Comics, Graphic Novels and Manga

As a librarian and educator, I know that comic books, graphic novels and manga can be gateways to literature and learning for slow, reluctant, and ESOL readers. I also know that although they are classified under the Dewey Decimal Classification number 741.5, it is useful to create a dedicated spot in the library media center for these materials. Showcasing the items in their own location creates an easily accessible area for existing and potential readers.

The labeling of the the types of materials found under 741.5 is an ongoing debate between fans, authors and illustrators. Just Google "the difference between comics, graphic novels and manga". The resulting opinions are more than I thought. Debates go on endlessly regarding plot arcs, length, chapters, volumes and series to discern differences. Overall, though most agree that "Comic" is the original term from which all other names (be they revered or despised). 

From my experience in libraries, the terms in the title post are regarded as follows:

• Comic Book: Magazine-like bound series material

• Graphic Novel: More sturdily bound than a comic book due to length. Usually a contained story, but can also be series

• Manga: Japanese-created comics and novels, very popular in Western culture.

I suggest a couple of sources for reviewing or choosing relevant materials:

• Good Comics for Kids - School Library Journal's collaborative blog on suggested materials for students
• No Flying, No Tights - A graphic novel review website

And if you are just a self-proclaimed history of comic nerd, see this blog by an aspiring comics librarian: 741.5 and then some.

Writeboard - Great Collaborative Tool

While volunteering at my neighborhood middle school, we have been using a great new tool to schedule timeslots and meetings. Well, it is new to me at least. Writeboard is an easy-to-use web-based text document that only requires a link and a password. I have used Google Docs in the past as a collaboration tool, but many people have complained of issues. I am not sure if this is a user-based problem, but so far, none of my volunteer team has had any problem with Writeboard. Simple, quick, and straightforward.

Here - check it out with a document I created:

http://123.writeboard.com/i3sxvemytx8o2n6y 

password: testing123

Take a look at the website and consider using for your next collaborative task!
http://writeboard.com/

The Thirteenth Tale (audio format)

Author: Diane Setterfield 
Narrators: Bianca Amato & Jill Tanner
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio, New York, 2006
ISBN: 978-0-7435-6417-5
Interest Level: Young Adult to Adult
Genre:  Fiction
Plot Summary: Aging, reclusive author Vida Winter, having given out multiple versions of her life story over the years, decides to finally set the record straight and engages Margaret Lea, a London bookseller's daughter, to write her biography, drawing the young woman into a tale of a governess, a ghost, a willful woman, feral twins, and a gothic mansion. 
Themes/Tags: authors, hermits, twins, mystery, betrayal, England, gothic
Awards and Reviews: book reviews only: Alex Award 2007, Wilson's Senior High School 10/01/07, Library Journal 08/01/06, Publishers Weekly 06/26/06, Kirkus Review starred 07/15/06, Booklist 09/01/06

Library Journal (August 1, 2006) A ruined mansion in the English countryside, secret illegitimate children, a madwoman hidden in the attic, ghostly twin sisters-yep, it's a gothic novel, and it doesn't pretend to be anything fancier. But this one grabs the reader with its damp, icy fingers and doesn't let go until the last shocking secret has been revealed. Margaret Lea, an antiquarian bookseller and sometime biographer of obscure writers, receives a letter from Vida Winter, "the world's most famous living author." Vida has always invented pasts for herself in interviews, but now, on her deathbed, she at last has decided to tell the truth and has chosen Margaret to write her story. Now living at Vida's (spooky) country estate, Margaret finds herself spellbound by the tale of Vida's childhood some 70 years earlier...but is it really the truth? And will Vida live to finish the story? Setterfield's first novel is equally suited to a rainy afternoon on the couch or a summer day on the beach. For all public libraries. 
Extensions: After reading the Thirteenth Tale, discuss the elements of gothic literature.  Prepare a Power Point presentation with the history of the Gothic including the characteristics of Gothic literature (dark settings, strong imagery, damsels in distress, deep villains, dark themes about human nature, hidden secrets, etc.) Student will enjoy learning where things like vampires, Dracula, Frankenstein, etc come from. Have students will identify Gothic elements in some of their favorite movies and stories, brainstorming in class and the teacher will write ideas on the board. Direct students to looking at specific elements that create the mood and tone. Assess on students' abilty to identify various images and elements of discussed topics and classroom participation. (adapted from a lesson plan found on http://www.associatedcontent.com)

