LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Krosoczka, Jarrett. 2009. Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 0375846840 

PLOT SUMMARY

LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS is a humorous graphic novel about lunch ladies who are secretly crime stoppers. Dee, Terrence, and Hector are three students who are in the "Breakfast Bunch" and alert the lunch ladies.  This second book of the Lunch Lady series involves librarians stealing money from fundraisers, banding together, and trying to put a stop to the new video game console that is about to be released.  The lunch ladies figure out what is happening through a spy cam and go on a quest to stop them.  The lunch ladies are almost defeated by the librarians, but the Breakfast Bunch makes it just in time to join in and help. The librarians are caught red handed trying to destroy the video game consoles and arrested.  The lunch lady steps in as librarian and uses the new video game system as encouragement to read during the Read-A-Thon.  The lunch ladies save the day once again. 

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Krosoczka has created the characters of Lunch Lady and Betty who are similar to the typical superhero and sidekick. They have normal everyday jobs, but behind the scenes they work to fight crime. They have a secret place in the school to conduct business, the boiler room, and a wide variety of gadgets that are disguised as regular objects. The Breakfast Bunch are a group of kids that are sidekicks to the Lunch Ladies.  They appear to be average students at school and even deal with bullies, but The Breakfast Bunch are also secret superhero crime fighters.   

The plot deals with the villains coming up with an evil plan and the heroes working together to defeat them and stand up for what is right. There are two different settings throughout the story.  The school is the most familiar to readers, allowing them to connect with the characters, events, and places described.  The docks, where the shipment of video games comes in, is the second setting.  This is also where the battle takes place with the librarians.  The villains have names like "Rhonda Page" and "Jane Shelver" which represent their job of a librarian.  A good over evil theme is present throughout the story.

The illustrations are drawn in four colors, white, black, gray and yellow. The color yellow is used to to highlight the pictures and draw your attention to key elements within them. For example, the Lunch Ladies are all wearing yellow aprons setting their characters apart from the others and making them easily recognizable.  Although the illustrations are fairly simple, they add energy, interest, and details to the story.

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Winner 2010 - Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices

"With its appealing mix of action and humor, this clever, entertaining addition to the series should have wide appeal." School Library Journal (September 1, 2009)

CONNECTIONS

-LUNCH LADY Series Book Trailer - http://youtu.be/bWLFSW839tY

-Any other book in the LUNCH LADY series.

-Other Books by Jarrett Krosocka

     -PUNK FARM. ISBN: 0-375-82429-4

     -PUNK FARM ON TOUR. ISBN: 0-375-83343-9

-Amazing list of resources on the subject of graphic novels http://noflyingnotights.com/resources/

-Activities to do with graphic novels: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/teachers_guides/9780375846847.pdf

-Excerpt from LUNCH LADY AND THE LEAGUE OF LIBRARIANS and activity where students continue the comic http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/randoEMS/LunchLady_Sampler.pdf

FEATHERS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2007. FEATHERS. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN: 0-399-23989-8

PLOT SUMMARY

Frannie is an African American sixth grade girl who attends a school that has a predominately black population.  Although there is no more official segregation in 1971, the highway separates the African American community from the white community causing Frannie to wonder what life is like on the other side of town.  When a white boy with long, curly hair shows up in Frannie's classroom, she immediately wonders what has brought him to her school and remembers how she felt in first grade when she was the new student.    Because of his appearance and his ability to calmly ignore the school bully, the students nick name him "Jesus Boy."  Frannie feels badly for Jesus Boy and becomes more interested in him when she realizes that he knows sign language.  Through her conversations with her deaf brother and her new friendship with Jesus Boy, Frannie starts to see life differently and is able to find hope for herself and her family.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jacqueline Woodson uses Frannie, an eleven year-old girl, to tell a story on the subject of racism and hope in her novel, FEATHERS.  This book is set during the early 1970’s when parts of America were still practicing segregation although it had officially ended.  All readers, regardless of skin color, will be able to relate to Frannie’s struggles of friendship, religion, and family issues. Woodson uses Frannie’s internal thought processes and conversations and interactions with the other characters help the reader to fully understand these struggles.

