town with his grandfather who taught many things.  As an adult he turned his love of stories into a career and became one of Colombia's most famous authors.

APA Reference:

Brown, M. (2007). My name is Gabito: the life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Flagstaff, AZ: 
     Luna  Rising.

My Impressions:

I enjoyed the dual language aspect of this book. I work at a school where most of the students are bi-lingual and it is good to see a book that reflects that. I like knowing about the early life of famous people and this book gives insight into how Marquez thinking was shaped as a child. In later life he includes what he learned on those walks with his grandfather. I enjoyed reading this book 

Professional Review:

This beautifully illustrated picture book celebrates the creativity of Gabriel García Márquez and asserts that what he saw and heard as a boy became part of the books he wrote as an adult. The vivid, lyrical text introduces the boy as Gabito, who views the world as a magical place and, though he sees the poverty in his Colombian town, also imagines a world full of wonders and tells his tales to others. The book concludes that he grew up to be a great storyteller. Colón’s artwork interprets the story with verve. Glowing with rich, subtle colors on rounded forms, the illustrations recreate real and imagined scenes with equal conviction. An appended note provides more information about the life and achievements of Márquez. Like Brown’s earlier picture books about Celia Cruz, My Name Is Celia/Me llamo Celia (2004) and My Name Is Gabriela/Me llamo Gabriela (2005), a story about Gabriela Mistral, this is available in a bilingual edition (not seen): My Name Is Gabito/Me llamo Gabito (0873589084).

— Carolyn Phelan  

Phelan, C. (2008, February 1). [Review of the book My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez,by Monic Brown]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/My-Name-Is-Gabito-The-Life-of-Gabriel-Garc-a-M-rquez-Monica-Brown/pid=2388170?pid=2388170

Library Uses:

I would use this book in a display of Honor books.   

Module 4: Julie of the Wolves

Book Summary:

This is the story of Julie, an Inuit girl trying to survive on her on in the Alaskan Tundra. Through flashbacks we learn about her early childhood with her father and how later she was raise by her aunt, how she was married very young and eventually why she ran away to the Tundra. Julie survives with the help of a pack of wolves. She befriends them and slowly earns their leaders trust. She is like by all the wolves except one, Jello. He is low man in the pack. He tries to attack Julie and is thrown out of the pack. After many trials Julie begins to make her way back towards civilization and eventually finds her father. She learns he is not the man she remembers him to be. At first she starts to run away again but realizes that she must stay and returns.

APA Reference:

George, J. C. (1972). Julie of the wolves. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

My Impressions:

This books starts out with a bit a mystery as to why Julie is alone on the Tundra. It makes me wish I knew more about the Inuit people and their customs. It reminded me of Island of the Blue Dolphin because both books have a girl trying to survive on her own. They both have a strength in them that I wonder if I would have in their situation. Julie just wants to be safe and find her father. He has taught her the skills she uses to survive and she learns to honor her people ways that many are letting go. I think that is very important.

Professional Review:

Lost in the Alaskan wilderness, 13-year-old Miyax, an Eskimo girl, is gradually accepted by a pack of Arctic wolves that she comes to love. The story focuses on her courageous struggle to survive, careful advances to the wolves, and relationship with them, while a flashback reveals her life leading up to running away. When still in the company of the wolves, she nears civilization, and the pack leader, her adopted father, is killed by a hunter shooting from a small plane; after nursing another wounded wolf, Miyax is forced to drive off her adopted family for their protection. In the end, she realizes how life has changed for Eskimo and wolf. The evocatively written, empathetic story effectively evokes the nature of wolves and dramatizes how the traditional Eskimo way of life is giving way before the relentless onslaught of civilization. — [unsigned review]    

Unknown. (1973, February 1). [Review of the book Julie of the Wolves,by Jean Craighead George]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Julie-of-the-Wolves-Jean-Craighead-George/pid=2651205

Library Uses:

I would use this book in a book study with girls in fifth grade. It is hard for them to find stories with strong girls in them. I would use this as a way to open dialogue about how we can care for ourselves and collaborate with the school councilor. 