GPS ELA11LSV1 The student participates in student-to-teacher, student-to-student, and group verbal interactions. The student
a. Initiates new topics in addition to responding to adult-initiated topics . b. Asks relevant questions. c. Responds to questions with appropriate information. d. Actively solicits another person’s comments or opinion. e. Offers own opinion forcefully without domineering. f. Volunteers contributions and responds when directly solicited by teacher or discussion leader. g. Gives reasons in support of opinions expressed. h. Clarifies, illustrates, or expands on a response when asked to do so; asks classmates for similar expansions. i. Employ group decision-making techniques such as brainstorming or a problem-solving sequence (i.e., recognizes problem, defines problem, identifies possible solutions, selects optimal solution, implements solution, evaluates solution).j. Divides labor so as to achieve the overall group goal efficiently.
Terri's Review: ►►►► 4 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5)  A book for booklovers, especially those drawn to British mysteries, historical British literature, dark secrets, betrayals, lies, dysfunctional families, old rambling gothic mansions, and of course tea and cake.  The two narrators bring realistic, consistent and believable voices to the two main characters.  The book begins with mousy Margaret Lea, the classic spinster gal, who lives with her parents and helps run her father's rare bookstore.  She is recruited by England's best-selling, yet reclusive author, Miss Winter, who is dying.  The frail Mrs. Winter needs Margaret to write the story that has never been told (a.k.a The Thirteenth Tale). Mrs. Winter has been living under a false name for most of her life, and in a cathartic attempt to relieve her bitter soul, she must divulge her family secrets.  What ensues is a gothic tale including allusions to incest (mature YA readers only), betrayal, lies, and half-truths, which sends Margaret out on some detective work of her own, because Mrs. Winter, for all her intent, can be vague and misleading with the details.  This is a book that's hard to put down, especially if it's a cold rainy day, so fire up the teapot.

The Good Thief

Author: Hannah Tinti - great website...I want to be her friend!
Publisher: Dial Press, New York, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-385-33745-8
Interest Level: Young adult to Adult
Genre:  Fiction, although assigned Dewey 813.6 (American Fiction, 2001-) 
Plot Summary: Young Ren, an orphan in nineteenth-century New England, is rescued from the orphanage by Benjamin Nab, who claims to be Ren's brother; but as time goes on Ren begins to question who he can and cannot trust.
Themes/Tags: orphans, New England, historical fiction, trust
Awards and Reviews: Alex Award 01/26/09, Wilson's Fiction 03/01/09, Booklist starred 06/01/08, Publishers Weekly 05/05/08, Kirkus Review starred 06/01/08, New York Times 09/28/08 
Booklist starred (June 1, 2008 (Vol. 104, No. 19) Ren doesn’t know how he lost his hand, who his parents are, or how he arrived at St. Anthony’s, a prisonlike orphanage. Certain that no one will ever adopt him, he takes secret revenge on those who beat and torment him by stealing. Then Benjamin Nab appears, claiming Ren as his long-lost younger brother. Off they go, and Ren, a marvelously plucky narrator, is ecstatic. But his savior turns out to be a con man given to diabolical and grotesque endeavors. It’s a ghoulish and violent world right out of the most nihilistic fairy tales, with shades of Dickens and Deadwood. Set in a decimated nineteenth-century New England town ruled by the owner of a mousetrap factory, Tinti’s shivery tale features an otherworldly cast of characters. Each is caught in a snare of some sort and must figure out how to get free. Tinti revealed her macabre sensibility in her story collection, Animal Crackers (2004). In her highly original debut novel, she renders the horrors and wonders she concocts utterly believable and rich in implication as she creates a darkly comedic and bewitching, sinister yet life-affirming tale about the eternal battle between good and evil
Extensions: Include The Good Thief on the assigned reading list.  Students will compose a chart to identify elements of diction, imagery, figurative language, point of view, symbolism, plots and main ideas contained in the text.  Prompt class discussions on these elements in the book: Which characters has unique ways of speaking, and what tone did they convey?  Describe the imagery of some of the locations in North Umbrage and what tone do they convey?  In retrospect, think from the point of view of Mrs. Sands and Benjamin that drive their actions.  Do you see any symbolism in the mousetrap factory?  Think of some of the subplots and how they relate to the overall main idea of the story:  the "evil" twins, the ugly mousetrap girls, the doctor who studied corpses, Tom's former life as a teacher.  Assess on analyzation efforts, supporting information and classroom participation. 
GPS ELAALRL1 The student demonstrates comprehension by identifying evidence (i.e., examples of diction, imagery, point of view, figurative language, symbolism, plot events and main ideas) in a variety of texts representative of different genres (i.e., poetry, prose [short story, novel, essay, editorial, biography], and drama) and using this evidence as the basis for interpretation. The student identifies, analyzes, and applies knowledge of the structures and elements of American fiction and provides evidence from the text to support understanding; the student: a. Locates and analyzes such elements in fiction as language and style, character development, point of view, irony, and structures (i.e., chronological, in medias res, flashback, frame narrative, epistolary narrative) in works of American fiction from different time periods. b. Identifies and analyzes patterns of imagery or symbolism. c. Relates identified elements in fiction to theme or underlying meaning. d. Analyzes, evaluates, and applies knowledge of the ways authors use techniques and elements in fiction for rhetorical and aesthetic purposes. e. Analyzes the influence of mythic, traditional, or classical literature on American literature. f. Traces the history of the development of American fiction..
Terri's Review: ►►►►► 5 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5)  This simple, yet magnificent tale is an instant classic that will be on required reading lists for years.  Tinti creates an almost Grimm-ish atmosphere, in this darkly moving story set in 19th century New England.  Our protagonist is, of course, the archetypal orphan boy - sensitive, worried, bright -- and missing his left hand.  Ren is soon rescued by a smooth-talking rogue, Benjamin Nab, who claims to be Ren's older brother.  This swaggering con-man takes Ren under his wing, and along with Tom, Benjamin's sidekick, they teach him the ropes in pickpocketing, medicine shows and graverobbing.  Before long, Ren realizes Benjamin cannot really be his brother, but now he's the only sort of family he has.  Once they settle into Mrs. Sands' boarding house, Ren gets a taste of a real home and a motherly figure, despite her eccentricities.  And the eccentric characters abound in this novel which takes plot turns and scenes you never see coming.  Exquisite and highly original, this first-time novel of Tinti's is at heart a simple display of fantastic storytelling, and reveals the true nature of love, friendship, and family despite physical and personality flaws.  An excellent choice for any library collection young adult and above.  The story does contain a few gruesome scenes of shootouts and corpse-stealing, but nothing young adults have not heard before.