While every culture will be able to connect with this story, Woodson writes from her own race to share the African American culture. Through the description of the cornrows and Afro hairstyles, the fried chicken and greens that Frannie’s family eats for dinner, the different skin types and colors, and the “jive” language spoke by the characters as they call each other “cat” or “brother-man,” it is obvious that the story is showing life from the African American point of view.  The cultural details included show the time period which this story is set as well as the fact that African Americans are the cultural focus of this story. 

Everything that Frannie has worried about comes together at the end of the story.  Frannie’s mother is doing well with her pregnancy, Trevor, the bully, starts to change his ways, Jesus Boy is starting to be accepted by everyone, she understands more about her brother, and Frannie realizes that hope is alive in everyone.  The combination of well represented cultural aspects, the development of believable characters, and the interwoven message of religion, hope, and acceptance makes this book one young adults would surely enjoy. 

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newbery Honor 2008

"The theme of "hope" recurs in the description of the Black Power movement, and in Frannie's musings on the Emily Dickinson poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers." Developing this metaphor, Woodson captures perfectly the questions and yearnings of a girl perched on the edge of adolescence, a girl who readers will take into their hearts and be glad to call their friend." Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2007)


"Set in 1971, Woodson's novel skillfully weaves in the music and events surrounding the rising opposition to the Vietnam War, giving this gentle, timeless story depth. She raises important questions about God, racial segregation and issues surrounding the hearing-impaired with a light and thoughtful touch."  Publishers Weekly (January 8, 2007)

"As sixth-grader Frannie puzzles over the meaning of a line from an Emily Dickinson poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers," lots of questions start coming up. What does the music her deaf brother hears sound like? Why is Mama so tired during the day? How come the new white boy in class named Jesus says he's not white, and could he possibly be the Jesus, as Frannie's friend Samantha thinks? How does it feel to have that kind of faith, anyway? Frannie eventually works out her own answers, finding hope not in Samantha's big miracles but in everyday bits of goodness-the "moments" her teacher tells her to write about." Horn Book (March/April, 2007)

CONNECTIONS

-Discussion Questions - http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/feathers.html

-Biography on Jacqueline Woodson - http://www.jacquelinewoodson.com/bio.shtml

-Other books by Jacqueline Woodson:

     LOCOMOTION. ISBN: 0-14-241552-9

     PEACE LOCOMOTION. ISBN: 0-399-24655-X

-RULES by Cynthia Lord. ISBN:0-439-44383-0   Deals with a family member with a disability

SPEAK

BIBLIOGRAPHY


Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.  ISBN: 0374371520 

PLOT SUMMARY

Melinda Sordino's freshman year of high school is starting out terrible.  The summer before school started she was raped by a senior.  She called the police to report the rape, but everyone thought she was just trying to break up the party.  As everyone scattered, so did she, and a report was never made to the police.  As a matter of fact, she never told anyone.  Since the party, her friends and classmates will no longer have anything to do with her, leading to a miserable school year.  Not only has her relationship with her friends deteriorated, so have her grades and her home life.  Her silence is a plea for help, but it mostly goes unnoticed.  As the summer sun starts to shine after a long winter and spring, Melinda finally finds the strength to speak.    

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Laurie Anderson creates fabulously written tale of teenage life and trauma of a young girl in this contemporary realistic fiction novel.  SPEAK is written from the perspective of Melinda, the main character, who is funny, real, and relatable.  The reader is able to fully understand what Melinda is going through because of the language and details that are shared about her thoughts, interactions, and feelings throughout the story.  The story is broken up by marking period, beginning on the first day of school and ending on the last day, reminding the reader how long it takes Melinda to even begin to overcome the traumatic event that occurred during the summer. 

Melinda's lonely journey through her freshman year is one that most high school students today could relate to on some level.  The story deals with the cliques and harsh realities that kids in high school face.  Her character starts out as a very weak girl, dealing silently with a traumatic event.  She deals with absolute torment from her classmates and people she used to call friends.  Her one escape from everything is her art class which eventually helps her to speak again.  As she learns to cope with the terrible incident and the maltreatment by her peers, she finally gains her strength and her voice back after her attacker tries to assault her again.  Although she is not healed, she can now begin to recover with the help of others.  