Module 4: A Wrinkle In Time

Book Summary:

This book follows a family that is trying to stay positive while the dad is missing. The town has begun whispering about the dad and the Meg, the daughter, takes it the hardest. The youngest son, Charles Wallace is very strange, even to his family but they love him and protect him anyway. Meg and Charles Wallace befriend Calvin and with the help of three supernatural beings, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, they travel through space to save Mr. Murray.

APA Reference:

L'Engle, M. (1973). A wrinkle in time. New york, NY: A Yearling Book.

My Impressions:

I was very excited to read this book but had trouble liking it. I felt let down that the mom played such an inactive role in helping her children. To me it seemed the solution was too predictable. Maybe it is because the book has been around so long that other books are too similar. I connected with Meg's anger at her father for disappearing and found that realistic. Many kids feel that way about their parents when they do not understand why their parents spend so much time away from home. I also found the relationship between Meg and Charles Wallace realistic. Many siblings protect one another.  The content and language is very age appropriate but I did not enjoy this book as much as a wanted.    

Professional Review:

Reading about the life of a famous author usually deflates the notion that writing is fun, easy, and filled with instant rewards. Only after decades of work and more than 30 rejection letters did L’Engle’s Newbery-winning A Wrinkle in Time find its place in libraries and in the hearts of readers. Gonzales follows L’Engle’s life--an only child raised by a devoted nanny, boarding school (here and in Europe), college years at Smith, marriage to actor Hugh Franklin, and the growth of their family. L’Engle’s stressful childhood--exacerbated by distant parents, a penchant for daydreaming, a lack of friends, and low self-esteem--has colored her perspectives. But it is her passion for writing daily--the discipline, the demands, the determination to continue in spite of discouragement--that steers this biography. Aspiring writers will see the impact that family, music, spirituality, and the desire to open up new worlds to children have had on L’Engle. Unfortunately, gaps in the information will frustrate the astute reader (Who were her grandparents? What was her mother’s illness? What is the current status of L’Engle’s eye problem?), and many of the black-and-white photos are of poor quality. However, L’Engle is a well-loved figure, and this biography in the People in Focus series will intrigue both her fans and those who have yet to discover her genius. Selected bibliography; no notes. (Reviewed Feb. 15, 1992)— Deborah Abbott


Abbott, D. (1992, February 15). [Review of the book A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L'Engle]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Madeleine-L-Engle-Author-of-A-Wrinkle-in-Time-Doreen-Gonzales/pid=925631


Library Uses:

I would use this book in a display for Honor books.

Module 3: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Book Summary:

Hugo Cabret is an orphaned boy living in the Paris train station. He had been living there with is uncle who taught him how to take care of all the clocks in the train station. One night his uncle never returns home and Hugo begins caring for the clocks on his own. He has no one else so he hides from the world and steals what he needs. He saves an automaton from the burned museum his father worked at, because his father dies in a fire trying to fix the automaton. Hugo though it would save his life and answer all his questions. Hugo befriends Isabelle. Once Hugo fixes the automaton and realizes he needs Isabelle's necklace to make it work. When they turn on the mechanical man, he draws wonderful pictures from old movies and signs them with the name of Isabelle's godfather. The kids then solve the mystery of who Isabelle's godfather really is; George Melies, one of the first creators of motion pictures. It turns out Melies built the automaton and after he lost everything during WWI, he turned his back on movies forever. Hugo and Isabelle help convince Milies to come out of hiding with the help of film student Etienne and film historian Rene Tabard.

APA Reference:

Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

My Impressions:

At first I thought this book would take forever to read. Then, once I started to read it I thought it was like old silent movies. You have a few pictures then words to go with them. Once the book is finished you realize it was set up that way on purpose. I like the texture of the artwork. The black and white illustrations bring the story to life. They tell the story and allow the worlds to flow without having to fill in details. I like that the story has a happy ending and that the mystery around the automaton is solved. I wish we had learned what happened to Hugo's uncle. When the book ends we learn that Hugo has been using an automaton to write and illustrate this story. That brings things full circle.

