December Secrets

December Secrets

by

Patricia Reilly Giff

Summary: Everyone in Ms. Rooney's class has been given a secret special person to be kind to for the whole month of December. Emily Arrow is stuck with Jill Simon, the class crybaby. Emily decides that she will make Jill happier and thinner. 

Evaluation: For this age group I do not think this book would be appropriate since it negatively deals with the issue of girls body image. Throughout most of this book Jill is bullied about her weight by her classmates including her secret pal Emily. While bullying is an issue that children in this target audience do face this book does not do a good job at addressing it. This teaches children that it is ok to make fun of someone just because they are a little on the heavy side and really highlight the more serious issue of female body image, which is not appropriate at this age. There are no positive messages about female body image or bullying until the very end of the  book and by that time for an early reader the damage has already been done. 

 While this is a good early reader as far as words on a page, size of the words, use of pictures in relation to the words, word spacing and difficulty of words, it is a horrible story line and has no redeeming literary qualities. The children in the target age group would learn nothing positive from this book.

I would not recommend this book to anyone!

Big Thoughts for Little People

Big Thoughts for Little People

by

Kenneth N. Taylor

Summary:  This is an ABC concept book that teaches young children Christian values along with their alphabet.

Evaluation: I love this book and highly recommend it to all parents of young children! My girls truly enjoy reading this book together. Big Thoughts for Little People teaches 26 lessons, one for each letter of the alphabet. It is great for children ages 2-6 years who are beginning to learn their alphabet because the lessons always rhyme and are very interactive. For example: "B's for behave; It means doing what's right. Be happy and helpful; Don't argue or fight." Then it has a very short devotional for the child to do with the parent that incorporates their knowledge on the subject as well as the illustration in the book for that letter. Example: "Do you know what 'behave' means?" Then they look at the illustration on that page to see who is behaving. Each lesson concludes with a bible verse they can memorize and associate with the letter and lesson being taught.  

My girls favorite letter page is V.
V is for Visitors; Help them have fun,
And play and be friendly
With all, not just one.
It is wonderful to have friends. You can go to their house to visit, or they can come to visit you. Sometimes you can eat lunch together, or you can play outside or have fun making things. When you have visitors you must remember to play happily together and take turns with your toys. And remember to play with each of your visitors, not just the ones you like best. Then everyone will have fun.
SOME QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
1. How many children in the picture are coming to visit?
2. Tell the names of your friends who come to your house to visit.
3. What are some things you do together?
A BIBLE VERSE FOR YOU TO LEARN
Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or play to stay for the night. 
1 Peter 4:9

The only part of the book that I think could have been done a little better are the illustrations. They are well done but I believe they could use more vibrant colors to capture the reader's attention more. Nonetheless, my children do not seem to have a hard time deciphering the pictures to answer the questions or finding the ladybug hidden in each one.

All in all this is a great book for teaching the concepts of letters as well as good manners, courtesy, Christian principles, and respect. It appeals to preschool and kindergarten age children because it is so interactive and full of rhyming fun. Highly recommend!

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents

by

Terry Pratchett

Summary: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents  is about a stupid looking kid named Keith, a conniving talking cat named Maurice, and a clan of educated talking rats. Keith, Maurice, and the rats go from town-to-town scamming people out of their money by plaguing them with rats and then leading them away. Then, they come upon the little town of Bad Blintz. Bad Blintz is not like the other towns they have scammed. Something in the town is not right. There are no keekee's, native nontalking rats, in the town though the rat catchers claim there is a plague of them. While the rats begin investigating the cellars and under workings of the town, Maurice and Keith meet Malicia Grim, the mayor's daughter. Malicia Grim is more intrigued by stories than reality. She is always prepared for outlandish adventures and offers unique tools that help save Maurice, Keith, and the rat clan. While in the underworld of the town they discover the rat catcher’s evil scheme to make money off the poor town’s people. There is also an evil so heinous that the educated rodents lose all speech and revert back to being just rats. The con is no longer a game. Now they are fighting for survival.

Evaluation:

         Memorable characters and a dynamic plot combine to make this a must read book for children ages ten years and up. The human characters, especially Keith and Malicia, play supporting roles in the story. Malicia's successful attempts to create a whimsical story out of real life irritate Keith while providing valuable lessons for both the characters and the readers. For the most part it is the rats and talking cat who are the most interesting and developed characters. Unlike most children's stories that have animal protagonists who are cute, fluffy and sweet, Pratchett treats rats as they really are- smelly, unclean, incontinent, and at times cannibalistic. Boys and girls who read this book may have a hard time identifying with the characters, but will be highly entertained by the story line itself.