Alex Awards

One of my main sources for leisure reading suggestions are books that have been nominated for an Alex Award. If you are not familiar, the award is given to 10 books each year that are written for adults, but hold appeal for young adult readers (12-18 yrs). These books are great choices for picks in a media center serving students in this age range. Check out their site to see the history of nominations:


http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/alexawards/alexawards.cfm

My next posts will highlight a couple of Alex Award books I have enjoyed.

WebQuests

"What are WebQuests?", some of you may ask. According to WebQuest.Org, "A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web." A WebQuest can range from a very simple document to a detailed website. All you need are hyperlinks! WebQuest.Org points out important attributes of a WebQuest:

A real Webquest...

• is wrapped around a doable and interesting task that is ideally a scaled down version of things that adults do as citizens or workers.
• requires higher level thinking, not simply summarizing. This includes synthesis, analysis, problem-solving, creativity and judgment.
• makes good use of the web. A WebQuest that isn't based on real resources from the web is probably just a traditional lesson in disguise. (Of course, books and other media can be used within a WebQuest, but if the web isn't at the heart of the lesson, it's not a WebQuest.)
• isn't a research report or a step-by-step science or math procedure. Having learners simply distilling web sites and making a presentation about them isn't enough.
• isn't just a series of web-based experiences. Having learners go look at this page, then go play this game, then go here and turn your name into hieroglyphs doesn't require higher level thinking skills and so, by definition, isn't a WebQuest. 

 At the time of this post, WebQuest.Org offers a 2-year subscription to it's WebQuest creation tool, QuestGarden, at $20 for 2 years. Not too bad, but this penny-pincher has not yet joined. The presentation is nice and clean. Here is a link to a QuestGarden lesson.  

Recently, I collaborated with a fellow media specialist and the 3rd grade teachers at her school. I created a WebQuest for a Science lesson on Endangered Species of Georgia. I opted to utilize a free website-creator, Weebly. If you have not experienced Weebly, check it out. Actually, that is a good idea for my next post, thank you very much!

