Poetry Booktalks with Avatars

Today is the last day of Poetry Month, so I thought I'd create a couple of booktalks for poetry books using avatars I made at Voki, a website that I heard about at one of the sessions I attended last week at the TLA convention. 

First up, Step Gently Out written by Helen Frost & pictures by Rick Lieder. For this one, I called in and recorded my own voice for the avatar's words.








Next up is Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Kate Coombs and illustrated by Meilo So. I chose to type in my text and use a fish with an animated ocean background (fun!) and an Australian accent (even more fun!) for this one.






My review of Voki: This website is easy to use for creating avatars, and I think children will enjoy the multitude of options available. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to change the basic characters because the different categories are on a very small sliding bar under the "Head" option. Once I understood how to get to all the choices, the rest of it was very simple. My audio is not perfect on the avatar where I called in, but I think that is probably more a function of my phone than the website, and also it could possibly be affected by my LouisiTexas accent! When I entered my text for Water Sings Blue, I hit a character limit that would not let me include everything I wanted to say. 

Final thoughts: I think kids will jump at the chance to use these, and it's also a great way to let them include themselves in a project without using their actual picture when there are privacy concerns. These could be used in conjunction with many other applications to add interest and variation, and I know students will come up with so many more ideas than I ever could!

April 29 - It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Joining in with Teach Mentor Texts!

I've read a few books this week! One because I worked hard to get it read during TLA, and the others occurred during bedtime routines and a date night to Barnes and Noble with my handsome/amazing husband.



The Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron by Mary Losure. Ill. by Timothy Basil Ering
Which readers? 3rd and up

This little book reads like a novel, but the research and careful attention to detail tell the reader the real-life story of the Savage of Aveyron from France in the late 1700s/early 1800s. Losure's obviously meticulous research shows through in the many varied sources that she uses to anchor this story as much as possible. There are many times when she has to make suppositions as the story of this boy's life moves forward, but these are clearly noted. Losure's story follows "Victor" from the forests of France to unhappy institutions and eventually to people who genuinely love him and become family. Losure's afterword also show how the efforts to help this boy affect modern educational pedagogy (i.e., Maria Montessori's methods).



Bink & Gollie: Best Friends Forever by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Ill. by Tony Fucile
Which readers? K and up

Henry (our kindergartener, age 6) and I have a special place in our heart for the Bink & Gollie series. It's smart, precocious, and just so witty. I'll come straight to the point. This one just really didn't get the same amazed reaction from either of us. I had to explain a lot of things to him. He didn't understand Gollie's brush with royalty in the first chapter at all. The book didn't hold his attention, and he thought it was really very strange that Bink smeared peanut butter on her sculpture made from her recycled Stretch-O-Matic machine. As we progressed through the book, the word that kept flitting through my head was "disjointed." We are still hardcore B&G fans. We will be the first in line for the next installment. But this third in the series is just no Two for One.


October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard by Leslea Newman
Which readers? Older Middle school +

One of my favorite literature professors from TWU, Dr. Sylvia Vardell, writes a wonderful poetry blog. Every January, she publishes her "Best Of" poetry list for the previous year. I try to read as many of these as I can. This week, I read this beautiful book of poetry telling the story of the death of Matthew Shepard from many different viewpoints, such as the bartender who was the last friendly person he talked to, the police officers, his family, the killers, and even the fence post to which he was tied. Newman's poetry is sparse, haunting, and most definitely thought provoking.



National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry ed. by J. Patrick Lewis
Which readers? Preschool and up

This is another great selection highlighted on Dr. Vardell's list. This delightful collection is wonderful because of both the poems and the pictures. For some reason, I put off picking up this book for the longest time because it had that National Geographic logo on it. I guess that is because that logo makes it seem a bit like a manufactured series to me, but this is definitely a gem of a poetry collection.