            Pratchett has taken the traditional folk tale of the pied piper and satirically paralleled it with current culture. The rats and Maurice struggle with the emergence of conscience. Maurice always gives his rodent victims a chance to talk before he devours them, the rats question of  their place in the world, and the powerful rat king who wants to use their new power of knowledge for war against humans. When the rats develop their writing in pictograms, it strongly parallels the history of human writing development starting with hieroglyphics. The rats clan also parallel human society development. In all human cultures we see a utopian society lost due to human greed and corruption, some type of holy writing, and struggle with conflict. In his story the rats mimic this human history with their dream of utopian rat island, the keeper of the flame, their own version of the holy book ("Once upon a time Mr. Bunnsy went into the Dark Woods"), and their struggle with conflict within their selves and their species. Like humans the rats have to decided how they are going to deal with greed, corruption, wickedness, and the new threat called EVIL. The target audience for this book should have at this point learned about the basics of human history and have most likely experienced greed, conflict, and possibly death making the story line easy to relate to.

            The book also has strong moral values for its young readers. The rats dream about having their own utopian island society and are on a quest to fulfill it, but get disillusioned along the way. This teaches the reader to not give up on their dreams no matter what happens. It also teaches the reader to work together to solve problems. The main problem that this story addresses is the human/animal relationship as it exists now. With human society destroying the worlds animal habitats, Pratchett urges the reader to think about them in a new light. His conclusion shows the reader that the process will not be simple and that we need to start thinking about how to do it now before it is too late. Having the main human characters as children shows the target audience that they have the power to come up with new ideas and change their world.

            All in all this was a great read and highly recommended.

Classroom Extension Activities:

Language Arts Classroom

• Have students pick their favorite character from the book and cast them in a new short story.
• Have students write one more chapter for the story. The book ends with, "Because some stories end, but old stories go on, and you gotta dance if you want to stay ahead."(p. 241) This closing sentence leaves the reader with a hunger for a sequel. Which is perfect for a starting point for students to continue the story.
• Create a travel brochure and ads for Bad Blintz. Students should include the main attractions such as the Rat Clock, rat piper and his dancing rats, as well as other attractions that the students think the town might now have. After the completion of their travel brochure students will present them to the class.
• Compare and contrast the story to other Pied Piper stories. Using the computer lab as well as the library students should compare and contrast at least two other Pied Piper stories setting, plot, characterization, etc. to the novel. How are the rat's point of view of the Pied Piper different from other versions you researched? What about the role of the children in the stories compared to the novel? How does perspective change the story?

History Classroom

• Research origins of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and historical significance

Science Classroom

• Topics to expand upon: habitat destruction, endangered species, rats intelligence 

            

The Healing Spell

The Healing Spell

by

Kimberley Griffiths Little

Summary: Eleven-year-old Olivia, "Livie," is living with a paralyzing secret. Her mother is in a coma and she knows she is responsible for it. Now she must be the one who wakes up her mother before anyone finds out what happened on that horrible day.

Evaluation:

          Livie lives with her family on the bayous of Lousiana. She is stuck in the middle of two sisters who are nothing like her. Feeling like an outsider in her own home she is terrified to tell anyone what really happened to her mother for fear that they would hate her. When her father decides against the doctor's orders to bring her mother home, Livie is mortified. How can she help take care of her mother when she can't even touch her. The burden of guilt weighs Livie down to the point that she thinks it is written on her face. But, that is not the only thing that is weighing on her mind. Livie's world is changing. Her Aunt Colleen and cousin have come down from Minnesota to help, but do not understand her families dynamics. Almost immediately friction begins to tear the family apart. Her sisters, aunt, and cousin all resent Livie for not helping to take care of or even touch her mom. They all know she is hiding something but no one can figure out what. To make matters worse. her older sister, Faye, is getting married in a few weeks and leaving home, her little sister, Crickett, cries all the time, and her father is forced to quit his job so he can care for their mother.         This is a must read for anyone age nine and above. Though this is a middle grade reader, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult. Little has the reader laughing, crying, hurting, and thinking along with Livie throughout the whole novel.

          With her world drastically changing, Livie decides that it is up to her to make her mother wake up. It is the only thing that can make things right. So she and her best friend visit the local traiteur to find a healing spell. To her surprise the healing spell is not a bunch of magic words, creepy voodoo, or automatic results. Instead, it forces her to find faith in herself, her family, and God. It also helps to break the chains of anger and guilt she feels for her mother. Her bravery is inspirational to young readers and her journey into coming of age is moving.

