Aggie Gets Lost

Aggie Gets Lost is a sweet "chapter" book I found in our library.  It's one of several of Lori Ries books.  This one is endearing.
     When Ben is playing fetch with his dog Aggie in the park, Aggie doesn't come back.  Three short chapters.  One big important life lesson.  This is the perfect book for young readers.  Aggie and Ben are the best of friends.  And who can resist Frank Dormer's illustrations?  Younger readers will love this series.
     BUT, I used it yesterday in our study of sensory images.  It's the perfect reminder that we rely on all our senses as we come to understand text.  My 4th graders had a grand conversation about the importance of using each sense to create the kinds of images and to support their understanding of text.  One student said, "I could have written this book!"  And, I said, "And, you have Lori to thank... she's your mentor!"
     And to think this simple book could lead to such wonderful collaboration.  All is not lost!
     

Albert Marrin - A New Fan!

Albert Marrin is an incredible writer.  I mentioned Years of Dust in a previous post.  It's an incredible resource for taking a closer look at one of the most devastating human catastrophe's in American History.  My sister, Joy, has told me stories of the dust bowl (she's 83) from her own experiences in Kansas.  I can only imagine.  Years of Dust reminds us of the importance of conservation and reading it is like walking through history... and important part of our nation's past. 
     At NCTE, I attended a wonderful session called "Energize Research Reading and Writing Across All content Areas:  Engaged Notetaking, Expert Writing" presented by Christopher Lehman and Kate Roberts.  Both Christopher and Kate were wonderfully engaging and I left with another Albert Marrin title in my arsenal of great nonfiction writing, Oh, Rats!  It's a wonderful example of the type of mentorship we have to put in the hands and minds of our writers.  In fact, I ordered a copy before I left for home that afternoon... it's that good (as was this session)!
     I'm always on the lookout for examples of great nonfiction writing to share with learners.  And, Oh, Rats! is a marvelous resource about an often misunderstood rodent (which I learned, by the way, are able to claw straight up a brick wall, gnaw through iron and concrete, and climb up a drainpipe and live--thanks, Kate, the drawings you had us do in the session still haunt me).  Rats.  Compelling really, especially when you read this book.  My students were shocked about the real story about "Ring Around The Rosie"!  And, I guarantee you and your students will love this book.

 

     Two other Albert Marrin titles I found in my stacks were Little Monsters:  The Creatures That Live On Us and in Us and Saving the Buffalo.  Equally as well-written, equally as compelling.  Thanks to Chris and Kate, I've become an Albert Marrin fan!

 

Doreen Rappaport - Beyond Courage

Beyond Courage: The Untold Story of Jewish Resistance During the Holocaust by Doreen Rappaport is an amazing new book published by Candlewick Press.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Rappaport in November and received copy of her book.  The few minutes I spent with her as she signed my book is engrained in my memory, she speaks with the same passion.
     This book is powerful and poignant.  These words written by Franta Bass, age eleven (find the remainder of her words on page one and page 196), provide a glimpse into the content of the text:

I am a Jew and will be Jew forever, 

Even if I should die from hunger, 

never will I submit.

I will always fight for my people, 

on my honor...