This is an compelling story of honesty and strength in the face of a terrible sexual assault.  Anderson does a great job of focusing on the issues Melinda deals with in her daily life instead of on the rape itself.  This allows for a wide variety of readers to connect with what Melinda goes through during her freshman year in high school while learning a valuable lesson about perseverance.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

Michael L. Printz Honor (2000)

National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature (1999)

Golden Kite Award for Fiction (1999)

Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2000)

BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (1999)

Edgar Award Nominee for Best Young Adult (2000)

South Carolina Book Award for Young Adult Book Award (2002)

ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2000)

Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee (2005)

Review Excerpts:

"A ninth grader becomes a social pariah when she calls the police to bust a summer bash and spends the year coming to terms with the secret fact that she was raped during the party. A story told with acute insight, acid wit, and affecting prose." School Library Journal (December 1999)

"A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today's headlines." Kirkus Reviews (1999)

"In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers. Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers." Booklist (Vol. 96, No. 2 (September 15, 1999))

CONNECTIONS

-Discussion guide with questions - http://us.penguingroup.com/static/images/yr/pdf/tl-guide-speak.pdf

-Have students write about a time when they or someone else has tried to ignore something that couldn't be ignored

-Have students write down anonymously something that they need to speak out about

- Resources:

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
• SOAR (Speaking Out Against Rape)
• Rape Treatment Center
• National Sexual Assault Hotline   1.800.656.HOPE

ONE CRAZY SUMMER

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Williams-Garcia, Rita. 2010. ONE CRAZY SUMMER. New York: Amistad. ISBN: 9780060760885 

PLOT SUMMARY

Eleven year old Delphine and her two younger sisters don't know much about their own mother, Cecile, who abandoned the family in Brooklyn after giving birth to her third daughter. In the summer of 1968, Delphine’s father decides that the girls need to go out to see Cecile during the summer.  Delphine boards a plane with her sisters, Vonetta and Fern, to Cecile’s home in Oakland, California. The girls dream of visiting Disneyland and seeing movie stars in California.  Upon their arrival, Delphine and her sisters are greeted coldly by Cecile and they quickly discover that their mother, a poet and printer, isn't happy that they are visiting.  Because their mother wants nothing to do with them,  they are sent to the Black Panther's People's Center for meals and supervision.  It is here that the sisters learn about the Black Panther's movement, make friends with other kids and adults, and learn quite a bit about themselves and each other.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The story is told through the eyes of Delphine, who is eleven.  She keeps a constant, watchful eye on her two younger sisters as she deals with trying to understand her mother and her conflicting feelings about the Black Panther party.  The reader will be able to relate to Delphine due to the age similarities of her character and the indented reader.  Many African-American readers will be able to relate to her ethnicity and interactions with the Black Panthers. 

The story takes place in 1968 during the African-American social revolution.  The historical aspects of this story are well established and accurately portrayed.  Though intended for young readers, the plot’s civil rights theme is clear and bold.  Language in the story supports the time as well as the ethnicity of the characters. Many well known names are used throughout the book such as: Cassius Clay, Muhammad Ali, Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Tina Turner, and the Supremes, which add to the historical and cultural context.  

Rita Williams-Garcia does a masterful job of weaving together a personalized family story with strong historical context.  In the acknowledgements section at the back of the book it becomes clear that the fictionalized parts of the story are based on people and influences that Williams-Garcia has had in her own life.  The historical aspects of the book are accurate which is confirmed in the acknowledgments section where she briefly describes her research done to understand the climate of the times.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature (2010)

Newbery Honor (2011)

Scott O'Dell Award (2011)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2012)

Coretta Scott King Award for Author (2011)

Publishers Weekly's Best Children's Books of the Year for Fiction (2010)

The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Honor (2011)

Review Excerpts:

