Learn How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum

How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum written and illustrated by Jessie Hartland; published by Blue Apple Books, Maplewood, NJ; 2011.

Follow a diplodocus from its discovery in a Utah quarry to its grand opening as a display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.  Hartland researched the dinosaur’s tale then created a cumulative story around it.  The narrative builds from the dinosaur hunter who discovered it to the museum director who announces the exhibit’s grand opening.  I was impressed that she almost made this book a rebus by illustrating the job titles (and the diplodocus’ name) so that listeners and early readers will be able to determine what the jobs are as the story builds.  Resources abound in “A Little Bit of Dino Info” included at the end of the book.  Answers to frequently asked questions are included as are Web resources tied to Dinosaur National Monument (the National Park where this dino was discovered), the Smithsonian’s dino page, and “Dino Dig” websites.

Absolutely include this book in pathfinders about dinosaurs, especially for elementary aged students.  I would highly recommend this to parents before they make a trip to a natural history museum (especially the Smithsonian) so their family can discuss how artifacts make it to museums.  And for those who can’t visit the museums in person, I would recommend this book in conjunction with a virtual visit via a museum exhibit online.

How They Croaked: wickedly gross, awfully interesting

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous written by Georgia Bragg, illustrated by Kevin O’Malley; published by Walker Publishing Company, a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc., New York; 2011.

Any book with a disclaimer disguised as an introduction is going to get the attention of readers.  Introductions that include lines like the following, will hook reluctant readers for sure:

There are nice things to say about everybody, but this book is full of bad news.  There are funny crying parts and disgusting stupid parts and hideous cool parts, but it’s pretty much one train wreck after another.  And who can tear their eyes away from a train wreck? (from page 2 of the introduction)

Ooh, the disclaimer is true.  It’s gasp out loud gross full of oohs, aahs, and icks.  It’s also a compendium of the infamous in a timeline ranging from King Tut to Albert Einstein.  In addition to the historical facts about very specific people and the times in which they lived (and died), the book includes a couple of fact-filled pages after each chapter and a rich library of sources (“Further Reading and Surfing”) at the end.  O’Malley’s black ink illustrations highlight important and obscure information brilliantly.  He has visually set the tone for Bragg’s words.  Black end pages also add to the macabre elements.

I. Love. This. Book.  Who’d've thought that a graphically gross book about how some famous folk passed would be so gripping and entertaining?  When I say “graphically gross,” there are some descriptions that are very explicit.  Some of the language is middle school worthy too (lots of bodily function discussion).  I cannot imagine this won’t have appeal to upper elementary and middle school boys in particular.

Why did I pick this up in the first place?  A patron challenged me to help her find nonfiction books that read like fiction.  Her two upper elementary aged children had to read 5 nonfiction books each and she wanted to show them that “nonfiction” does not mean “dry and unpalatable.”  Of course I took her straight to Sy Montgomery/Nic Bishop books and the “Who Was…” series.  I showed her Kadir Nelson’s We Are the Ship.  But was there more to choose from?  When this macabre book came up in a further search, we were intrigued.  We thumbed through it together.  Then we almost fought over who got to check it out first (okay, my professional ethics kicked in and she won).  Be sure to make good use of this book!

Open Mysteries of the Jedi

Mysteries of the Jedi written by Elizabeth Dowsett and Shari Last; published by Dorling Kindersley, New York; 2011.

From the lightsaber duel on the end pages to the bleed pages rife with images from the Star Wars movie franchise, this book is an almost overwhelming source of information.  Can’t remember if a character is friend or foe?  It’s in here.  Want to know all the techniques for fighting with a lightsaber?  It’s in here.  This is not a book to be read in one sitting.  This is a reference book.  This is a book to return to just for reading the captions.

Star Wars continues to be a force for getting boys interested in books.  In just the past week, I’ve talked to the father of two early elementary aged boys that got the original trilogy for Christmas and came to the library for any of the DK or Eyewitness encyclopedia of all things Empire and Jedi.  I’ve had a mother beg me to order more Level 1 reader books about anything related to Star Wars.  I’ve had teenagers sheepishly ask if we have the Star Wars chapter books in.  Hooray for getting books in boys’ hands!  To tie in with this or any of the Star Wars books (fiction or non-fiction), be sure to check out the official website at www.StarWars.com.  There are games to play and content to watch.  It’s full of striking images and information.  In addition, DK has resources related to all of their Star Wars books.   I found an activity book full of puzzles, mazes, challenges and coloring pages (http://us.dk.com/static/cs/us/11/starwars/pdfs/dk_starwars_ActivityKit.pdf).  The materials will appeal to a wide age range.

This book will be checked out often.  I plan to make a display of all Star Wars related materials for this year’s summer reading program.  I hope you will too.  And may the Force be with you.