The main thing to remember about WebQuests is to check your links before using, as they can expire or move. Or you may even find something better. A few of these links were advanced for some of the students, but with the help of the media specialist and teacher being nearby, the lesson was a great success and my WebQuest enjoyed by all:

http://endangeredspeciesgeorgia.weebly.com/

Interesting Interview with Author Brian Selznick

I recently heard a great interview with the award-winning author and children's book illustrator, Brian Selznick. Mr. Selznick's new book, Wonderstruck, debuted earlier this month to raving editorial reviews, and high ratings on user-rated websites. Using the illustration/text format he used in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the new novel follows two youngsters whose paths eventually cross, and who share a trait: they are both deaf.

Catch up with the interview here (read, stream, or podcast):


http://www.npr.org/2011/09/13/140403979/wonderstruck-a-novel-approach-to-picture-books

Search Engines

A tech-geek friend was visiting recently and needed to use my computer. I noticed he immediately snubbed my Google default search option and chose to use Dogpile instead. I asked what he preferred about that search engine, and he muttered something about it being more comprehensive. I decided to research further and discovered Dogpile is a metasearch engine - one that searches several engines or databases to provide more results. Hmmm, ok. So, what else is out there? Lots! If you get a chance, take a look at this website, which has compiled a list of many search engines categorized for different purposes. Providing many options that specialize in everything from books, games, multimedia, blogs, and open source, this is an information-seeker's dream for streamlining searches. This would be a great media lesson for older students in honing those 21st-Century Skills!

Check it out:


http://www.thesearchenginelist.com/

Good Masters, Sweet Ladies!

Author: Laura Amy Schlitz                    

   

Illustrator: Robert Byrd

Publisher: Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-7636-4332-4                                   

Grade Level: 5-8

Genre: Nonfiction

Plot Summary:  Includes bibliographical references (p. 82-85).;Hugo, the Lord's nephew -- Taggot, the blacksmith's daughter -- Will, the plowboy -- Alice, the shepherdess -- Thomas, the doctor's son -- Constance, the pilgrim -- Mogg, the villein's daughter -- Otho, the miller's son -- Jack, the half-wit -- Simon, the knight's son -- Edgar, the falconer's son -- Isobel, the Lord's daughter -- Barbary, the mud slinger -- Jacob Ben Salomon, the moneylender's son, and Petronella, the merchant's daughter -- Lowdy, the varlet's child -- Pask, the runaway -- Piers, the glassblower's apprentice -- Mariot and Maud, the glassblower's daughters -- Nelly, the sniggler -- Drogo, the tanner's apprentice -- Giles, the beggar. A collection of short one-person plays featuring characters, between ten and fifteen years old, who live in or near a thirteenth-century English manor.

Themes/Tags:  Middle Ages, children's literature, historical fiction, poetry, England

Reviews and Awards:  Wilson's Children 01/01/09, Wilson's Junior High School 11/01/08, Newbery Medal/Honor 01/14/08, School Library Journal starred 08/01/07, Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 01/01/08, Booklist starred 08/01/07, Horn Book starred 04/01/08, Book Links starred 01/01/08

Extensions: It's obvious, but impossible NOT to use this book in a performance capacity.  Using the media center, dedicate a month to study of the middle ages.  Along with books and other media on display, culminate the end of the month with a performance of Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!  Those who do not have speaking parts will assist with backdrops, audio (music), and video.

GPS: ELA6R3 The student reads aloud, accurately (in the range of 95%), familiar material in a variety of genres, in a way that makes meaning clear to listeners.

ELA6RC4 The student establishes a context for information acquired by reading across subject areas. 

Terri's Review ►►►►► 5 Bean & Cheese Nachos (out of 5)

Due to the response from a couple of fellow media specialists, I had already prejudged this book to be a head-scratching doozy.  Imagine my surprise... I LOVED it! I also love that it was written by a bona-fide media specialist! I enjoyed it was written as a series of monologues.  Each character portrays a person of various status or trade in this fictional midieval village.  Some of the monologues are written as poetry, others as lyrical prose.  The stories are those of hard times and social status -- or lack of.  Interspersed throughout the pages are footnotes on odd words and background information on unusual practices.  Several "history" pages are interspersed to give greater detail on topics such as the role of the miller or the Crusades.  Very interesting and very well-written, I will leave you with this catchy excerpt from "Otho, The Millers Son":

Oh, God makes the water, and the water makes the river,

And the river turns the mill wheel

and the wheel goes on forever.

There's no use in looking back,

for here's the truth I've found:

It's hunger, want, and wickedness

that makes the world go 'round.

Newbery Ketchup!