"Set during a pivotal moment in African American history, this vibrant novel shows the subtle ways that political movements affect personal lives; but just as memorable is the finely drawn, universal story of children reclaiming a reluctant parent’s love."  -Booklist starred (February 1, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 11))

"Modern young readers will find it interesting to read about the conflicting views of the African-American community at that time, as I was. They certainly will be intrigued by the plight of these three children who are caught up in the major issues of that time, made all the more poignant by the insightful first-person narrative of this precocious young girl." -Library Media Connection (March/April 2010)

"Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading."  -School Library Journal (March 1, 2010)

CONNECTIONS

-Students could read ONE CRAZY SUMMER after learning about civil rights movement
-Research the role of the Black Panthers party during the 60s and 70s.
-Have students think of ways the story would be different if it was told from another point of view
-Have students write a poem, song, or create a play about a topic that they are passionate about.  They could perform it for the class.


Other books by Rita Williams-Garcia:



JUMPED by Rita Williams-Garcia ISBN: 0060760915 
LIKE SISTERS ON THE HOMEFRONT by Rita Williams-Garcia ISBN: 0140385614 

BLUE TIGHTS by Rita Williams-Garcia ISBN: 0140380450 

TURTLE IN PARADISE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. TURTLE IN PARADISE. New York: Random House.  ISBN:  0375836888 

PLOT SUMMARY

During the Great Depression, Turtle's mother takes a job as a housekeeper for a family that didn't like children.  Turtle and her cat, Smokey, were sent off to live in Florida with her aunt and cousins who don't even know they were coming.  Key West is very different from her previous home, but she soon adjusts to the her new life.  She is taken on many adventures with her cousins who are in a "Diaper Gang." This all boy "gang" takes care of babies in exchange for candy.  Turtle ends up unexpectedly meeting her grandmother who she had been told was dead.  While trying to form a relationship with her, she finds a treasure map in her house.  This leads Turtle and her cousins on an adventure that she won't soon forget to find buried pirate treasure.  When her mom comes to get Turtle from her aunt's house, Turtle starts to believe that a Hollywood ending is possible for her family, but ends up learning a hard lesson about life.  Through this lesson comes the greatest realization that a loving family is better than a Hollywood ending.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

TURTLE IN PARADISE is a historical fiction book that is narrated by the main character, Turtle.  Because the story is told in first person, it gives the reader a glimpse into how an 11 year old might think, feel, and act during the Great Depression era.  Jennifer Holm has created characters that are believable and true to the time period.  Although this story takes place in the 1930s, the personality traits of the characters make them easy to relate to, even today.  Through the details presented about the characters and their relationships with each other, the reader can tell that the community of Key West is close knit and they are always looking out for each other.  The theme of family is developed throughout the book.

The story takes place during the Depression in Key West, Florida where life is hard for adults, but children don't seem to be as affected by the hard times.  There is very limited money which is apparent in the story because the adults work very hard for little money and the kids trade their services for candy.  The "Diaper Gang" is made up of all boys; Beans, Pork Chop, Kermit, and Buddy.  These nicknames that the characters go by are in line with the Key West culture of nicknaming everyone.  Holms does a great job of including details about the various foods the characters eat which are consistent with popular foods found in Key West.  Accurate details like these help to create the authentic feel of the story.  Historical details that are included such as Little Orphan Annie, Shirley Temple, and the Labor Day Hurricane all remind the reader of the time period that the story takes place.
  
An author's note is included at the conclusion of the book which gives the reader an idea of the amount of research that went into this book.  It includes details which help the reader connect the events of the story to the actual historical events that took place.  The photographs included in the author's note provide authenticity as well as a personal connection to the story.  Holms also includes a list of resources that were used in the writing of TURTLE IN PARADISE and a list of websites to further your knowledge of Key West history.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

Newbery Honor (2011)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2012)

Texas Bluebonnet Nominee 2011-2012

Review Excerpts:

"Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era. "  Booklist starred (April 15, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 16))