Professional Review:

Selznick’s “novel in words and pictures,” an intriguing mystery set in 1930s Paris about an orphan, a salvaged clockwork invention, and a celebrated filmmaker, resuscitates an anemic genre—the illustrated novel—and takes it to a whole new level. The result is somewhat similar to a graphic novel, but experiencing its mix of silvery pencil drawings and narrative interludes is ultimately more akin to watching a silent film. Indeed, movies and the wonder they inspire, “like seeing dreams in the middle of the day,” are central to the story, and Selznick expresses an obvious passion for cinema in ways both visual (successive pictures, set against black frames as if projected on a darkened screen, mimic slow zooms and dramatic cuts) and thematic (the convoluted plot involves director Georges Méliès, particularly his fanciful 1902 masterpiece, A Trip to the Moon.) This hybrid creation, which also includes movie stills and archival photographs, is surprising and often lovely, but the orphan’s story is overshadowed by the book’s artistic and historical concerns (the heady extent of which are revealed in concluding notes about Selznick’s inspirations, from the Lumière brothers to François Truffaut). Nonetheless, bookmaking this ambitious demands and deserves attention—which it will surely receive from children attracted by a novel in which a complex narrative is equally advanced by things both read and seen.

— Jennifer Mattson       

Mattson, J. (2007, January 1). [Review of the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/The-Invention-of-Hugo-Cabret-Brian-Selznick/pid=1848212

Library Uses:

I would use this book to introduce students to the Caldecott Award books. I would start by reading part of the book to them using a document camera so they can see the pictures. Then show them the section in the library where the Honor books are kept.   

Module 3: Jumanji

Book Summary:

While their parents are away for the evening, Judy and Peter find a board game in the park. At home they play the game and find that it is not all it seemed to be. Peter thinks the game is boring until real creatures from the game appear. Now the brother and sister must finish the game as fast as they can because ending the game is the only way to survive.

APA Reference:

Van Allsburg, C. (1981). Jumanji. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

My Impressions:

I found the story simplistic in a good way. It really works well with the illustrations to tell the story. The pictures are almost like photographs. I found myself staring at them. This was the second book by Van Allsburg that I had read and I really enjoyed it. I was worried because I had seen the movie and knew the book would be different. The detail in the artwork is breathtaking. Even now I find details I missed the first time I looked, like a pipe on the self by the books when the kids start the game. I like that the parents in the end seem to know what the kids have been up to. Even Mrs. Budwing seems to hint that maybe finding the game wasn't an accident. 

Professional Review:

Jumanji is a jungle adventure board game come to life via the magic that, in Van Allsburg's world, is always waiting to leak into the everyday. With successive dice rolls, deepest, darkest Africa invades the neat, solid, formally arranged rooms of the unsuspecting players' house. The players-a blase brother and sister home alone-are momentarily dumbstruck but not really upset. They steadfastly go on with the game as monkeys, grinning with wicked gleam, raid the kirchen and hunker around the game board; rhinos charge intently through the living room (and righ into once line of vision); a Python coils on the mantel, its pattern set off by leafy slipcover design to give a jungle camoflage effect. S in The Garden of Abdul Gasazi (Houghton, 1979), which Jumaji outdoes in story terms, real ad unreal rub shoulders in three-dimensional drawings extraordinary for the multiplicity of gray tones the artist chives and the startling contrasts with brilliant white. The eye-fooling angles, looming shadows and shifting perspective are worthy of Hitchcock, yet all these "special effects" are supplied with only a pencil.-Pamela D. Pollack, "School Library Journal"

Pollack, P. (1981, May). [Review of the book Jumanji, by Chris Van Allsburg]. School Library Journal, 27(9), 60.

