Required Reading Posts # 16-30

 

Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Summary: Melody Brooks has a photographic memory but her cerebral palsy prevents her from talking and walking.  Dr. Hugely diagnosed Melody with severe brain damage and profound retardation.   Melody’s parents, Diane and Chuck Brooks, know Melody is very intelligent.  Instead of the putting Melody in the residential treatment facility recommended by Dr. Hugely, they enroll her in Spaulding Street Elementary School.  In fifth grade Melody gets a motorized wheel chair, a great teacher named Mrs. Shannon, to attend regular classes, a personal aide at school named Catherine, and a Medi-Talker.  The Medi-Talker allows Melody to listen to music, type messages, and communicate with people.  Melody can finally talk!  With the help of her Medi-Talker she makes it onto the Whiz Kids team, they win the competition, and get to go to the finals.  Melody is shocked when they leave for the competition without her.  Melody is unable to catch a flight to attend the finals.  When she confronts her team mates, they make excuses and offer her their ninth-place trophy.  Melody responds, “I don’t want it! ...You deserve it!” 

Reflection: Out of My Mind is a realistic fiction novel for 4^th – 8^th grade readers.  Sharon Draper’s book was thoughtfully written with much preparation.  Draper read many books about disabilities, worked with children with disabilities, is a professional educator, and has a disabled daughter of her own.  She focused on accurately portraying Melody’s disability in a way that does not make the reader feel sorry for her.  Draper hopes the reader with cheer for Melody.  Which is exactly what I did as I read the story.  I found myself saying, “Go Melody!” or “You’ve got this” or “You show them!”  I got really into this book.  My cousin has cerebral palsy.  His intelligence shines through even though his body won’t let him communicate.  As I read, I kept thinking I sure wish he could have a Medi-Talker.  I’ve never seen him with any assistive technology that allows him to communicate.  I know he has things her wants to say.  Reading Out of My Mind and getting to know Melody has really helped me better understand my cousin’s disability and his needs.  Click here for more books written by Sharon Drapper.

 

Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company.

Summary: On December 1, 1955 Rosa said no to segregation and yes to equality.  On the bus ride home Rosa sat in neutral section of the bus because the black section was full.  The neutral section is the small section between the black and white section.  In this section anyone of any color could sit.  The bus driver called the police to arrest Rosa when she refused to move from her seat.  Dr. Robinson, the president of the Women’s Political Council, rallied support for Rosa.  People boycotted the buses and marched for days on end to show their support for Rosa and opposition of segregation.  Change was made on November 3, 1956 when the Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was illegal.

Reflection: Rosa is a narrative nonfiction for kinder – 5^th grade readers.  This book tells of the day Rosa Parks stood up to segregation and said no to giving up her seat.  Her arrest started a movement of support for her and against segregation.  The illustrations support the narrative and provide a glimpse into this time in history.  Rosa was a 2006 Coretta Scott King Award Winner for illustrations and a 2006 Caldecott Honor Book.   Click here to view other books illustrated by award winning illustrator Bryan Collier.

 

Harris, R. H. (1999). It’s so amazing: A book about eggs, sperm, birth, babies, and families. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: It’s so Amazing is a guide to all things related to reproduction.  The very chatty Bird is explaining everything the Bee needs to know about reproduction.  The Bird explains about the basic physical differences between male and female bodies, eggs and sperm, fertilization, contraceptives, pregnancy, nutrition, birth, and other related information.   By the end the annoyed Bee is informed and agrees it’s so amazing!

Reflection: It’s so Amazing is a nonfiction book for 3^rd – 8^th grade readers.  With the guidance and assistance of parents this book could be shared with younger readers.  This book combines a fictional dialogue between the Bird and the Bee to narrate the factual content about reproduction.  The illustrations provided are accurate and support the text.  This book presents information on a difficult subject in a nonbiased way.  This book serves as a guide for parents and children to start the conversation about reproduction.  Children approaching or in puberty might find It’s Perfectly Normal useful.  To view click here.    

 

Holm, J. L., & Holm, M. (2014). Comics squad: Recess. New York, NY: Random House.

Summary: Ten children’s graphic novelist collaborated to create Comics Squad.   This anthology includes eight recess inspired stories featuring both new and beloved favorite characters.  Children can read about a super-secret ninja club, how Dog Man saves the world form stupidity, defeating a Pizza Monster, unidentified flying acorns, how Babymouse gets recess back, how freeze tag is really played, a lesson on procrastination, and how a role-playing game eliminates boredom.

