Easy? Early? I’ll defer to the author…

After reading Grace Lin’s blog article about categorizing Ling and Ting as an early chapter book rather than an easy one, my thought pattern shifted in her direction. She is absolutely right: For most children, reading anything, much less chapter books, is not an easy step.  Rather, it’s an early step in literacy.  And does “easy” keep youngsters who can read away from books with that label?  In deference to Lin’s preference, I am retitling the “Easy” Chapter Book category on this blog to “Early” Chapter Book.

You can read Grace Lin’s article here (http://forum.teachingbooks.net/?p=4743).

By the way, my opinions are based on years of observation from the basement library of an elementary school.

Ling & Ting: Sometimes it’s OK to spot the differences

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin; published by Little, Brown and Company, New York; 2010.

Note: This review is based on an uncorrected color proof provided for free by the publisher.  The book is due on shelves July 1, 2010.

Ling and Ting are twins.  Everyone greets them the same way, “You two are exactly the same!”  And the girls reply, “We are not exactly the same.”  Each chapter in this easy reader spotlights a way in which the girls differ.  One girl’s unfortunate sneeze during her haircut results in uneven bangs that are different than her sister’s.  One sister likes her dumplings plump and bumpy, the other creates smooth little pockets.  The genius, for me, is that Grace Lin has found a way to create a readable easy reader that doesn’t condescend as it reminds us that it’s okay to look for differences in people.  We have so many lessons about all people being the same, it’s nice to find a book for younger readers that acknowledges differences, even celebrates them.

Lin’s illustrations match the simple text well.  The bold, black outlines and predominantly primary colors complement the stories.  The polka dots in their dresses on the cover are repeated in the end pages; the girls often wear the polka dotted dresses, which is a simple way of creating an image of the twins and carrying it through the book.  I think it’d be interesting to ask children to point out the similarities and differences between the girls.

Doubtless, this book belongs on the easy reader shelves of school and public libraries.  I’d also be sure it appears on pathfinders about twins.  It also belongs in a reading list of concept books about same-and-different.

By the way: Hats off for diversity; Lin has added much needed diversity to the easy reader/early chapter books shelves.  I wouldn’t be surprised if this won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award….

Giddyup, Buster

Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp by Denise Fleming; published by Henry Holt and Company, New York; 2008.

Knowing how Fleming creates her art was almost a distraction for me in this book.  I especially liked the blue bandanna printed end pages!  But the story was charming and presented many opportunities to teach students some information literacy skills. Like One Boy, this book works on many levels.

Fleming uses a form of chapters that could be pointed out to early elementary aged children to teach them about organization of a book.  A map of Buster’s camp is also included and children could use it to follow along with Buster’s adventures at Cowboy Camp.

In addition to these information literacy lessons, I would use this book in a kit about summer camp.  Perhaps the most fun use of this book would be to create a program based on Buster’s experiences at camp—the games, food, and so on.  The program could be at the library or done as a collaboration between the library and schools or day care centers.

Try Fly Guy

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold; published by Cartwheel Books, an imprint of Scholastic, New York; 2005.

Easy readers are notorious for being bland; it’s difficult to create imagery with a limited vocabulary.  Hi! Fly Guy is not great literature, but when the story of a boy and his pet is combined with silly, sometimes sidesplitting (at least when you’re a child) illustrations, you get a book that won’t stay on the shelves.  The surreal cartoon images, like of Fly Guy flying with his tongue hanging out (picture a first grader coloring), enhance the story with the humor associated with other picture books by Tedd Arnold.  The metallic cover also garners attention for this Geisel Honor book.

Because of the humorous images, I would use Hi! Fly Guy to coax a book into the hands of a reluctant reader.