Library Uses:

I would use this book as part of a study of illustrators and how they are artists. This would be a collaborative project between the library and the art teachers.  

Module 2: Little House in the Big Woods

Book Summary:

Laura is a little girl growing up on a homestead on the edge of the Big Woods. Her father (Pa) must hunt for there food and face danger because of hungry wild animals. The family has little traditions and ceremonies that must be carried out daily so the family can survive. One family ceremony revolves around Pa cleaning the long rifle every night and loading it so it is ready for use. There is also the sugar snow and harvest times. It can be a scary place to grow up, but Laura is more fascinated then scared, especially when her Ma slaps a bear.

APA Reference:

Wilder, L.I. (1981).  Little house in the big woods. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.

My Impressions:

I was always a fan of the television show growing up so I jumped at the chance to read this book with the excuse, "It's for school." I soon learned that I did not need an excuse. Wilder paints a picture in your mind with her words. I found myself no longer picturing the television actors but characters from my own imagination. I read the book in two hours and was so engrossed I almost missed dinner. They way Pa teachers the girls life lessons by hiding them in entertaining stories made me wish for simpler times. He tells them about things he himself did wrong at their age (like not bringing the cows in from the woods on time) and how he learned from it so that they do not make that mistake. I laughed because I do the same with my son. I enjoyed the family ceremonies and celebrations. Christmas was a very special time for the family to gather and spend time together. I found myself making connections to my own families little ceremonies and celebrations. This book gave a wonderful glimpse into the past, not just the good times but also the danger and worries that pioneer families faced.

Professional Review:

Wilder's classic autobiographical series about growing up in a pioneer family in the late 1800s makes its audio debut in the very capable hands of stage actress Cherry Jones. This first installment introduces the Ingalls family living in the seemingly endless wild woods of Wisconsin prior to their eventual move west (to Kansas and later Missouri). Tennessee-born Jones brings a subtle (never hokey) homespun sound and comfortable pace to her reading; listeners may well imagine gathering in front of the fireplace or around a campfire for one of her storytelling sessions. But what Jones does best here is use her voice to sustain an appropriate childlike point of view. Her performance invites listeners to join in Laura's adventures and see things as she does, even though the books are written in the third person. (With this approach, for example, Jones livens up the occasional descriptive passages that can be slow going for some readers of the novel.) Award-winning fiddler Paul Woodiel provides lively interludes of "Pa's fiddle music," a joyful sound that was purportedly a staple of the Ingalls home. Ages 8-up.  

Reviews (2003, May 12). [Review of the book Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder]. Publishers Weekly, 250(19), 30.

Library Uses:

I would use this book as an introduction to a pioneer life history project. I would have students read different pioneer time books and write about the true history they find. Then display the writing.  

Module 2: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Book Summary:

In Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume, we meet Peter Hatcher, a fourth grader dealing with life as an older brother. Peter is expected to understand when his two and a half year old brother, Fudge (Farley Drexel Hatcher) gets into his room, touches his things, ruins his school project, and even eats Peter's pet turtle. Fourth grade is hard enough, but Peter finds life in Fudge's shadow challenging. He spends most of the book trying to be a good son, but is really frustrated because Fudge always seems to get the best while Peter has to settle for doing what's right. Like when Mrs. Hatcher makes Fudge special pork chops (Peter's favorite) because Fudge won't eat. Peter is told he can't have them until later when Fudge agrees to eat corn flakes in bowl on the floor like a dog. 
 
APA Reference:

Blume, J. (1991).  New York, NY: A Yearling Book.

My Impressions:

I remember doing a book report in fourth grade on Double Fudge so I thought it would be good to see where it all started.I enjoyed this book so much I finished it in about an hour and a half. The next day I called my mom and asked if she ever made my sister do things like Peter to make me do stuff. Her answer was yes. I felt sorry for Peter and found that his feelings are very typical to most older siblings. When he is given a book that he already owns and has outgrown, he does the polite thing and says thank you and even goes so far as to fake enthusiasm. I found myself remembering times when I had to do something similar. It always made me uncomfortable and disappointed, then I would feel guilty for the disappointment. I can see Peter feels the same way. This is a good book for children who are getting older and have to adjust to new expectations from their parents.