A Long Way Away: A Two Way Story by Frank Viva
Which readers? Preschool and up

I picked up this little picture book last night, and I was immediately grabbed by the unique illustrations that have a nostalgic, retro feel. I gave it four stars on GoodReads....probably influenced by the fact that it has an average of 3.64 stars. (hanging head in shame. Must not let my personal opinion be swayed by GoodReads averages!!!). I have thought of this lovely little book several times today. The colors are so striking, and the unique nature of the book (you can read it forwards...or backwards for a different story!). Then I noticed a  7-Imp blog post via The Niblings on FB about this author and his upcoming book about Frank Lloyd Wright! If you write about FLW, you have my full attention. Frank Viva is now officially on my watch list! High honors. haha.

What am I reading next? Oh, I just don't know! Too tired after TLA and a family visit this weekend! Will decide tomorrow (writing this on Sunday night). I have The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop and  The Quilt Walk among about 10 others in my book bag.

TLA Convention 2013 Wrap Up

I was ecstatic to get to go to the Texas Library Association Annual Convention this year! It was held in Fort Worth, and of course that was very convenient for me. I drove down to the airport every day and parked at the TRE Station, and then I rode the train into downtown Fort Worth and walked the couple of blocks to the convention.

It has been a few years since I've been able to attend a convention. Actually, the last time I went, I kept feeling strange waves of nausea during the sessions. It turned out those waves of nausea were the beginnings of Leo. It was basically impossible to attend with a child in preschool (9am-2pm), a child in elementary school, a full-time working/commuting husband, and the travel that would have been involved because the convention was not local. So when I say that I was ecstatic in my first sentence, you can picture me beaming on the train to Fort Worth and then floating down the sidewalk to the convention center. It was a very big deal to me. It was something I was doing just for my career, and a symbol that we have entered a new stage in our family's development. Same as when I went back to work in the fall.

Oh, and I saw lots of great authors! I ran into Blue Balliett in the bathroom, and I exclaimed "Oh! I've read your books!" before I could stifle myself. I could possibly be on her stalker list now. Hopefully not. :)

OK, enough introspection! Listed below are the sessions I attended. It's fun just to look back at what I learned, and I also want to have the list to refer to in the future.


WEDNESDAY
12pm - 50 Years of Librarianship: Trends from the Texas Library Journal. During this session, I realized that I was sitting in front of my supervisor from my school librarian practicum (think student teaching for librarians), and we had a lovely chat after the session.

1pm - Bytes of Technology: Fill Your  Plate with 21st Century Learning tools in the School Library. I picked up so many great new apps, websites, etc. during this! Now I need to go and try each one so that I really understand them.

2pm - Connecting the Caldecott Award Books to the Science TEKS. An Irving ISD school librarian gave examples of how he uses Caldecott Books to teach the science TEKS. Great ideas and lots of inspiration here.

4pm - Guys Listen with Jon Scieszka. Jon Scieszka presented his new endeavor to get boys reading through audiobooks they will love. We are all avid audiobookers at my house, so all the research about how beneficial audiobooks are was not news to me. I'm so glad someone is focusing on the unique needs of boys. I have listened to SweetFarts twice in my car now. It's definitely NOT my favorite, but the boys love it.

THURSDAY
10:15 am - You're Not Bilingual - So What? Three practicing librarians gave tips, ideas, and many online resources for planning storytimes, ordering materials, etc. when you are a non-bilingual librarian working in a bilingual or multilingual school. Fabulous!

1pm - Free Technology for Teachers: Discovery, Discussion, and Demonstration. The famous (in teacher circles, anyway!) Richard Byrne who writes Free Technology for Teachers presented many many MANY fabulous ideas for using technology. Mind. Blown.

2pm - Best of Both: Nonfiction Picture Book Author Discussion Panel. Wow, I was so excited about this one, and it more than lived up to my expectations. I have a special interest in NF lit for kids, and this was a panel discussion among some of my favorite authors and the great author/illustrator Melissa Sweet. I have discussed several of them on my blog - Sweet, Shana Corey from Here Come the Girl Scouts and Candace Fleming who wrote The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. The incomparable Doreen Rappaport and Tanya Lee Stone were also on the panel.

3pm - Tell It! A Storytelling Crash Course. I got to hear some great storytelling, and I heard some great tips for becoming a better storyteller.