Catch-up, actually. Ketchup just sounded cute, and I am hungry. I digress....for a while, I've had a goal to read all the Newbery books - both winners and honors. As time marches on, a deadline for this project is needed. A year seems more than reasonable. So perhaps a nice, neat date like June 1, 2012. Yes, I like it!

What is the story behind the Newbery? ("One R! One R!", as Dr. Nancy Brown would tell her GSU grad students) Per the American Library Association's website:

The Newbery Medal is awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. On June 22, 1921, Frederic G. Melcher proposed the award to the American Library Association meeting of the Children's Librarians' Section and suggested that it be named for the eighteenth-century English bookseller John Newbery. The idea was enthusiastically accepted by the children's librarians, and Melcher's official proposal was approved by the ALA Executive Board in 1922. In Melcher's formal agreement with the board, the purpose of the Newbery Medal was stated as follows: "To encourage original creative work in the field of books for children. To emphasize to the public that contributions to the literature for children deserve similar recognition to poetry, plays, or novels. To give those librarians, who make it their life work to serve children's reading interests, an opportunity to encourage good writing in this field."

The Newbery Award thus became the first children's book award in the world. Its terms, as well as its long history, continue to make it the best known and most discussed children's book award in this country.

I have read a number of books on the list already - whether recently or in the past. Favorites - some of which I have already mentioned in this blog - include:

 

• Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis  2008 Honor 

• Whittington  by  Alan Armstrong, illustrated by S.D. Schindler  2006 Honor

• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell  1961 Winner

While I try to recognize the value of each story, I can't imagine one person enjoying every single book. That is the beauty of reading...so much material for all different personalities to enjoy. So I will also recognize some of my not-so-favorites:

• The Underneath  by Kathi Appelt, illus. by David Small 2009 Honor

• Old Yeller by Fred Gipson 1957 Honor

The books above were certainly well-written, but as an animal lover, they were emotionally challenging. That said, I have no regrets on reading them and see their value to a library collection. It is good to be challenged.

What are some of your favorite Newberys? Some you are still scratching your about? Any oversights?

Time to get started. Here is my first batch, courtesy of Atlanta's Buckhead Library:

And for the record, a shot of the Buckhead Library. Architecture fans: talk amongst yourselves!

 

READ.GOV

A couple of years ago, I visited the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. I was traveling by train from Atlanta to Salt Lake City and had a layover of several hours at Union Station. This gorgeous station is in the heart of our nation's capital, so the Library of Congress (LOC) was just a short walk away. Due to time limitations, I was only able to do a quick self-guided tour, but enjoyed every moment. While it is a spectacular place, even more impressive (and easily accessible) is the LOC website. A veritible abyss of information, the site offers historical photographs, audio recordings, film clips, manuscripts, maps and so much more. Today I would like to invite you to visit one of my favorite offerings:


http://www.read.gov/

Categories for online reading include classic options for kids, teens, adults and educators/parents. The children's books are especially gorgeous. Books of a time gone by, but preserved for us to share with kids today!

And because you are interested (right?!), here are a few amateur shots from my trip!  

You should know this one!

Finally here! Hooray!

The exhibition featured Herbert Block's editorial cartoons.

View from LOC steps.

In the "lobby".

Breathtaking! Too bad my photography skills are not!

Beauty everywhere.

The entrance in the background.

Bad-hair-day at LOC. I've been sleeping on a train folks (thus, NOT sleeping)!

I liked these guys.

Amtrak: fun, adventurous, and not very glamorous. This is it. You just walk on!

An Old Classic is the New Favorite!

This summer, while keeping the kids of some friends, I decided to use an old classic for the much revered potty-reading duties:

 

The Terrible Thing that Happened at Our House (author: Marge Blaine, illustrator: John C. Wallner) is the story of what happens to a "normal" family when mom decides to go back to work. Ok, so they are privileged kids who had a stay-at-home mom, but most kids these days can relate to the situation. Suddenly both parents are very busy, game night is no more, and now the kids must eat in the dreaded lunchroom! With great illustrations and funny lines, this story provides insight into working out problems with your family, talking and connecting. Even with a copyright date of 1975, its is a timeless tale and I encourage you to find a copy!

George Washington Carver

Author: 
Tonya Bolden                                               

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, New York , 2008
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9366-2 

Interest Level: Grades 3-6


Genre:  Noniction, Dewey 630.92


Plot Summary: Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-40). A biography of American botanical researcher and agronomy educator, George Washington Carver, whose work to promote alternative crops in the post-war South played a major role in revolutionizing Southern agriculture.