Reflection: Comics Squad is a fictional graphic novel anthology for 3^rd – 8^th grade readers.  This collaboration took ten of the best children’s graphic novelists and combined their stories into one book. The book gives the reader a sneak peak at the artists and/or author’s style.  It serves to introduce readers to a variety of graphic novels series. The book cover features six frames that contain a character from each story.  The pages of the book have a white background, black illustrations and text, with varying shades of neon orange.  Only using one color throughout the book is eye catching and helps to unite the ten unique stories.  Readers who like Comics Squads: Recess will enjoy Comics Squad: Lunch! and Comic Squad: Detention! too.  Click here to view.

 

Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of wimpy kid. New York, NY: Amulet Books.

Summary: Greg Heffley does not keep a diary, it’s a journal.  It was his mom’s idea to keep the diary.  Greg decides to do it because one day he will be famous, and people will want to read it.  His diary documents the struggles of his middle school year.  Greg wants to get through middle school with minimal effort, avoid the Cheese Touch, and increase his popularity.   This is not so easy with his big brother Rodrick always picking on him, his little brother embarrassing him, and his friend Rowley constantly stealing the spotlight without even trying.  Greg has a seeming endless supply of unfortunate circumstances, many of which he brings on himself.  Greg avoids the Cheese Touch but ends the year without improving his social status.  Middle school is hard.

Reflection: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a realistic fiction novel for 4^th – 8^th grade readers.  This New York Times Bestseller has inspired a 12-book series, a YouTube channel, movies, and do-it-yourself books.  Greg Heffley is a relatable character for middle grade readers.  Like most kids, Greg is trying to fit in and find his place in middle school.  This is not an easy task when you feel like everything is going wrong.  Greg feels he is not smart enough, not good looking enough, not funny enough.  Don’t we all feel that way from time to time?   Sometimes Greg is a victim of circumstance and sometimes he brings on his own problems.  Again, very relatable.  This book is an anthem to middle school.  Click here to view other books in this series.

 

Klassen, J. (2012). This is not my hat. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: The little fish is proudly wearing a hat he just stole from a very big fish.  Little fish is not worried because the big fish was asleep, didn’t see him, won’t know he took it, and even if he did he wouldn’t know where little fish is going.  The hat fits the little fish better anyway.  Little fish is heading to the big tall plants to hide, but big fish is on his trail.  Let’s just say, big fish gets his hat back.

Reflection: This Is No My Hat is a fantasy fiction book for pre-kinder – 2^nd grade readers.  This Is Not My Hat was the 2013 Caldecott Medal winner.  Jon Klassen relies on the illustrations to tell the story as much as the text. The subtle changes of the big fish’s eyes tell the story not narrated by the little fish.  As the story progresses, it becomes obvious the little fish is caught.  Does little fish pay the ultimate price for his crime?  Does he get eaten? Klassen leaves this up to the readers imagination.  This book demonstrates that what is not said is just as important as what is said.  Click here to read Klassen’s Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech.  Klassen’s humble quirky nature shines in his speech and gives insight into his unique writing style.  Readers will also enjoy Klassen’s book I Want My Hat Back.  Click here to view.

 

Lord, C. (2008). Rules. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Summary: After Catherine’s friend Melissa leaves for the summer, she hopes to hit it off with the new girl next door, Kristi.  Catherine lives in constant worry about what her autistic brother, David, will do to embarrass her.  She gives him rules to live by; like no toys in the fish tank, knock if the bathroom door is closed, or say “excuse me” after you burp.  Their neighbor Ryan likes to make fun of David.  Now that Kristi is friends with Ryan, will she start making fun of David too?  Catherine enjoys visiting with Jason, a paraplegic, at David’s weekly occupation therapy appointments.  When Kristi asks Catherine to invite Jason to the upcoming dance, Catherine starts to worry what people will think.  Catherine makes many excuses to not go to the dance.  When Jason asks Catherine to go, she turns him down and he calls her out for being embarrassed of him.  Catherine decides Jason’s friendship is more important than what anybody else thinks.  Jason meets Catherine at the dance and she introduces him to her friends.  Jason convinces Catherine to break her own rule, “no dancing unless I’m alone in my room or it’s pitch-black dark.     

Reflection: Rules is a realistic fiction book for 4^th – 8^th grade readers.  Rules received the 2007 Schneider Family Book Award and was a 2007 Newbery Honor Book.  As a parent of an autistic child, Cynthia Lord wanted to write a book that shares the family life experiences of living with an autistic child.  As I read the book, I was able to follow Catherine’s experiences and emotions.  At times I found that Catherine’s relationship with her brother crossed the line from sibling relationship into parent relationship.   Catherine, like any twelve-year-old, resented the increased responsibility to care for her brother.  Never-the-less Catherine loved David and felt fiercely protective of him.  This book provides a mirror into the life of a family with an autistic child.  Rules is certainly deserving of the Schneider Family Book Award.  Lord provides a discussion guide, reproducible worksheets, and writing rules that go along with her book.  Click here to view.  Readers that enjoy Rules might also enjoy Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Click here to view.