Three Cups of Tea and schools for girls

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Journey to Change the World…One Child at a Time (The Young Readers Edition) by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, adapted by Sarah Thomson; published by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Group, New York; 2009.

In this true story, Greg Mortenson found himself lost in Pakistan.  Through the unprecedented hospitality and care of strangers in remote villages, he found his way home.  An image of children sitting on the cold ground doing math problems by scratching the dirt with sticks haunted him.  He vowed to repay their kindness by building a school.  Three Cups of Tea is the remarkable story of how one man not only made a difference in one village, but in villages throughout Pakistan.

I just finished this book before watching a two-part episode of the CBS television drama, NCIS.  In the show, a school for girls in Afghanistan is bombed.  I couldn’t believe the coincidence; the crux of Mortenson’s story is that boys in Pakistan (and Afghanistan) have the opportunity to attend boarding school but girls have no educational opportunities.  Mortenson’s success is a testament to what one person can do with convictions and passion.

Of course the story is remarkable and extraordinary, but the resources provided in the young readers edition of the book are rich.  The book includes photos, a glossary, a who’s who guide and an interview with Mortenson’s young daughter.  Hearing from the perspective of a peer of children who read this book make the story so much more accessible.
Given the amount of news we have had in the past six months from this region, I would add this book to a pathfinder on the Arab world.  However, the concept of giving and working to help others cannot be overlooked, so I would also make sure that it is included (or tagged) as a resource for teaching children charity and giving.  Information about the Pennies for Peace project is included at the back of the book; this is an opportunity for children of any age and economic status to learn how to help others.  I found the book in both the children’s and young adult sections of my local library.  I believe that it is most appropriate for upper elementary children and tweens (or middle school students) based on the glossary and other information provided in the book.

What is the significance of three cups of tea?  According to the book:

The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger.  The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest.  The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die.  (page 79)

Can’t you just imagine starting a Pennies for Peace club and sharing a cup of tea before every meeting?  More information about the author, the book, and about how to help can be found at the website http://www.threecupsoftea.com/.

Washington at Valley Forge perfect partner for Anderson’s Forge

Washington at Valley Forge by Russell Freedman; published by Holiday House, New York; 2008.

Valley Forge marked a turning point for the rebels in the American Revolution.  Ragtag soldiers, most unprepared for harsh winter conditions, gathered at Valley Forge to prepare for new battles against the Redcoats.  In unbelievably cruel conditions, General George Washington stood shoulder to shoulder in the snow with his troops building shelters.  Why did Washington choose this place to spend the winter?  Where were the wagons, long overdue, bearing food, clothing and other supplies?  And how did the future first president of the United States of America keep morale strong and train this motley crew to win the war for freedom?  All these questions are answered in Russell Freedman’s Washington at Valley Forge.

I admit that I pulled this book off the library shelves shortly after finishing Laurie Halse Anderson’s Forge. So much of that story was new to me; how much literary license did the author take?  I also admit that it took me some time to actually open the cover of Washington at Valley Forge. After Anderson’s riveting tale, I wasn’t sure a nonfiction account would hold my interest.  With Russell Freedman behind the pen, I should not have worried.  I was drawn into the history immediately.  (Washington at Valley Forge was an Orbis Pictus honoree in 2009.)  I even discovered a few “aha!” moments, deeper explanations of Curzon’s experiences.  The maps were created with the assistance of an archivist from Valley Forge National Historic Park–talk about accuracy!–and really helped me picture Curzon’s movements in Forge.  The illustrations in Freedman’s book are reproductions of engravings, paintings, and magazine images.  Overall, the book provided history in words and images that made this turning point in the American Revolution real for me.

As a librarian, I am always thinking of how to pair fiction with nonfiction.  In the case of Forge and Washington at Valley Forge, synergy occurs; the two books offer a view of Valley Forge from different perspectives that work beautifully together to create a 360 degree view.  I believe these two books should be read together.  I also want to make clear that Washington at Valley Forge is not a picture book for preschoolers or even early elementary aged children; this book is for upper elementary students at the youngest, and most definitely for middle school students.

Synergy apparent in collaborations in Ballet for Martha

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, illustrated by Brian Floca; published by Roaring Brook Press, New York; 2010.

The synergy of collaboration is the theme in this multiple-award winning book.  American composer Aaron Copland, choreographer Martha Graham, and artist Isamu Noguchi worked together to make Martha Graham’s concept of capturing America’s spirit in dance a reality.  The resulting ballet, Appalachian Spring, has become an American classic!