"It's 1935, and narrator Turtle is sent to live in Key West. With her stoic nature and quick wits, she's able to fit in with her boy cousins. Turtle's voice is tart and world-weary. Though her narrative is peppered with references from the time, modern-day readers will have no trouble relating, and the fast-moving plot will keep them interested to the end. Reading list, websites."  Horn Book starred (Fall 2010)

"Two-time Newbery Honor author Holm again crafts a winning heroine who, despite her hardened exterior, gradually warms to her eccentric family members, including her unruly cousins and waspish grandmother (who Turtle thought was dead). Infused with period pop culture references, a strong sense of place, and the unique traditions and culture of Key West natives (aka "Conchs"), this humorous adventure effectively portrays Turtle as caught between her mother's Hollywood-inspired dreams and the very real family and geography that offer a different kind of paradise."  Publisher's Weekly (May 3, 2010)

CONNECTIONS

- Read while studying The Great Depression and have students find details in the story that align with that time period.  

-Walking tour of Key West that shows different places referenced in the story  - http://www.helpreaderslovereading.com/2011/03/turtle-in-paradise-by-jennifer-l-holm.html

-Pair with other books set during the Great Depression:

     -FDR's Alphabet Soup: New Deal America 1932-1939. By: Tonya Bolden ISBN: 9780375852145 
     -Leo and the Lesser Lion. By: Sandra Forrester. ISBN: 9780375856167 
     -Children of the Dust Bowl: The True Story of the School at Weedpatch Camp. By: Jerry Stanley. ISBN: 0517587815 
     -The Wonder of Charlie Anne. By: Kimberly Newton Fusco. ISBN: 9780375861048 
-Shirley Temple - "On the Good Ship Lollipop"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLLSqpYyPD8

-Teacher Resource Guide - http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/resource/the-great-depression/

THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES: THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE OF 1906

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Yep, Laurence. 2006. THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES: THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE OF 1906. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.  ISBN: 978-0-06-000846-8

PLOT SUMMARY

This book tells the story of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.  The story is told from two perspectives. The first is from the Travis family. Mr. and Mrs. Travis along with their son Henry are with the family dog in their house when the earthquake strikes.  The second perspective is from the Travises' "houseboy" Ah Sing and his son, Chin.  Ah Sing and Chin had returned to their tenement building in Chinatown when the quake strikes.  The book tells about how these two different families worry about each other as they separately struggle to survive the devastating quake and the resulting fires.  The children, Henry and Chin, learn that the real heroes are not found in the books they read, but in their own families as they flee to safety and are eventually reunited with each other.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Earth Dragon Awakes tells the story of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.  Laurence Yep uses the two boys in the story, Henry and Chin, to tell this fictional tale based on historical events.  The Earth Dragon Awakes is told in chronological order, beginning the night before the quake, and continuing for the next 11 days.  Yep alternates perspectives from the affluent Travis family to Ah Sing and his son, Chin, who live in Chinatown.  By doing this, the reader gets a glimpse into the differences between the Chinese and American cultures present in San Francisco. 

Chin and Henry share a love of cheap books, “penny dreadfuls” as their parents call them.   Both yearn for more excitement than the ordinary lives their fathers live.  As both of their families struggle to survive the earthquake and fires in different ways, the boys realize their fathers are real life heroes.  Strong themes of family, friendship, survival, and community are all present in The Earth Dragon Awakes. 

Yep uses short chapters that are each titled with the time, date, and place that the part of the story is taking place. By doing this, young readers are able to easily see the progression of time and setting of each chapter.  History, culture, and fiction are all blended together throughout the whole book creating a very realistic story.  Yep includes a preface that explains that the characters are fictional, but the events included in the story are real.  At the end of the story Yep includes an afterword which includes facts about the earthquake and actual photographs of the aftermath.  Below each picture is a caption describing how the scene in the picture relates to the story told by Yep.  These features remind the reader that the devastation and struggle the earthquake caused are very real events from history.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

"Some chapters present facts about such things as how the earthquake begins and how and where the fires start. These factual chapters flow seamlessly with the rest of the novel and provide much needed background information."  Library Media Connection, January, 2007