 

Nelson, K. (2008). We are the ship. New York, NY: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary: We Are the Ship documents the African American history of baseball.  In the 1800s the professional baseball teams only had white players.  This changed in mid 1860s when Bud Fowler became first Negro to play professional baseball.  That privilege was soon revoked in 1887 when the pro-club-owners created a “gentlemen’s agreement” to exclude African American players. This is when Negro League was born.  The league and the player were greatly impacted by segregation, the Great Depression, racism, and World War II.  Overcoming unnecessary hardships and dedicated training produced many great Negro League baseball players.  The persistence of the league and players turned the ship, piloting the course for the end of segregation in baseball. Bittersweet as it is, it brought the end of the Negro Baseball League.

Reflection: We Are the Ship is a nonfiction book for 3^rd – 8^th grade readers.  It tells the history of the Negro Baseball League, from creation to end.  We Are the Ship received the 2009 Coretta Scott King Award for authors and the 2009 Sibert Medal.  Kadir Nelson is both author and illustrator for this book. Nelson’s illustrations are so lifelike they rival the quality of a photograph and provide the reader with vivid historical experience.  Nelson is an accomplished author and illustrator who has written many children’s books that document African American history.  Click here to view other books by Nelson.

 

Schlitz, L. A., (2007). Good masters! sweet ladies! Voices from a medieval village. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! is a collection of miniatures plays which include nineteen monologues and two dialogues.  It’s set in England in 1255 in a medieval manor.  Each monologue is told from the perspective of a character.  All characters are between the ages of ten and fifteen.  Each shares a life experience that reflects the challenges of the Middle Ages.  Challenges such as hunger, loneliness, deformity, abuse, death, stealing, bullying, crusades, parasites, and trickery.  Throughout the book the author provides additional background information for insight.  

Reflection: Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! is a historical fiction book for 3^rd – 5^th grade readers.  This book was awarded the 2008 Newbery Medal and was a 2008 ALA Notable Children’s Book. Laura Amy Schlitz was inspired to write this book for her students who studied the Middle Ages.  Schlitz wanted to provide the students with material they could perform as a play.  She created monologues to give each student an equal opportunity to take center stage.  This historical fiction book contains table of contents, foreword, and a lengthy bibliography.   The contents of the book reflect the struggles of the people living in the Middle Ages.  Candlewick Press has provided a teacher’s guide with activities, costume ideas, advice, and further reading for Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!  Click here to view.

 

Scieszka, J., & Smith, L. (1992). The stinky cheese man and other fairly stupid tales. New York, NY: Viking.

Summary: The Stinky Cheese Man contains ten very silly updates to ten classic fairy tales.  Jon Scieszka infused each fairy tale with humor and unexpected twist.  The book is narrated by Jack.  Jack makes an appearance in the first fairy tale to insert the Table of Content and there by altering the fairy tales ending.  Jack then guides you through Scieszka’s updated versions of Henny Penny, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, The Frog Prince, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Bean Stalk, Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, The Tortoise and the Hair, and The Gingerbread Man.

Reflection: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is a fiction book that puts a new spin on classic fairy tales for kinder – 5^th grade readers.  This book was the 1993 Caldecott Honor Book.  This book contains many unexpected surprises.  The title page is uncharacteristically not the first page of the book, it’s the second.  The cleverly written dedication is upside down and includes a recommendation to stand on your head if you want to read it.  These are just a few of the surprises you will find in the book.  Children who know the classic fairy tales are sure to enjoy the unexpected silly twist of The Stinky Cheese Man.  For a cartoonist’s twist on classic fairy tales try Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists.  Click here to view.

 

Selznick, B. (2007). The invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Summary: Hugo Cabret is all alone after his father dies and his caregiver, The Timekeeper, Uncle Claude has goes missing.  Hugo is living alone in his uncle’s apartment in a Paris train station secretly keeping all the clocks of the station working in his uncle’s absence.  Hugo steals toys from the shopkeeper, Georges Melies, to repair his father’s automaton.  George takes Hugo’s notebook after catching him stealing toys.  He refuses to give it back until he works off what he owes him.  This notebook, made by Hugo’s father, contains helpful images to repair the automaton.   Hugo still needs to find the key to make the automaton work.  Hugo notices Georges’s goddaughter, Isabelle wears a key necklace that just might work.  Hugo and Isabelle start up the automaton that draws a picture of a moon signed by Georges’s Melies.  Hugo’s investigation reveals the automaton was made by Georges Melies, a famous filmmaker, thought to be dead but still very much alive.  Hugo knows his time living at the train station is coming to an end when he overhears that his uncle’s dead body is found.  Hugo gets caught stealing food and The Station Inspector arrests him.  Georges comes to help Hugo and encourages him to tell the police everything.  Hugo goes to live with Georges and Isabelle.  Together they searched vaults and archives to locate eighty of Georges’s five hundred lost films.  The French Film Academy held an event honoring Georges’s and his films.