Just as the three visionaries worked together to capture the American spirit in art, so the writers and illustrators have collaborated to capture the process of creating Appalachian Spring.  From the robin’s egg blue end pages, through the storytelling, images, and resources at the end, the synergy of this book is remarkable.  Words and pictures drew me into the story of the artists as well as into the tale of a springtime wedding between a farmer and his bride.  It was no surprise to learn that Ballet for Martha was recognized with multiple awards (2011 Robert F. Sibert Honor book, 2011 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award, 2011 ALSC Notable Book List) and starred reviews.  Collaborating is not easy, but to do so successfully twice (in creating Appalachian Spring as well as writing about it!) is remarkable.  And just like the pieces of the ballet–the music, dance and set–work together to create a whole that is more than the sum of its parts, the book has done the same.  Part history lesson, part interpretation of music and dance, and part biography, Ballet for Martha tells the story of a collaboration that sums up the American experience.

During my tenure in an elementary school library, fulfilling book requests from the music teacher was a chore.  There were very few books to offer her.  I would enthusiastically recommend this book to her now, and include the links to the YouTube videos that captured a television performance of the ballet.  In any library, I would include this book in a family story time, and maybe only show part 3 of the YouTube videos (recognize that first song?).  Any spring displays would have to incorporate this book with a CD of Copland’s inspired score.

If the book has piqued your interest about the ballet, please watch the 4 part videos!  I’ve embedded them here so that librarians, music teachers, or anyone interested in watching this American classic can do so from this location!

Udderly factual (or not) stories of Sandra Boynton’s Amazing Cows

Amazing Cows: A Book of Bovinely Inspired Misinformation by Sandra Boynton; published by Workman Publishing, New York; 2010.

The cover of Sandra Boynton’s Amazing Cows screams information in a, well, comic book sort of way.  Opening the cover reveals red end pages covered with Boynton’s distinctive illustrative style: lovable cross-eyed cows with AMAZING COWS! screaming above their heads.  All of that bovine bravado before getting past the title page!  And trust me, the book only gets better with every turn of the page.  Poetry, prose, jokes and limericks, even a “vintage” comic book excerpt fill this nonfiction*collection.  There are advertisements for music CDs (“It Had to Be Moo”) and a book dedicated to decorating with cows.

* This book is shelved in the nonfiction stacks only by virtue of the call number: It is shelved in the 818′s, where American literature is filed.

As the title proclaims, this book is appropriate for “all ages up to a hundred and moo” and that’s the truth.  I laughed so loud at the names of the cows alone that I had to explain to the person in the car next to me (I was in the school parking lot) what I was reading.  I can imagine reading parts of this book to children from kindergarten through at least fifth grade (hear that, school librarians looking for a read-aloud for older kids?!).  This would be a terrific book for families to read together.  Imagine the family programming possibilities in a public library!

However you decide to use it, I strongly recommend you find this book and share it with someone!

Diary boosts self-esteem for AD/HD Success

AD/HD Success!  Solutions for Boosting Self-Esteem: The Diary Method (ages 7-17) by Kerin Bellak-Adams; published by Loving Healing Press, Ann Arbor, MI; 2010.

Kerin Bellak-Adams is a former teacher of children with AD/HD.  The concept for this workbook came from her experiences “in the trenches,” so to speak.  She discovered that boosting self-esteem and developing self-awareness were keys to success for children with AD/HD.  As the book opens, background about the author and the disorder are presented.  Then caregivers and teachers are presented with information for using the workbook.  Even the children and teens receive instructions.  All of the directions are easy to follow and are explained in depth, which help the users succeed in using the workbook and diary pages.

The first section, “Getting Started,” includes a reproducible “Home/School Daily Accountability Sheet.”  What a great way to provide continuity in assessing a child’s progress and/or identifying when or where problems begin.  The final pages of the book provide suggestions and questions for parents and teachers to use to facilitate the development of self-esteem.  Tips and resources are also provided.  The next section is for the child; it is the diary.  A questionnaire assessing self-esteem is to be copied and filled out before starting the daily diary.  In the future, self-esteem can be reassessed and compared to the benchmark results.  The meat of this book is this diary.  Each entry starts with a quote.  Then a single question is posed followed by space for a short-response to finish a thought-provoking question.  To end the daily diary entry, the child ranks his or her feelings for the day on a scale of 1-10.

Well, here’s another testimonial from personal experience.  Both of my children have ADD or AD/HD and we were blessed to work with an occupational therapist who recommended similar activities.  However, had this book been available at that time, it would have made our lives so much easier!  I found it hard to keep track of all the daily activities we were to use.  Writing daily notes to the teacher was cumbersome and some days I dreaded the return notes.  The correspondence for parents and teachers in this book are slanted toward reinforcing positive behaviors and offers a structured space for responses; I would have looked forward to these notes!  This volume provides a single location for parent, teacher and child input.  When a child has issues managing time, organization and himself or herself, having a single item to keep track of reinforces responsibility in an easy to manage way.