     Doreen Rappaport shares the courage of the people who, during the war, rallied to stand up to the Nazi regime and face it with courage.  In her book, we learn about thousands of Jewish lives that were saved by the ingenuity, conviction, and tenacity of those who were willing to risk their lives to save others... smuggling children to safety, forging identifications and paperwork, creating secret ways to ensure freedom and hope for those whose lives were changed forever.  In this book, Ms. Rappaport takes on a tough subject and shares stories of survival that would otherwise be lost had she not had the courage to research and write this book.  And, while she states, "the scope and extent of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust cannot possibly be contained in one book," this book is an amazing resource and should find its way into every classroom.  Thankfully, she plans to continue to explore this topic on her website, Doreenrappaport.com.
     The power of Ms. Rappaport's words and voice made me understand more clearly the tragedy of this time in our world's history.  A perfect addition to any text set about the Holocaust and its impact on humanity.  The photographs and personal accounts shared in this book provide richness and draw us closer to the lives of those who risked everything to save the lives of others.  Ms. Rappaport has written about defiance... about standing up against oppression.  It must have been so daunting for people like George Loinger, Marianne Cohn, Mordechai Anielewizc, and all those whose story she tells to fight for the survival of others.  This book chronicles a harrowing time in our history eloquently, purposefully, and with the same passion that we find in all Ms. Rappaport's writing... every teacher and student should read it.
     The power of story... of sharing story... of remembering story, that's what Beyond Courage does for us.  As long as we have people like Doreen Rappaport, we can never forget!  Powerful.  Beautifully written.  Unforgettable.

Jean Fritz... 95 years and still ticking....

What are you going to be doing when you're 95 years old?  Breathing, perhaps?  Living?  I hope so.
     If you're Jean Fritz you'll be celebrating the publication of your 45th book.  This month Jean Fritz added Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider to her repertoire.  In this book, she writes a detailed account of Alexander Hamilton's life... from his arriving in New York to Study from the West Indies, to his political career, to his death in a duel.  
     Jean Fritz has won many awards for her writing, including the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award and the Newbery Honor.  I've always enjoyed reading her writing... Shhh! We're Writing the Constitution to The Secret Life of Pocahontas to Surprising Myself to The Cabin Faced West.  Homesick: My Own Story her autobiographical "story" of her young life is nothing less than brilliant.  
     Ms. Fritz has found her niche and has brought history alive for many young readers.  I'm amazed at her ability to capture history in such a rich and varied way.  She once said that she researches like a reporter... she looks for a scoop, notes clues and details, digs deep into her subjects and the result is her incredible list of books, many of which have become part of our classroom libraries.  She writes about real people and searches journals and letters for "real" dialogue.  She only uses the actual words of her subjects to recreate history and making it accessible for her readers.  And, she often surprises us with humor and unique situations that even the most "adult" biographer skips.
     As she begins her 95th year, I think we need to all tip our collective hats with a huge "thank you" and wish her continued blessings.  I can't wait to read Alexander Hamilton... I wonder what secrets she'll reveal?  She always does...

A great find...

Found this little gem at The Boulder Bookstore today.  My friend, Troy, and I went to Boulder for the morning and made a quick trip into the bookstore.  I picked it up because of the cover and was pleasantly surprised by what I discovered.  The author is a philatelist and uses U.S. postage stamps to trace the journey of American history.  The details of each historical event are limited (I wanted to read more), but I thought it was an interesting way to trace the history of America.  A nice timeline with wonderful watercolors and simply written text.  
     I loved the reproductions of U.S. postage stamps throughout the book.  The author, C. H. Colman, uses his lifetime love of postage stamps to guide the reader through the text.  I love the passion he has for his "collection" and shares that he's been mesmerized by stamps since he was a little boy.  Colman decided to share his passion through stories of bald eagles (something he noticed took a prominent place in a lot of the stamps in his collection) intermingled with historic events in our country's history.  I think students will be intrigued by the colorful stamps represented in the book.  The historical events might just nudge students to discover more... and might just show them how to turn their own passions into a collection of writings. 

Dogs and Cats? Cats and Dogs?

You just can't go wrong with Steve Jenkins.  I was in the library with my third graders this week and I ran across this gem.  I'm adding a copy to my Steve Jenkins collection. 
     I'm always looking for great mentor text for my students, especially well-written nonfiction text.  In this collection, the author's writing is fabulous... especially the short chunks of text that show readers how well-organized paragraphs should be written.  Paragraphs that are not phony or contrived (no pink, yellow, or green strips of paper required... no fake five-paragraph voiceless essays), but serve as examples of real-world writing.  Paragraphs that have one purpose, to alert the reader to move into a new thought, a new idea, a new topic.  Ah, paragraphs that are real.