”Alternating the story of two fictional families with short segments of factual information, Yep creates a frightening sense of immediacy in this docudrama about San Francisco’s destruction in the 1906 earthquake and ensuing firestorm." Horn Book Magazine, July/August 2006

"Its "natural disaster" subject is both timely and topical, and Yep weaves snippets of information on plate tectonics and more very neatly around his prose. A solid supplemental choice." School Library Journal, 2006

CONNECTIONS

-Interview with and short biography on Laurence Yep  - http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/yep/#interviews

-Map of modern day San Francisco -Click Here

-Panoramic view of San Francisco on fire - http://www.exploratorium.edu/faultline/great/1906/1906_15.html

-Pair this book with a nonfiction book to engage them in their learning

-Discuss other disasters and how they've changed a city/state/country.  Discuss if there were any heroes that emerged during the disaster.

Other earthquake books:

Fiction:

-Earthquake Terror. By Peg Kehret. ISBN:  0-14-038343-3

- Earthquake in the Early Morning. By Mary Pope Osborne.  Illustrated by Sal Murdocca.  ISBN: 0-679-99070-4

-I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906.  By Lauren Tarshis. Illustrated by Scott Dawson. ISBN: 0-545-20699-5

Nonfiction:

-1906 San Francisco Earthquake. By Tim Cooke. ISBN: 0-8368-4494-7

- Earthquakes. By Anna Prokos. ISBN: 0-8368-9151-1

-Earthquake! By Cynthia Pratt Nicolson.  ISBN: 1-55074-968-4

CATS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Simon, S. (2004). CATS. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0-06-173043-2

PLOT SUMMARY

Cats are cute and furry, but how much do you really know about these feline friends?  CATS explores the history, physical characteristics, and behaviors of domesticated cats.  Seymour Simon explains how cats can move their bodies in amazing ways and one reason why people say cats have nine lives.  A cat's sense of sight, smell, and hearing are very good.  They can see with very little light and hear sounds and smell things that humans can't.   Simon explains that cats use their own sounds and body language to communicate with each other and humans.  A mother knows exactly what to do to raise a helpless kitten into an independent cat.  The author talks about several breeds of cats and also the questions someone should ask themselves to determine if they should get a cat for a pet.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

CATS is written in photo essay format with beautiful, full color photographs that accompany the text.  These photographs are not only beautiful, they complement the author's words perfectly.  They demonstrate the behaviors and showcase the features that are talked about in the text.  For example, on the page that is describing the way cats are physically built and how their bodies move, there is one picture of a cat jumping through the air and another series of action shots that show how a cat can turn their body in mid air and land on their feet.  These photographs will peak the young reader's interest and have them reading the text for further explanation.  

Unlike some nonfiction books, there are no headings and no index or table of contents.  This organization of CATS makes it easy to read from cover to cover because of the logical progression.  Simon starts by telling a short history of domesticated cats followed by their physical characteristics and then their various behaviors.  He follows up with kitten and breed specific information and ends with questions to ask oneself if you are interested in becoming a cat owner.  

The information is accurate without being too detailed or complicated for a young reader.  Simon does a great job of presenting the facts to children without making it too simplistic.  Because of the straight forward language used and complementary photographs, this book could be enjoyed by a wide variety of reading levels.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

"Joining over 200 science books by Simon, this vibrantly illustrated informational book includes charming and unique photographs plus text, which informs and delights."  Children's Literature

"The "awww" factor is high in this book, but the winsome pictures are backed by plenty of good information." Children's Literature

"Simon succeeds in addressing his topic in clear, easily understood vocabulary without writing down to children." - School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS

BIG CATS by Seymour Simon. ISBN: 9780060216467

DOGS by Seymour Simon. ISBN: 9780064462556

FUN FACTS ABOUT PETS. by Seymour Simon.  ISBN:  0000920576 

-Use this book to help kids understand how the pictures can help us to comprehend what the text is saying.

-Have students write a persuasive letter to their parents asking them if they can adopt a cat

-Have students research a certain breed of cat. 