More information is available at the book’s website www.ReachBeyondADD.com.  You can also visit the publisher at http://www.lovinghealing.com/.

(Note: A free copy of this book was provided by the publisher for me to review forStories for Children Magazine. I include the review here, with some additional thoughts.  Please note that all books I review for Stories for Children Magazine are donated to a local tutoring program for homeless and marginalized families.)

 

Reena’s Bollywood Dream effective lesson in difficult subject

Reena’s Bollywood Dream by Jewel Kats; illustrated by Richa Kinra; published by Loving Healing Press, Ann Arbor, MI; 2010.

Reena dreams of being a Bollywood star but it seems no one in her family—not Mommy, Daddy, nor Nani—thinks it’s an appropriate dream for an eight year old.  When Uncle Jessi, Reena’s pen pal, joins the family in America, he encourages dreams of Bollywood.  In fact, Uncle Jessi offers to make a video of Reena dancing and acting like the Bollywood actresses from India.  However, playing the part begins to feel wrong and Reena runs away in tears.  She recognizes that Uncle Jessi was trying to get her to do things that are wrong, so she takes the videotape to her parents.  Although they are shocked by what they see on the screen, they praise Reena for her courage in doing the right thing.  In the end, Reena trades in her Bollywood dream for the real-life drama club at school.

Sexual abuse is a difficult topic to discuss with children and even harder to write about.  Remarkably, Jewel Kats has written about abuse in a sensitive yet thorough manner.  In fact, the story could happen in any family or in any neighborhood.  But by telling the story of Reena’s Bollywood dream, the author not only offers an opportunity for families to discuss abuse but also a chance to glimpse another culture.  A glossary of terms on the dedication page is a wonderful introduction to this multicultural book.  Richa Kinra’s illustrations enhance the story, especially with facial expressions that mirror the emotions articulated in the text.  The rich colors reflect the culture of this family that has relocated from India to America.

During my tenure in an elementary school library, the guidance counselor often requested books on a variety of topics.  I never had well-written or visually engaging books on sexual abuse.  This title would fit the bill perfectly.  Aside from guidance counselors, families looking for a way to discuss recognizing inappropriate physical contact and how to react to it will want to read this book together.

(Note: A free copy of this book was provided by the publisher for me to review forStories for Children Magazine. I include the review here, with some additional thoughts.  Please note that all books I review for Stories for Children Magazine are donated to a local tutoring program for homeless and marginalized families.)

“O MY” a family guide to surgery

The “O, MY” in Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy: How to Prepare Your Child for Surgery (Second Edition) by Laurie Zelinger, Ph.D., R.P.T.-S; published by Loving Healing Press, Ann Arbor, MI; 2010.

When a child has to have surgery, concern may overwhelm caregivers.  In this guide to preparing for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, Dr. Zelinger has gathered information to help caregivers remember what the doctor may have said, prepare themselves and their children for the surgery, and be ready for post-surgery needs.  The book covers everything from making the decision to have surgery to scripting a discussion about surgery with a child.  A bibliography is provided at the end of the book to help caregivers answer any questions that may not have been answered in the book.  Also, a checklist and caregiver’s organizer are provided.

Dr. Zelinger is thorough in every aspect of preparing caregivers and children for surgery.  I especially appreciated the fact that both the physical and psychological comforts of the children were considered.  Tips for minimizing worry are especially helpful.  Scripting discussions about what the tonsils are and what to expect after surgery are particularly helpful—I always wonder if I’m telling my kids too much or not enough about things that impact them, like an impending surgery.  On that note, I think the book would have been more effective had the scripts been presented as mini-books, such as a few pages illustrated and written to be read to the children.  Illustrations are so effective in expressing concepts that may be too advanced for younger children.  Additionally, I wonder if the text-heavy pages would be overwhelming for caregivers who are already distracted with worry.  For example, the paragraph listing what to pack on the morning of surgery is awfully long and hard to read.  It might be more reader-friendly as a bulleted list.

Overall, I am impressed by the thorough coverage of the topic.  From personal experience, I know that listening to a doctor recount the why’s and when’s and how’s of a surgery for my child is overwhelming and I do not hear or recall the majority of the information.  Laurie Zelinger has taken all that information and put it into an easy to read, accessible resource to calm caregivers and children before surgery.

I would include this book in a surgery kit that families could check out to prepare for a visit to the hospital.  I’d also make sure it was on pathfinders about hospital visits.

Visit the publisher’s website at http://www.lovinghealing.com/ or the author at www.drzelinger.com.

(Note: A free copy of this book was provided by the publisher for me to review forStories for Children Magazine. I include the review here, with some additional thoughts.  Please note that all books I review for Stories for Children Magazine are donated to a local tutoring program for homeless and marginalized families.)