     Why do we write in paragraphs anyway?  Katie Wood Ray reminds us that, "The flow of your text should determine the length of your paragraph."  And, if we want students to write under the influence of great writing, Steve Jenkins provides rich, well-written pieces about interesting subjects.  Thoughtfully.  A great text to teach from without suspending what we know about good writing.  
     And, if you like dogs... perfect choice.  If you like cats... perfect choice.  This is a terrific (although not new) book with the paper-cut illustrations the author is famous for... combined with well-researched writing.  Thanks once more, Mr. Jenkins!

Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln

Another Portland Purchase... Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln by Judith St. George.

     The book tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's childhood in the Kentucky wilderness.  His mother died of milk poisoning (who knew?) before Abe was ten.  It was his stepmother Sally Bush Johnston (who married his father after his mother died) who brought literature into the Lincoln home.  She was big, loud, and encouraging.  She loved Abe's enthusiasm and served as an inspiration throughout this childhood, believing he had assets worth developing!

     It was Sally who influenced Abe's scholarship.  She encouraged him to read, and read often.  She served as a filter between Abe and his father.  Sally figured out what made young Abraham tick and she focused on his strengths, rather than the fact that he was a bit rambunctious and lively.  Later, he would thank his stepmother for her belief in him.

     I thought this was a unique look at Abe Lincoln, told in short "story-like" chapters (focusing on his childhood until about age 15).  There are so many books written about Lincoln, but this is a grand book to add to any collection.  It's an older publication, but one I just had to sneak into my "to buy" pile (and I might add, I really limited myself on this trip).

Smart Science Series

I just discovered this series of Basher books!  Rocks and Minerals is the fifth in the series of science books. The illustrations, although a bit cartoonish, are engaging.  
     In Rocks and Minerals, the information is written in first person perspective. I love the way the factual information about science topics is presented... great nonfiction mentor text.  This book explores rocks, gems, minerals, crystals, fossils, etc.  The text develops science concepts through understandable and creatively written text.
     I love this series and so do my students.  Although some of the concepts are difficult to comprehend, budding scientists will spend time wisely working their way through the text... asking lots of questions, drawing inferences, and synthesizing learning. 

     

A Great Sports Book

This book is full of the kinds of sports stories that inspire readers who love sports.  Len Berman (veteran sportscaster extraordinaire) has chosen some of his favorite groundbreaking sports stories.  He begins with Michael Phelps's victory in 2008 in Beijing.  He writes about such athletes as Hank Aaron, Billie Jean King, the U.S. Women's soccer team, Nadia Comaneci (and a certain golfer who's been in the news of late).
     This is a wonderful collection.  It is a nice mix of historical sport's moments.  It's an engaging book for young fans.  The book also includes an audio CD of ten actual moments in sports history.  I'm always on the lookout for books to add to my collection of sports books.
     I especially like how Len Berman shares his favorite moments in sports in the book and challenges the reader to identify the moments in history that would make his or her list (persuasive writing launch, perhaps?).  It's visually attractive and fun to read.  I've added this book to my "must have" list and I can't wait to get this book into the hands of young readers.

Joanne O'Sullivan

My wife is taking a children's literature class and it's been fun perusing my collection with her... the first week it was folk tales, last week it was personal narrative, this week we're looking through nonfiction.  We've read some good ones!

     I love Joanne O'Sullivan's books 101 Things You Gotta Do Before 12! and 101 Places You Gotta See Before You're 12!  As I was rereading them tonight, I was creating the list of things that I've never done that I was supposed to have done a very long time ago!  Who knew?
     The beauty of both of these books is that they can be used as mentor text for writing.  If you're asking children to write expository text... you might just want to check out a few pages out of either of these books.  Short pieces of text, written with voice, around a single topic:  perfect!
     Joanne O'Sullivan has written many other nonfiction books:  101 Ways You Can Help Save the Planet Before You're 12!, Calling All Dogs: Grrreat Names for Your Perfect Pooch, Calling All Cats: Purrrfect Names for Your Fabulous Feline, and I Don't Care If We're Not There Yet: The Backseat Boredom Buster.  I think her books are terrific examples of well-written expository text... children love being able to sit down to read about new things, in short snippets, and to think about what to do with the information they're learning!