          This book is wonderful for young readers because it is about finding faith, having courage, healing, and the strength of family bonds. Being a realistic fiction, there are no true bad guys or evil doers. Instead, there are real feelings, situations, and universal truths that are applicable to almost all adolescents. Throughout the book, Livie struggles to find herself. She is constantly torn between doing the activities she loves, such as hunting and fishing, and becoming the proper young lady that her mother wants her to be. Her fears, anxieties, reactions, and points of view are so relatable that it even took me back to my preteen years. I love the part where she has to keep a memory journal. As a preteen this is a wonderful idea to help them only remember the good memories and let go of the bad.

          I highly recommend this book for all preteens. With the element of the super natural and the real life family drama of the Mouton clan make this an enjoyable read for all. Having the main character an eleven year old girl also makes the story very relatable. Most preteens at some point in their lives will try to find their independence, question their place in their family, and feel unloved. Livie's bravery and growth show the reader that our families do love us and see the good in us that sometimes even we don't see. It also teaches the reader that all members of our family have their own struggles and burdens to bear, and they are in need of our help, love, and forgiveness as we are in need of theirs.

Age and Genre: 9-11 years and up, Realistic Fiction

Links:
Author's Home page
The Healing Spell Book Trailer

Raising Yoder's Barn

Raising Yoder's Barn

by

Jane Yolen

Summary:

 This book is about an eight year old Amish boy, named Matthew Yoder. His family's barn and windmill is destroyed by a fire when lightning strikes it one night. The community gathers and help the Yoder's rebuild their barn. 

Evaluation:

 This is a wonderful book. It is also an excellent book for children to learn about the Amish culture.The main character in the story is an eight year old Amish boy who is telling about an awful event that took place on his farm one summer. When lightning strikes his family's barn they do not have a phone to call the fire department. Instead, his little brother has to ring a bell to summon the neighbors to come help try to put out the flames. Being Amish they did not arrive in cars but in wagons, on horseback, and on foot. They had to form two lines to try to put out the fire with buckets of water. For students who have been exposed to the Amish culture this is an excellent story to expand their understanding of their lifestyle and faith. For those children who have never been exposed to Amish culture this is a great story to introduce them to another culture within the United States of America. 

It is a very age appropriate even though he is from a very different culture his fears and feelings are much the same as any eight year old boys would be. He is worried that people will think he is too little to help rebuild the barn. But, he ends up with one of the most important jobs of the day, relaying instructions to the men. Throughout the story the reader see's Matthew dealing with the issue of losing part of their lively hoods and dealing with adolescent fears in a positive way. For instance when they are finished building the barn instead of gloating he simply whispers "Amen," which speaks volumes to his feelings of accomplishment and self worth. 

This book celebrates the worth of interdependence, tradition, hard work, cooperation and communities coming together to help each other out. It is a definite must read for children in kindergarten and up!

Genre and Age:

Realistic Fiction Picture Book 

Ages 5-8 and up

Hippo and Rabbit in Three Short Tales

Hippo and Rabbit in Three Short Tales

by Jeff Mack

Summary:

   Rabbit and Hippo are the most unlikely of friends. They are opposite in many ways but their differences are what sustain their friendship and  keep them having fun all day.

Evaluation:

     This is a wonderful beginning reader graphic novel for children ages 4 and up.  The stories in this book are very short and cute. They are about eating healthy, playing nicely together, and comforting on another. Being a graphic novel it would really appeal to boys, though the story itself is gender neutral. This format allows beginning readers to  fill in the gaps of Hippo and Rabbit's day by negotiating changes in location, time, and emotions of the two characters, giving them more control in the reading process. The illustrations work well with the text to tell the story. They are very simple and help the reader to fill in the gaps in the story left by the author. Rabbit and Hippo's day consists of breakfast, play time, and then bed. This allows young readers to fill in the gaps for the rest of the dynamic duos day, such as lunch, dinner, and getting ready for bed. It also helps them to obtain basic developmental proficiency in object solidity and perceptual dependability.

      Hippo and Rabbit in Three Short Tales has changed my views on graphic novels. I use to think that they were just a means of entertainment and not learning. But, after seeing this begging reader it is very evident how graphic novels can be used in the classroom as a successful means of teaching students, especially boys, how to read. It is not intimidating as some books can be. It is very creative and assists students in the decoding process. Instead of reading seeming like a power struggle, this type of book puts the power into the readers hands. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Brian W. Sturm put it perfectly when he said, "They are the ones who bring the story alive; they are the ones who get to add their personal touches to the unfolding story."

       As a mom of young children and a teacher I would highly recommend this book and other's of its kind.