Reflection: The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a historical fiction novel for 4^th – 8^th grade readers.  This book was the 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner. Brian Selznick was inspired to write this book after reading about Melies’s collection of automata.  Just like the automaton in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, one of Melies’s automata was donated to a museum and neglected.  Melies’s was also a famous film maker.  Hugo’s automaton drew the image of the moon with a rocket in its eye.  This image was inspired by Melies’s 1902 film A Trip to the Moon. Click here to view the film.   In 2011 The Invention of Hugo Cabret was made into a movie titled Hugo.  Click here to view the trailer.  Selznick is a talented illustrator and has many award wining books.  Click here to view other books written by and/or illustrated by Selznick.

 

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, Mirror: A book of reverse poems. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

Summary: Mirror, Mirror is a book of fourteen reverso poems inspired by fairy tales.  Reverso poems can be read from top to bottom and then bottom to top.  Each reading provides a distinct perspective of the same fairy tale.  In the Hood was inspired by Little Red Riding Hood.  The first reading gives the perspective of Red Riding Hood.  The same poem read in reverse provides the Wolf’s perspective. 

Reflection: Mirror, Mirror is a poetry book for kinder – 3^rd grade readers.  Marilyn Singer is the creator of the reverso poem.  Singer cleverly writes poems that can be read from top to bottom and bottom to top, thereby changing the meaning or perspective.  Only changes to capitalization and punctuation can be made.  Singer is author to over 100 book, mostly children’s books.  Click her to view her website and books.  Readers might also enjoy Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths.  Click here to view.

 

Sweet, M. (2005). Carmine a little more red. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary: Carmine’s Granny invites her over for some alphabet soup.  Granny and Carmine’s mother told Carmine not to dilly-dally.  Carmine and her dog, Rufus, are riding along when she decides to stop and paint.  Soon Carmine attracts the attention of a wolf.  Rufus tells the wolf all about Granny, her sheep, and the bones she uses to make soup.  The wolf makes it to Granny’s house first.  Carmine races to the house after hearing her Granny’s cries.  Carmine is relieved to find Granny hiding safely in the closet.  Carmine promises Granny that she will not dilly-dally anymore.  

Reflection: Carmine a Little More Red is a fictional story based on the classic fairy tale for pre-kinder – 3^rd grade readers.  Melissa Sweet is both author and illustrator.  Carmine a Little More Red pairs perfectly for lessons on vocabulary, context clues, and synonyms. This vocabulary rich story even includes a recipe for Granny’s Alphabet Soup.  Sweet provides an educator’s guide with cross-curricular activities.  Click here to view.

 

Wiesner, D. (2011). The three pigs. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

Summary: The three little pigs save themselves from the wolf by escaping the pages of their own story.  While on the outside of the story, the pigs make a paper airplane and ride around until they crash.  They visit the nursery rhyme Hey, Diddle, Diddle and befriend the cat with the fiddle.  They rescue a green dragon from being slayed.  The new-found friends decide to return to the pig’s story.  The huffing and puffing wolf runs in fear when he comes face to face with the giant green dragon.  The friends live happily ever after.

Reflection: The Three Pigs is a fictional story based on a classic folktale for kinder – 3^rd grade readers.  This story was the 2002 Caldecott Medal winner.  This beast tale contains talking pigs that take charge of their own story and ultimately create a favorable ending for themselves.  Since the three pigs leave their story and join other stories this book is considered metafiction.  Readers who enjoy the unexpected twists of this story might also like The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka. Click here to view.

 

Willems, M. (2012). Goldilocks and the Three Dinos. New York, NY: Blazer + Bray.

Summary: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and some other Dinosaur make their beds, straighten their chairs, and make three bowls of chocolate pudding before the went Someplace Else.  They wait in hopes that some unsuspecting girl would come stuff herself with pudding like one of those delicious chocolate-filled-little-girl-bonbons.  Goldilocks did not disappoint.  After stuffing herself with pudding, she checks each chair and bed.  She notices they are much too tall, even for bears.  Hmm?  Goldilocks started to suspect something suspicious.  She soon realized this wasn’t the bear’s house.  This was a dinosaur’s house.  She escaped out the back door just in time to miss the dinosaurs’ return.

Reflection:  Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is a fantasy fiction book for kinder – 3^rd grade readers.  Mo Willems uses minimal text, onomatopoeia, simple drawings, humor, and even includes his trademark Pigeon in this book.  Willems is a celebrated children’s author and has written dozens of children’s books.  He has received three Geisel Awards and three Caldecott Honors.  The library I volunteer at has a section set aside just for Mo Willems’s books.  His section is quite popular and has high circulation.  Children love his fun books!  Click here to view more books written by Willems.