Themes/Tags: biography, George Washington Carver, agriculture, Alabama

Awards and Reviews: Wilson's Children 01/01/09, School Library Journal starred 04/01/08, Booklist starred 02/01/08, Book Links starred 03/01/08, Kirkus Review starred 12/15/07, Horn Book 10/01/08, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 03/01/08, Library Media Connection 08/01/08
Library Media Connection (August/September 2008) A fresh biography from Tonya Bolden, this title retraces the turbulent life and celebrated accomplishments of the famed "Peanut Man" through chronological photographs, original works of art, and thought-provoking text. Bolden takes the reader back to George Washington Carver's birthplace and leads him through his life from enslavement as a child, on his quest for new knowledge and becoming a successful environmentalist, to being honored for his contributions in agriculture by way of a museum erected in his name. Her use of historical photographs, artifacts, and drawings depicting Carver's love of nature and his scientific explorations is reminiscent of walking through a museum with the book as the tour guide. Although suited for older readers, this selection would be a valuable addition to any biography collection. Recommended. Suzanne Buza-Snead, Librarian, Maverick Elementary, San Antonio, Texasu

Extensions: Introduce students to George Washington Carver as presented in this particular text.  Then, using additional online media center resources, have teams of two students write their own short biography of Carver.  Using Bolden's text as an example, have student's create their own collage-type presentation using printed photographs, magazine and other mixed media provided by the librarian or students (fabric, sticks, soynuts, etc).  The biographical text will be displayed among the collage in a format suitable to the students.  The final projects will be displayed on the media center showcase table at the end of the month.

GPS SS5H3: The student will describe how life changed in America at the turn of the century. b. Describe the impact on American life of the Wright brothers (flight), George Washington Carver (science), Alexander Graham Bell (communication), and Thomas Edison (electricity).


Terri's Review: ►►►►► 5 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5)  True story:  I picked this book up and did not put it down until I finished.  Wow, what a wonderfully written, presented, informative addition to any library collection!  I personally did not know much about GWC, other than he was a scientist who did wonders with peanuts.  There was so much more to this genius of a man from such humble beginnings, who made great strides at such a turbulent time in American history.  Wonderful colors, photographs and drawings accompany the tale of Carver from his birth, to his early knack for horticulture, to art, to science, ultimately being recognized by Congress at the height of racial tension for his accomplishments.  He was always a bit dismayed to be the "peanut man", because his true and most interesting passion by far was sustainability.  He was actually one of the grandfathers of "green".  In another year and time, I could imagine him on a commune wearing hemp shirts and sporting dreadlocks.  He was the ultimate conservationist, and thought that everything we needed from clothes to medicine were attainable from nature.  Interestingly, he received some flack from his peers for his lack of involvement in the African-American movement at the time.  An absolute must-have for any library collection.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Author: 
Carmen Agra Deedy                                                               

Illustrator: Michael Austin

Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, Atlanta, Ga, 2007

ISBN: 978-0-7614-5172-3, 0-7614-5172-2

Interest Level: Grades K-3

Genre:  Nonfiction - Dewey 398.2

Plot Summary: A humorous retelling of a Cuban folktale in which a cockroach interviews her suitors in order to decide whom to marry.

Themes/Tags: cockroaches, folktales, Cuban culture, love

Awards and Reviews: Library Media Connection starred 01/01/08,Publishers Weekly 08/27/07, Booklist 10/01/07, Criticas starred 08/15/07, Wilson's Children 01/01/09, Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 01/01/08, School Library Journal 10/01/07, Book Links (A.L.A.) 01/01/09

Library Media Connection (January 2008) With vivid illustrations on every page, this retelling of a Caribbean folktale with a Cuban twist will appeal to the intended audience. The story of Martina, her quest for a suitor, and her decision to choose a mouse named Perez, is usually attributed to Puerto Rican folklore. The traditional tale has Martina, the cockroach, looking for an animal who can woo her with song. In this retelling though, Martina is a green cockroach whose Cuban grandmother advises her to spill coffee on the pretenders' shoes, knowing that their reactions will reveal their true personalities. The tale was originally written in English and translated to Spanish. Although there are some subtle differences, both are well-written, with humor, some repetitive phrases, and a sparkle that will make this book as much a delight to read aloud as it is for the children listening. The large, full page illustrations show the animals in realistic detail, although they have human gestures and facial expressions. Martina is truly beautiful and desirable, unlike our conception of cockroaches. Either title would be a natural addition to any library's collection of folk literature, picture books, and Hispanic tales. Highly Recommended. Sharon Gonzalez, Library Media Specialist, Harris Middle School, San Antonio, Texas

Extensions: Read Martina to the students and discuss the origin of folktales.  Introduce students to Dewey section 398.2 and have them all check out a book.  On the next media center visit, have students share their folktale with the rest of the group and discuss the lessons that are taught.  Assess on comprehension and participation.