FRIDAY
10:15am - School Library 101 or 911. This was an information session for new librarians or librarians who walk into a new job where the library needs a lot of work. There were so many GREAT and PRACTICAL tips here, and lots of real world stories. The librarians were great presenters, and they had my rapt attention. I thought maybe this would be a good session, and I spent most of the weekend telling my husband interesting things that I learned in this one.

11:30am - Lights, Camera, Libraries! Act 1: Using Windows Live Movie Maker (Hands On) - This was a ticketed event that I purchased when I registered. It was just a quick class, but it whet my appetite enough that I am going to give Movie Maker a try soon. And, I actually thought I was going to an iMovie class. I was in a conference daze by this point.

1pm - Copyright - Don't Panic!!! - Two attorneys/librarians presented on copyright. This is always a hot topic for librarians. It was a big room that was full, and most of the attendees were school librarians.

2pm - I started a session, but I found that my brain was just on OVERLOAD! I went to look at the vendors. I got Henry an Elephant and Piggie shirt. No big kid character shirts for Leo, though. I got a coffee and took a break!!!

4pm - Lights, Cameras, Libraries! Act 2: Video Strategies that Work - I attended the second half of the Movie Maker class. Got some Do's and Don't's for making good videos.

And then I caught the train home! Happy Librarian! Great conference.

It's Monday, What are You Reading? (my first time to join in!)

Joining in for the first time on the "It's Monday! What Are You Reading?" fun at Teach Mentor Texts.

I am "not working" today, so here is how I spent my morning!



Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff
Which readers? 8 and up

Two-time Newbery Honor winner Giff gives us this lovely novel about home, family, and finding a place to belong. Since the death of her parents when she was a baby, Jayna has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. After a brief and happy stay with her brother, she is forced to live with their landlady when her brother must ship out to serve in the Pacific Theater in WWII. Jayna remembers that her brother mentioned that there was a box on a high shelf that might hold some secrets about their family When news comes that her brother might not return, she decides to take her destiny in her own hands and find out if there is a place where she might really belong.

This is a fast read, and it involves a little bit of a ghost story. The ghost is friendly, and there is nothing here that will scare young readers. There are several little mysteries wrapped up in this story, and readers will enjoy unwrapping all the little puzzle pieces to find the whole picture. I think third grade and up, especially girls, will enjoy this heartwarming tale.


Unwholly by Neal Shusterman
Which readers? middle school and up

Eek, this awful picture after that sweet little title above! With only one John Green title left that I haven't read, I am waiting to read An Abundance of Katherines. I listened to Unwind by Shusterman last week, so this week I am reading Unwholly on the Ipad. I am enjoying it, so far, but I'm not devouring it as quickly as I did the first in the series. Perhaps the difference is because I am not listening to it. I also listened to Bruiser by Shusterman in the last couple of weeks. Although I had mixed feelings about the ending and some aspects of the story troubled me, I fell in love with Bruiser in spite of myself.

What's on deck? This is what's in my cart on Amazon and on hold at the library: (And I can't WAIT to read the next Bink and Gollie with my very favorite kindergartener!)

This Place Matters (Japanese Internment) - a topic of personal interest

OK, this is going to be a long one because I feel somewhat of a personal connection to this story. Not a direct connection, but the subject has just been important to me for so long. Stick with me!

Throughout my years of reading children's literature, there have been a few books and topics that have completely consumed me as a learner. The very first nonfiction book that made an indelible mark on my soul as a young adult (I promise, I am not overstating) was I Am an American by Jerry Stanley. There has been an important museum that opened recently to help us remember this time in history, and it is an update to my permanent mental toolbox for helping young learners.



When I was 20 years old and a junior in college in Arkansas, I took Dr. Jenny Beth Petty's "Children and YA Literature" class. It changed my life. Another big statement that is also an understatement. One of the books we read was I Am an American by Jerry Stanley. This was the first I had heard of the Japanese Internment during WWII. I was shocked, horrified, and it was one of those young adult moments when I realized that my education to that point had holes. It dawned on me that perhaps I had not been told the whole story in history classes in high school. Yes, I knew about slavery in America, but now I realized there were big ugly parts of our history that had been omitted, whether by accident or on purpose. As a mature adult, I now realize that I must continue to seek. At twenty, I thought that high school American History class I took was very thorough, and this revelation was a shock.