Wednesday Wars

Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt

Summary:

      This book is about a 7th grade boy named Holling Hoodhood. Holling, unlike the rest of his class who attend Hebrew School or Catechism every Wednesday afternoon, is Presbyterian and must spend his with his teacher Mrs. Baker. From the first day of school, Holling is convinced that Mrs. Baker hates his guts and is out to get him. She makes him clean, clap all the erasers, clean the rat's cage, and worst of all read Shakespeare outside of class. While Holling is worried about what Mrs. Baker is going to do next to destroy him, the rest of the country is worried about the war going on in Vietnam.

Evaluation:
      While this book starts of slow and has some far fetched ideas in it this would be a good book for children ages 10 years and up, especially boys. Boys will love this book because it is relevant to their life through the male protagonist, events such as escaped rats, tons of pranks, famous baseball players, and of course the school bully.
      I generally liked this book but the one thing that really bothered me and took away from the story is Holling Hoodhood's family dynamics. Holling's family lives in the perfect house in the perfect spot in town. His family however, is far from perfect. Holling's father Mr. Hoodhood is an architect whose only concern is keeping his business' reputation safe. Throughout the book, the reader sees Mr. Hoodhood's stubbornness and neglectful nature destroy the parent-child relationship for both Holling and his sister. Mrs. Hoodhood is complete opposite of her husband, though just as neglectful. She is an obedient housewife who is clearly depressed and under her husband's complete control. Holling's older sister, is a "flower child" who throughout the story is trying to find her place in a war torn world. The worst part of the story for me was when Holling got hit by a bus saving his sister, and neither of his parents even showed up at the hospital. While for some students reading this story this type of behavior might be reality, I do not think it made the story any better. The reader already see's how much Mrs. Baker cares for Holling. Making his parents neglectful and borderline child abusers did not strengthen the story line any. In fact, for me it almost broke it. It took me a while afterwards to like the story again. 

     There are many redeeming factors in this story. One of my favorites is the teacher who is constantly picked on by students and ends up working in the board office. As a teacher this of course made me laugh. But, she in the end comes back and is the only person who is not afraid to capture the evil rats. Another redeeming part of the story is the school bully, Doug Sweiteck's brother. Throughout the story he picks on Holling even going so far as putting up flyers all through the school of him in his yellow tights. But, when Holling saves his sister, Doug Sweiteck is the first one who praises him throughout the school and calls him a hero.

     I really like how Schmidt incorporates the Vietnam War and it's affects on the various characters in the story. With the war going on in Afghanistan many young folks can relate to this scenario. Mrs. Baker is a work-a-holic who only slightly lets on to her students her inner turmoil with her husband being at war and then missing in action. Mai Thi, is a Vietnames child who is brought over by the Catholic Relief Agency and is a student in their class. She is constantly abused by the cafeteria lady whose husband is killed in action. After 9-11 Muslim students have had it harder in school. They too can be victims of abuse by both adults and other students. This aspect of the book is great because we see its affects on Mai Thi as a child. This is such a wonderful teaching element that can be used in the classroom about the effects of bullying based on ethnicity and or religion. Though, Mai Thi's happy ending at the end of the book does seem a bit farfetched and forced.

     The book does have many happy endings, though none to do with Holling's parents. Many children these days do come from broken homes and dysfunctional families. They could relate to Holling's childhood experiences and look for teachers as saviors. Mrs. Baker gives Holling some great advice that the young readers can take to heart. She tells him to, "learn everything you can-everything. And then use all that you have learned to be a wise and good man." Children reading this book can learn from Holling's struggles and growth throughout the story. Holling could have easily been like his father who is greedy and stagnant. But instead he grows to be a high-quality young man. Nothing is perfect all the time, but at least in this story the heroes do get their just rewards.
      As you can see this book would be an excellent choice for upper elementary students to young adults. It is a compelling story with various important themes, and witty characters making it an enjoyable and teachable read. 

Classroom Extension Ideas:

Language Arts Classroom:

• Have students choose and read selected sections from one of the Shakespeare plays that Holling read. Following this reading students could create a comparison chart between their thoughts and what Holling has to say about it.
• At the end of the book, students could respond to the following writing prompt: If The Wednesday Wars was written by William Shakespeare, instead of Gary Schmidt, would it be classified as a comedy, history, or tragedy? Why? Have students use excerpts from the book to justify their answer.
• At the end of the book, have students predict what happens to Holling after he graduates high school. Write an additional chapter based on their prediction.

History Classroom:

• Teachers have many topics they can expand on such as: the atomic bomb, the Civil Rights Movement, Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Vietnam War, Mickey Mantle, 1960's era, and historic architectural landmarks in their own town

Math Classroom:

• Research and compare prices of soda, gas, New York Yankees tickets, bread, cars, bus fares, etc. from 1967 to present day