Professional Review:

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first of these entertaining yarns. Peter, because he's the oldest, must deal with Fudgie's disgusting cuteness, his constant meddling with Peter's stuff, and other grave offenses, one of which is almost too much to bear. All these incidents are presented with the unfailing ear and big-hearted humor of the masterful Judy Blume. Though some of her books for older kids have aroused controversy, the Hatcher brothers and their adventures remain above the fray, where they belong.

Amazon.com Reviews (n.d.). Editorial Reviews. Retrieved from Amazon.com website: http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Fourth-Grade-Nothing-Blume/dp/product-description/0142401013/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Library Uses:

I would use this book as a book study with students who are entering fourth grade. This would allow them to read the book and discuss how they feel about what happens to Peter while at the same time exploring how they feel about growing up. This can help them deal with life issues in a positive way and not feel singled out.

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Module 1 : Miss Smith and the Haunted Library

Book Cover:


Book Summary:
Miss Smith takes her class on a field trip to the public library. While they are there the librarian, Virginia Creeper, reads from Miss Smith's "Incredible Story Book".  Ms. Creeper only reads a little from the beginning of each story and as she reads the scary characters appear.  At first the students are afraid, but after refreshments are served the monsters and children begin to play until the seniors reading group arrives. Miss Smith hurriedly cleans while Ms. Creeper stalls the seniors.  The narrator tells how he helps return the creatures to the story book by reading the last page of each story and he finishes just as the seniors barge in.

APA Reference:
Garland, M. (2009). Miss Smith and the haunted library. Boston, Mass: Dutton Juvenile.

My Impressions:
I enjoyed the monsters in this book but wonder if elementary students will understand why they are scary. An example is Frankenstein, he is not well know to my students because he has not been featured in any movies or books lately. I think many of the monsters would have to be explained for students to get some of the comments. The pictures are vibrant and draw the eye. I found myself looking at them for a long time to see all the details. Elementary students will enjoy the pictures and the story. 

Professional Reviews:
GARLAND, Michael Miss Smith and the Haunted Library illus. by author. unpaged. Dutton Aug. 2009. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42139-9. LC number unavailable.

Gr 1-5–One fall day, Miss Smith takes her class to the public library to meet the librarian, Virginia Creeper. The scene is set as they enter the building, which looks a bit like a haunted house. The librarian reads spooky stories from Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook, which brings the characters to life. Soon the children are surrounded by frightening figures such as Frankenstein, Count Dracula, Captain Hook, and the Jabberwocky. They enjoy themselves so much that the youngsters forget what time it is and then must rush to finish each story so the characters can go back into the book. In all the chaos, it seems one story was overlooked. So far, Zack is the only student to notice a creature lurking nearby. Falling leaves and pictures of ghosts, pumpkins, and witches complete the autumnal scene. Halloween can be inferred, but it is not mentioned by name. Each page is full of clever details, and the characters have unique characteristics, from the librarian’s bright purple hair and dress, to Miss Smith’s stand-up red hair, to the book characters playing out their roles. The students in particular are expressive. One page shows them with their mouths open while the Headless Horseman looms above. The story captures the joy of reading and is sure to be a hit.–Lori A. Guenthner, Baltimore County Public Library, Randallstown, MD

Guenthner, L. (2009, July 7). Fiction [Review of the book Miss SMith and The Haunted Library, Michael Garland]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6668069.html 


Library Uses:
I would use this book to help introduce students to some of the characters mentioned in the story. Many of them are from middle and high school reading levels and even though this is a children's book, many older students will get a laugh  out of it. I see it as a game to see who can name and find the books that contain these characters.