There was a map of the Internment Camps on page 40. I was surprised to learn that there were two internment camps in Arkansas. Stanley wrote on p. 41 "The other two camps, Rohwer and Jerome, were in the damp, swampy lowlands of Arkansas, where the most poisonous snakes in North America lived." I immediately wanted to go and visit these places, which were about 3 hours from my campus, but all of my research into this found that these were just empty fields in 1996 with perhaps one small marker. I was disappointed and sad that there was no museum or larger monument that would mark the ugliness that occurred here and serve to educate future generations. Manzanar, the camp that is spotlighted in this book, is  a National Historic Site in California, but there was nothing in Arkansas. As Santayana stated, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it."

Not only was I drawn into the important story of The Japanese Internment through this book, I also became a huge fan of Jerry Stanley's writing. Stanley was a professor at UC Bakersfield, and he wrote children's NF literature after retirement. I did a major project about his writing when I took Dr. Sylvia Vardell's NF literature class, which is archived here at my blog that I kept during grad school. I will copy my review of I Am an American at the bottom of this post.

I follow George Takei through social media, and last week I was delighted and thrilled to see that he was in McGehee, AR to dedicate the Jerome-Rohwer Interpretive Museum and Visitor Center. Finally, there is a museum for people to visit to learn about this event in our history. Takei and his family were interned at Rohwer. While I was so sad to learn that aspect of his story, I am so glad that he is willing and able to publicize this important opening.  I just cannot possibly say it better than he does, so here is his article on The Huffington Post, complete with pictures, etc.  I WILL make it to this museum one day and take my children with me.

George Takei: Why We Must Remember Rohwer

Mr. Takei is also in a musical about the Japanese Interment! With Lea Salonga from another of my passions, Miss Saigon! Want to see that too.

Allegiance

And here is my review of I Am an American from grad school. This was a PhD level class, so reviews were extensive. If you don't want to read this whole thing, here is my blurb: Lots of pictures and students will be drawn into the history of this time through the narrative NF story of Shi Nomura.

Stanley, Jerry. 1994. I am an American: A true story of Japanese internment. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 0590684442.

Shi Nomura is an all-American teenage boy who just happens to be of Japanese ancestry when Pearl Harbor is bombed on December 7, 1941. In I am an American, Jerry Stanley tells Shi's story of internment during World War II and in so doing gives readers a personal account of what life was like for these innocent citizens during that time.

Stanley writes in a very matter-of-fact style which neither over-dramatizes or glosses over the plight faced by Japanese-Americans and Japanese nationals living in the United States. This is seen in his writing at the end of the introduction. In a simple sentence that belies the enormity of the situation, Stanley writes simply "But despite their loyalty, on February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt authorized the removal of all Japanese from the west coast and their confinement in relocation camps - not because they had done anything wrong but only because they were Japanese." (Stanley, p.4) Stanley also makes repeated and effective use of statistics that speak for themselves, such as "More important, America was also at war with Germany and Italy - but few citizens of German or Italian ancestry were interned during World War II. There were 51,923 Italian aliens and 19,422 German aliens living in California - more than all the Japanese aliens living in the United States. But only a handful of them were interned." (Stanley, p.23) The number paints a powerful portrait for how unjust the governments edicts were during this ordeal. By presenting these relevant statistics and then focusing on the life of Shi Nomura, Stanley is able to show both the bigger picture and also how those decisions affected individuals. Burns comments in her review that Stanley writes I am an American with "stunning intensity," and it is clear that he is passionate about telling this story.

I am an American includes a bibliographic note, picture credits, and an index. Stanley's extensive research is the strong point of this book. The book is filled with personal stories and remembrances, and the bibliographic note reveals that Stanley was able to interivew five of the characters in the book, some more than once. These personal accounts along with Stanley's background research combine well and result in writing that is full of human drama undergirded with facts that make it that much more real.