GPS ELA2R4: The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text. The student a. Reads a variety of texts for information and pleasure. m. Recognizes the basic elements of a variety of genres (e.g., poetry, fables, folktales).

Terri's Review: ►►►►► 5 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5)  I had seen this book in passing and was interested in it due to the subject matter - my personal shriek-inducing nemesis - the cockroach. Wow, what a joy when a book like this is discovered!  Instant classic: charming, funny and teaches a lesson.  Gorgeous & bright illustrations accompany the retelling of this traditional folk tale, which is also mentioned in The Storyteller's Candle.  Martina, the cockroach is 21 days old and ready to give her leg in marriage (how is this not already funny?!).  Per the advice of her grandmother, to find a suitable mate, she must "accidently" spill cafe cubano - or coffee - on his shoes to see how he will react.  This will be a lesson to see how a potential suitor responds when he loses his temper.  After going through several disagreeable interviewees, Martina is surprised to discover what happens when she meets Perez, the mouse...he puts her to the test.  The English version of this book is interspersed with Spanish terms, whose meaning can be derived from the surrounding text.  And to potential brides everywhere: Starbucks.

Literacy Needs of African American Transitional Readers

I just read a great article on the website for the journal Teacher Librarian: "Supporting the Literacy Needs of African American Transitional Readers" (Oct 2010, S. Hughes-Hassell, E. Koehler, & H. Barkley). The authors discuss how research reveals reading scores for African American children are consistently lower than those of white children, but if kids have access to stories and books that reflect their own lives and experiences, it may foster a better appreciation for life-long habits. They go on to suggest strategies to help motivate readers at this transitional stage. And what I really liked was the list of suggested titles - an excellent source of information for any media specialist or librarian who needs to diversify their collection.

Some titles include:
Barnes, Derrick D. Ruby and the Booker Boys series.
DeGross, Monalisa. Donavan’s Double Trouble
Draper, Sharon M. Sassy series 

To see the rest of the article and recommended books click here and enjoy!

Rapunzel's Revenge

Author: Shannon & Dean Hale

Illustrator: Nathan Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury, New York, 2008

ISBN: 978-1-59990-070-4

Interest Level: 5-8

Genre: Graphic Novel, Dewey 741.5

Plot Summary: Rapunzel, having grown up in a lovely castle with the woman she thought was her mother, is placed in a very tall hollow tree as punishment after her curiosity prompts her to climb the castle wall and look at the ruin of the world beyond her home; but she is able to escape and with the help of Jack, embarks on a plan to free the land from the grip of the witch.

Awards and Reviews: Wilson's Children 07/01/09, School Library Journal starred 09/01/08, Library Media Connection starred 11/01/08,

Horn Book starred 11/01/08, Publishers Weekly starred 08/04/08, Booklist 09/01/08, Horn Book 04/01/09, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 09/01/08, ALA Notable 2009, YALSA 2009 Great Graphic Novel, Eisner Award Nomination

Extensions: Based on the reading of Rapunzel's revenge, prompt students to pick a fairy tale of their own, and "fracture" it in their own style. Papers should be at least 4 double spaced pages. When story is complete, students will draw/illustrate four related "graphics", one relating to each page, as well as an illustrated cover page and bibliographic information. The media specialist will have laminating & binding materials available for students to construct mini-booklets, which will be on display in the media center for the remainder of the year. This project will take place over 3 media center visits within the month, with student's encouraged to work on the project outside of school to create a more interesting end product.

GPS ELA6W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres. The student produces a narrative (fictional, personal) that: a. Engages readers by establishing and developing a plot, setting, and point of view that are appropriate to the story (e.g., varied beginnings, standard plot line, cohesive devices). b. Creates an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context. c. Includes sensory details and concrete language to develop plot, setting, and character (e.g., vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, and varied sentence structures). d. Uses a range of strategies (e.g., suspense, figurative language, dialogue, expanded vocabulary, movement, gestures, expressions). e. Excludes extraneous details and inconsistencies. f. Provides a sense of closure appropriate to the writing.