LINCOLN TELLS A JOKE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Krull, K., Brewer, P. (2010). LINCOLN TELLS A JOKE: HOW LAUGHTER SAVED THE PRESIDENT (AND THE COUNTRY). Ill. by Stacey Innerst. Boston, Mass.: Harcourt Children's Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN:  015206639X 

PLOT SUMMARY

LINCOLN TELLS A JOKE is a picture book biography about our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.  It takes you from his birth in 1809 to his death in 1865 focusing on how laughter got Lincoln through the good times and the bad.  His life was filled with many tragic events.  His mother died when he was just nine, his sister died when he was 19, and 2 of his sons died before maturity.  Lincoln got through all these tough times by telling jokes and filling his days with laughter.  Lincoln loved to read, write, and learn which helped him to become a successful lawyer, a member of the House of Representatives, and eventually president of the United States. Unfortunately, Lincoln was killed before he could see his country reunited.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

LINCOLN TELLS A JOKE is written chronologically, including all of the major events of Lincoln’s life: birth, military, marriage to Mary Todd, elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, elected president, and death. With each turn of the page, there is something new to be learned about Lincoln's life.  Because of the fast pace of the book and Lincoln's jokes sprinkled throughout, students will enjoy learning about his interesting life.  

This story doesn't tell every detail of Abraham Lincoln's life, it instead focuses on his personality making it different from other biographies that students have probably read.  Each quote is written in bigger, script style font making Lincoln's words stand out from the other text.  Lincoln's love of spoken and written words is also emphasized.  It was this love of learning along with his ambitious, yet lighthearted personality that helped him become so successful.  

Krull uses language that is appropriate for the age group that the book is written.  For example, "Lincoln was born in a log cabin in 1809, which might sound cool, but it was actually quite bleak."    Students might not use the word bleak, but they would be able to figure out the meaning by the antonym included, "cool."

According to the back of the book, Stacy Innerst uses acrylic on illustration board for the beautiful illustrations.  Each one directly relates to the text on the corresponding page, complementing the text nicely.  The illustrations also add to the humor in the book.  On the page that says, "When no ladies were around, he might joke about farts or outhouses." there is a picture of an outhouse with a puff of air coming out of it.  When Lincoln is elected president, the picture shows the outside of The White House and, on the corresponding page, a small picture of Lincoln sitting in a chair inside The White House leaning back and obviously laughing.  In the background of both of these pictures is the word "ha" written several times to reinforce the theme of Lincoln's sense of humor.  

There is a note included at the back from the authors that states that some of the jokes in the story "were passed on by eyewitnesses; some are second-hand, third-hand, or further removed."  Although the facts listed in the story are historically accurate, this statement makes the reader question whether the quotes are.    Regardless, it doesn't take away the fact that Lincoln had a sense of humor that most likely is unknown to children.  A list of sources used to write the book is also included at the back of the book, reinforcing the fact that it is a true biography.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

Smithsonian’s 2010 Notable Books for Children

Review Excerpts: 

"Laughter is not only good medicine. It can also be a political tool, human motivator, and saving grace, as the authors show in this upbeat overview of Lincoln’s life. Moving through the sixteenth president’s many challenges, from family deaths to lost elections to fighting slavery, the text emphasizes how Lincoln coped with a joke on his tongue and a smile on his lips."  Booklist (February 15, 2010 (Vol. 106, No. 12))

"The legends that endure about Lincoln are many: his log-cabin childhood, his honesty, his eloquence. What is less-often discussed is how he used humor to diffuse tense political situations, disarm critics, and undo the stresses of running the country. His love of words in general, and jokes and humor more specifically, helped him throughout his life when things were difficult, uncomfortable, and downright dire, as they often were during the Civil War."  School Library Journal (March 1, 2010)

CONNECTIONS

Use LINCOLN TELLS A JOKE to teach about persuasive writing - http://teachwithpicturebooks.blogspot.com/2010/04/so-whats-your-point-persuasive-writing.html

Watch an interview with Kathleen Krull - http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/krull/ 