The text of this book consists of an introduction, eight chapters, and an epilogue which tells readers what happened in later life to the characters they have come to know throughout the book. The text is set in a medium to large serif font, and the lines of text have more than the average amount of white space between them. Black and white pictures of scenes of the times and also photographs of Shi and his friends give readers a more thorough look into this story. There are also maps that show where the internment camps were located, and reproductions of propaganda posters from World War II. The text itself is set toward the center of the book with white space on the outsides of each page.

Although there is much in this story that America should not be proud of, Stanley is careful to give a balanced look at the situation. Stories are told of a Japanese-American Infantry that became "the most decorated American unit to serve in World War II" (Stanley, p.65) and of other citizens who helped their friends and neighbors, such as "Amy's family packed their possessions in crates and gave them to Hattie Woods, their next-door neighbor, who was black. Mrs. Woods had two daughters Amy's age, and all three had grown up together as close friends. Hattie volunteered to store the crates in her basement and rent the family home." (Stanley, p.33) Marton calls this book an "eloqent account of the disastrous results of racial prejudice," and it is indeed a well-balanced book that tells the story well and educates at the same time.

Violet Mackerel's Remarkable Recovery

Violet Mackerel's Remarkable Recovery by Anna Branford; ill. by Elanna Allen
Which readers? 1st and up

A couple of months ago, I reviewed the first Violet Mackerel novel, which I thought was a delightful treat for young children who are strong readers for their age. This second little novelette in the series does not disappoint! Violet is as spunky, precocious, and creative as ever.

Violet is going to have her tonsils removed, and she once again has a silly yet oh-so-true theory. In the first book, her theory involved the universe rewarding and signifying a remarkable thought by finding some special trinket on the ground (in a first grader's language, of course!) This time she has created The Theory of Giving Small Things, which states that small items which are given to someone when they have a problem have a bit of the givers wishes for the person inside of them. Such as, when you give someone who is sick a little statuette, your wishes for their recovery and good health live inside of the item and stay with the recipient.

This charming sentiment is surrounded in the story by Violet's witty comments, stubborness, and tenacity, which creates such a heartwarming and real little girl. I think that little girls (and boys!) will fall in love all over again with Violet. Once again, the text is widely spaced with adorable illustrations by Allen. This series has four books coming out this year in the US, it has multiple cover images when I search Google images, and the author lives in Australia. I am deducing that this series has already been published elsewhere (my guess is Australia), although I have not done any research to verify.

Yes, still in love with little Violet.

What I've Been Reading...and the sweetest Thank You note EVER

In the last week, I've read three books.



Looking for Alaska by John Green
Which readers? High School

I listened to another John Green book while running and doing the monotonous household chores. This was another winner for me. I only have one more John Green book left to read! There is teenage drama and quite a bit of religious and existential angst. Lots of food for thought here. I loved the open discussions and thoughts.



Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Which readers? Middle school and up

I listened to this dystopian YA novel, and I was completely hooked. Teenagers can be chopped up for parts if they don't behave! Although this novel was published several years ago, Shusterman has recently published a sequel that I am reading now. Shusterman is active on Facebook. He interacts with his followers and even allows them to suggest names for streets, characters, etc. as he writes.



Jinx by Sage Blackwood
Which readers? 3rd grade and up

Harry Potter fans will enjoy this magical tale of wizards, witches, and a boy with mystical powers. It grabbed me from the beginning, but I thought it got pretty slow in the middle. There is a satisfying ending, but it's obvious that this will be a series. There is a great trailer available on YouTube.



And, finally, I have been working with some students twice a week for several months. This was our last week together, and it has been such a fabulous experience. We work in small groups, so I really got to interact with them and get to know them. We said our "goodbyes" this week, although hopefully I will see them again by substituting at their school sometime soon. They gave me a lovely packet of Thank Yous on my last day. This one is going in a frame. She's right - I DO have sunshine in my life. And I make her feel like family - mission accomplished.