The Story of Snow...

After spending three snow days at home, shoveling the sidewalk multiple times, and enjoying the beauty of a Colorado snowstorm, this is the perfect book to mention...  
     The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder.

     It's by Mark Cassino, a nature photographer, and Jon Nelson, a scientist who has studied snow and crystals for many years.  Together, they've created a wonderful addition to any collection of snow books. 
     The snow crystals in the book are beautifully captured in photographs.  The books answers questions about snow... how it forms, snowflake shapes, etc.  It's a scientific exploration of snow.  Simple, but informative. 
    Doesn't make shoveling any easier... but it does help a young scientist know how to capture and study snowflakes.

Snow Leopards... Ghosts of the Mountain

This one got a big "Ahhh..." and a "Dad, will you buy that one for me?" from my youngest daughter.  She's loved snow leopards almost as much as polar bears since first grade (her first grade teacher, Jo Franklin, did an amazing job of getting her hooked on great nonfiction).  
     Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia is a beautiful book by Sy Montgomery and the photographs by Nic Bishop are breathtaking.  The photography is amazing!
     Snow leopards are difficult to study, they blend so well into the mountains in Mongolia.  Scientist Tom McCarthy has dedicated his career (and life) to studying these mysterious creatures.  Both Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop accompanied Tom McCarthy on a trip to study these elusive and dwindling animals.  The result is this book.
     If, like my daughter, you're up for a good read about beautiful and cunning snow leopards, this is the perfect book.  Snow Leopards can pounce on prey with amazing accuracy (and their prey can be three times as big).  And, the endurance and stamina it takes to study animals in on of the coldest places on earth is no easy task.  This is an amazing story.  One that could I could easily see a group of children gathered around reading... and being particularly amazed!

     Since she asked, I may have to add this one to our at-home collection... what dad could say no?  And, it's the closest thing to a trip to Mongolia that many of us will ever take.

Spiders and Their Websites...

This is an older book from my collection that I rediscovered while organizing some books at home.  I bought it because of the content and the catchy title.  
     It's a book I've used to provide short pieces of text during a study of determining importance in text.  The organization of the text and the descriptions of the spiders (and daddy longleg) are well-written and fact-filled.  I love the illustrations at the bottom of the page that explain different features of each spider.  Children love reading about how webs are constructed, prey is caught, and little details (creepy and gross) that intrigue the reader (like how spiders actually drink their prey).
     When you reorganize your book collection, you'll be surprised by the gems you find!  This is one of mine.

    

Bubble Homes & Fish Farts

This book is delightful.  A nonfiction book that teaches so much!  Who knew that bubbles were so important?  Fiona Bayrock explains how bubbles are important to animals and their existence in nature.  Who knew that the star-nosed mole blows bubbles outside its nose and then sucks them back in... just to find food?  Who knew that the Weddell seal blows bubbles to chase fish out of hiding so that he can break through the ice to catch them and that a Humpback whale uses bubbles to herd tiny fish into a group?  The book takes a serious look at unique animals in a fun and interesting way.  I had no idea there were so many animals who used bubbles as part of their survival. 
     I like having nonfiction books that include extra details in the back of the text - size, location, and interesting facts.  The book is formatted so that young readers will enjoy reading about their favorite animals.  And this book will serve as great mentor text for a study of nonfiction writing.  Children who love nonfiction will enjoy Bubble Homes and Fish Farts - drawn initially by the title (it's catchy!), but then they are destined to find information they won't be able to read anywhere else... it's a keeper.