Read this book out loud to students around President's Day

Have students illustrate a timeline of events in Abe Lincoln's life

Read aloud to students when learning about the Civil War

Readers Theaters on Abraham Lincoln - http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=38940 , http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=38938 , http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=38941

Short 3 minute video on Abraham Lincoln  - http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/culture-places/historical/abraham_lincoln/

BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY'S PARADE

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sweet, Melissa. 2011. BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY'S PARADE. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.  ISBN: 0-547-19945-7

PLOT SUMMARY

BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY is the true story of puppeteer, Tony Sarg.  The story begins when Sarg was just a boy with a clever idea and a love of making still objects come to life with movement.  As an adult, he became famous for his marionettes which moved as if they were living  creatures.  Macy's asked him to create a "puppet parade" for the department store's holiday window display which everyone enjoyed.  This led to the idea of a parade in the streets of New York City on Thanksgiving Day.  Each year following the first, the parade grew and so did Tony's ideas and creations leading to the Thanksgiving tradition of the Macy's Parade.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE PUPPETEER OF MACY'S PARADE will inform and entertain children and adults alike.  This is a picture book biography of how Tony Sarg, master puppeteer, went from being a clever child who loved to bring toys to life with movement, to an adult who was instrumental in helping the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade become what it is today.  


Author and illustrator, Melissa Sweet, gives the reader an inside look into Tony's thought process and even materials used to create the giant balloon puppets.  The book begins with a preface that introduces you to Sarg.  This allows the reader to jump right into the world of Sarg beginning on the first page.  Accurate information about Tony Sarg's life and the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade are all documented in the back of the book with a bibliography and sources section.  Sweet tells the story in sequential order which makes the story easy to follow and understand for children.   This book does a great job telling the fascinating story of Sarg's life.


The mixed media illustrations add details to the story and are bright, colorful, and engaging.  Some images included, such as the map of the parade route, the thought bubbles of Tony's concerns as he's painting a balloon, and a page from Tony's idea book that explained how he would create the balloons, add details to the story that go beyond the actual text.  The beautiful illustrations, which often span two pages, are so detailed and colorful they could be looked at many times, yet they aren't overwhelming to the story itself.  When looking at the pictures of the parade,  the reader can clearly tell how the balloons evolved year after year which is also detailed in the text.  

AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPTS

Awards:

-2012 Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner 


-Winner of the 2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award

Review Excerpts:

"The rush that comes from inspiration, the cliffhanger moments of creation, the sheer joy of building something and watching it delight the multitudes-Sweet captures it all in what is truly a story for all ages." Publisher's Weekly 2011

"Sweet's whimsical mixed-media collages, embellished with little dolls she made herself out of odds and ends, reinforce the theme that, for Sarg, work was play." Horn Book 2012

"This bright, brimming picture biography commemorates Tony Sarg, a brilliant, self-taught artist whose innovative helium balloons delighted legions of Macy's parade watchers from 1928 on." Kirkus Reviews 2011

CONNECTIONS

MILLY AND THE MACY'S PARADE by Shana Corey ; illustrated by Brett Helquist. ISBN: 0439297559


SEE INSIDE HOW THINGS WORK by Conrad Mason; Illustrated by Colin King.  ISBN: 

0794524060

MACY'S ON PARADE: A POP-UP CELEBRATION OF MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE by Pamela Pease.  ISBN: 

0966943325

-Have students create a parade of their own.  They could create a float, make invitations, map the parade route etc.  

-Read around Thanksgiving to teach about traditions

-Learn about how helium works

-Have students make puppets and then challenge them to create movement by adding strings or popsicle sticks.  

-http://www.hmhbooks.com/kids/resources/BalloonsOverBroadway_ActivityKit.pdf This activity kit includes mask templates, puppet templates with instructions on how to add movement, finger puppets, a box template to store your finger puppets, a maze, and even a page for you to design your own float in the Macy's Parade.  

-Information on Melissa Sweet - http://melissasweet.net/

-www.macys.com/parade This site has all the information you need to know about the parade.  It includes parade route, pictures and videos of past parades, application to be in the parade, FAQs, and even games to play online.