Small Steps and Breathing Room

This week, I've read two middle grade books that would go hand-in-hand for a booktalk with third graders and up. One is non-fiction while the other is fiction, but both tell the story of young girls being sent away to recover from childhood diseases that have mostly been eradicated in the modern era.



Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret
Which readers? 3rd grade and up

This autobiography by Peg Kehret recounts her experiences as a polio victim when she was twelve. She was first sent to the hospital and eventually to a rehab facility, and her tale tells of both the relationships she builds and the obstacles she must overcome in recovery. The writing is honest and tells of the many unpleasant parts of polio treatment without being too overwhelming with the details for young readers. She encounters the good, the bad, and the very best among caregivers and patients, and I was cheering for them all by the end. I pored over the epilogue to see what had happened to each person, and that is always a great indicator of how invested I have become in the book.



Breathing Room by Marsha Hayles
Which readers? Strong 3rd grade readers and up

This fictional novel tells the story of thirteen year old tuberculosis patient Evvy Hoffmeister. Quiet and introspective Evvy has always had people to rely on - her parents, her twin, and even the girls she befriends in her room at the sanatorium. When she is all alone at the sanatorium and some of her new friends fall severely ill, will she alone be enough to support herself and come to the aid of her new friends?

These books paint quite the picture when presented together. While both stories involve girls who are hospitalized away from their families, Kehret's autobiography tells the tale of a much more friendly and loving situation . Hayles's research has shown that sanatoriums were not always nurturing facilities in which to convalesce. Patients were often kept in the dark about their own care and treated as if they were being punished. Even though Hayles presents this unpleasant side of TB history, Evvy's story, while presenting the sad reality of TB, is one of quiet strength and triumph.

NPR Author Interviews

I hear about new children's literature and hear author interviews from so many sources. I follow my favorite authors, teachers, and librarians on Twitter. I keep up with author blogs, teacher blogs, and even blogs from my library school professors. When it is Cybils Award nomination season, I keep a close eye on what others are nominating as their favorite books. I watch what is trending on Amazon. I look at what the kids are reading as I move from classroom to classroom. I look at Kirkus, School Library Journal, and other professional journals. And I always check out the "new books" shelf at the public library! I know I am leaving some out.

I also hear some great interviews on NPR with some of the more well-known authors. If I'm not reading, running, working, cooking, or doing (the neverending) laundry....I'm probably listening to NPR. Actually, I'm usually listening to NPR while I am cooking, folding, etc. It is my favorite entertainment source and  news outlet. I have heard two great interviews on NPR lately.



Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
Which readers? 3rd grade and up

Fresh Air Interview with Lemony Snicket, aka Daniel Handler

I am embarrassed to admit that this was my first noir fiction, and I was able to learn a lot more about the genre by listening to his interview with the incomparable Terry Gross. Some of the interview is not suitable for children, but Handler plays two songs that go with the book. These are available at the website! Young readers would love these! Such a great addition to a book talk. He also talks some interesting points about the book design, such as why there is an interesting picture on the hardback under the book jacket.

I saw Who Could That Be at this Hour? book in a third grader's book box today!



Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli
Which readers?4th Grade and up

Jerry Spinelli on Weekend Edition Sunday

I just happened upon Rachel Martin's interview on Weekend Edition Sunday with Jerry Spinelli about his new book Hokey Pokey. I had not heard about this new book, so I put it on hold at my public library while I listened to the interview. Hokey Pokey is a fable that tells the tale of childhood and the inevitability of growing up through the lives of the children in this make-believe world that children never want to leave, but of course they all must go eventually. I have read mixed reviews of this book, but I absolutely enjoyed the characters, the symbolism, allegory, and bits of sci-fi. I think children will "get it," and I think they will like it, too.


Here is a link to the NPR Children's Literature page: http://www.npr.org/books/genres/10122/children/
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Tonight, a special six year old is calling down the stairs for me to sing to him. We might not call it Hokey Pokey, but I know the days are numbered that I will hear him begging me to sing him to sleep. And so I go.