Terri's Review: ►►►►► 5 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5) Acclaimed young adult author Shannon Hale joins her husband Dean and (unrelated) illustrator Nathan Hale in creating this fantastic spin on the Rapunzel fairy tale. Rapunzel lives with her stern Mother Gothel in an extravagant, lush villa which is surrounded by guards and a tall wall. One day, bored and curious, she climbs the wall and peeks over, only to be astonished at the barren, dark and desolate land beyond. Poverty-stricken village workers are hard at work in the mines. Rapunzel makes it out of the villa to research further and makes a life-changing discovery. Caught in the act, Mother Gothel imprisons Rapunzel in a tree, providing food and water, but little else. Rapunzel's hair grows and soon she entertains herself by learning to use the braids as a lasso. She finally escapes, with a plan in mind to save the people oppressed by Mother Gothel. Along the way, she befriends another fellow on the run, Jack (of beanstalk fame, of course). Their adventures continue across the Old West-type landscape, where they meet odd characters, fight bad guys and save people from harm. This engaging book will entertain readers well above the intended age range. It's a bona fide, saddle burning adventure tale, with refreshing and quite witty dialogue - not stilted as many graphic novels can be - and with very likable protagonists. The illustrations are perfectly matched. Hopefully this gifted team is already working on another!

Geocaching - Where have I been the last 11 years?

I recently stumbled upon a website - or more aptly - a world-wide phenomenon and hobby that ignited my geek-pistons: Geocaching. What is it, you ask? So did I. While all the details can be found at its website, I will give you give my personal testimony.  My discovery was made one afternoon while trying to find a fun, cheap outing for a child I was babysitting. After searching for "fun, cheap activities in Atlanta", I saw the link on a website. With one click, I was hooked. What lover of books, education and mystery would not be sold by the ability to participate in a world-wide treasure hunt?! Basically, I created a free account, typed in my zip code, and found a list of hidden "treasures" within walking distance of my house. Granted, I live in a highly populated, urban area, but have found caches listed in my small hometown and a tiny island on Florida's Gulf. Ideally, you will need a GPS enabled device, but don't despair, you may still search without one; it may take a bit longer, but the website allows you to click for a Google Map location.

Please take some time to explore the site. This is a great tool for classrooms, field trips, families, friends or just exploring alone. I look forward to creating geocaches that tie in to a literary reference...the possibilities are endless! Take a moment to check out the website - here is a good place to get started - and good luck.

Elijah of Buxton

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis

Publisher: Scholastic Press, New York, 2007                

ISBN: 978-0-439-02344-3                                         
 
Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading Level: YA, Level 5.6

Summary: Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, the first free-born child in Buxton, Canada, which is a haven for slaves fleeing the American South in 1859, uses his wits and skills to try to bring to justice the lying preacher who has stolen money that was to be used to buy a family's freedom.

Awards and Reviews: Wilson's Children 01/01/09, Wilson's Junior High School 11/01/08, Newbery Medal/Honor 01/14/08, School Library Journal starred 10/01/07, Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 01/01/08, Book Links (A.L.A.) 01/01/09, Booklist starred 09/01/07, Horn Book starred 11/01/07

Terri's Review: 5 Bean and Cheese Nachos (out of 5)  Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding!!  Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!  This was my favorite book read for this portion of the Database submission.  The wonderfully talented Christopher Paul Curtis does it again, this time tackling the subject of slavery.  Elijah is the first free child born into the Canadian settlement, Buxton, which was founded in 1849 for former slaves in the American south.  Written in "real dialect" (although they are in Canada, the inhabitants maintain southern accents), Curtis captures all the emotion - both exhilarating and tormented - that comes amongst settlers of this unique community.  Elijah is a very observant boy who has only heard of the awful stories of slavery.  It is not until a good friend is robbed of money to be used to free his family, that Elijah takes a dangerous journey over the border to the U.S. and experiences first-hand the awful reality he has only heard about.  Curtis takes a harrowing subject, and still manages to write with sensitivity and humor.  I feel this book will soon make it to the required reading lists for middle schoolers, if not already.

Extensions: Use the reading of Elijah of Buxton to jump-start interest in Civil War studies.  Using the month of February for the project, have a selected class of fifth-graders work as teams of 3 or 4 to research subjects associated with the causes, events and consequences of the Civil War.  Students may also choose to research how Uncle Tom's Cabin or John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry was related to the war.  Students will use at least 2 electronic library databases, 1 website and 2 books to support their research.  Papers will be submitted and assessed on collaboration, content and cohesiveness.