Draw Me A Star

Module 15 - May 3-10

Draw Me A Star - Eric Carle

Summary:
This is a creative story in which a young artist starts by creating a star. The star then asks the artist for a sun. The journey continues as his newest creation asks the artist for another type of creation. The aging artist eventually ends up back at a star shape.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This is a simple story that is filled with Eric Carle's vibrant collages. Each artist creation desires something that can be connected to it. Just as in life, all of creation is connected in some way.

Reviews:
"Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star". So begins another of Carle's deceptively simple picture books. The star asks the artist to draw her a sun. Then the warm sun asks the artist to draw a tree and the tree puts in a request for some people. The people need a house which needs a dog and so on until the artist is asked by the moon to draw her a star and the cycle is almost complete. The artist starts out as a toddler drawing the star, and matures through the book. This unique version of the creation story can be interpreted on many levels. Carle's painted tissue paper collages are, as always, brilliant." - Children's Literature

"During his youth, this gifted authorartist explains in his newest book's afterword, his German grandmother would often draw him a star while chanting a nonsense rhyme. Taking that symbol as his foundation, Carle here creates a world pulsating with life and color-a world that bursts forth from a good star sketched by a young artist. This kaleidoseopic pentagram requests a sun from the artist's pen; the sun asks for a tree, and so on until a man and woman are living happily among Carle's characteristic collages-flora and fauna of all shapes, sizes and vivid hues. Meanwhile the artist, now a bearded old man, continues to draw and create. This unusual, practically plotless work seems to embody a personal scenario close to the artist's heart. His unadorned language, pulsing with a hypnotic rhythm, adroitly complements the familiar naive artwork. Though some may be disturbed by similarities between Carle's evolving world and the biblical creation story (the unclothed male and female figures, for example), this tale of imagination and creativity pays homage to the artist within all of us-and may well fire youngsters' imaginations. Ages 4-up." - Publisher's Weekly


Suggested Activities:
This book would be an excellent resource to use to have children think about and discuss how things are connected. Dogs chase cats, cats chase birds, birds chase butterflies, butterflies look for beautiful flowers, flowers hope for rainclouds, and the list goes on.

Eric Carle books are also a great example of collage style art. After reading his books, students can use tissue paper and paint to create collage art of their own.

Bibliography: Carle, E. (1992). Draw me a star. New York: Philomel Books.

This Is Just to Say

Module 14 - April 26- May 2

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman

Summary:
This is a collection of poems written by Mrs. Merz's sixth grade class. They were inspired by William Carlos Williams poem of apology for eating some plums he found in the fridge. The poems are intended for fellow students, parents, siblings, school staff, and pets. Some are sincere apologies and others are not so sincere. The second part of book contains responses from those who received the apologies. These are just as humerous, witty, and sincere as the apologies.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I loved this collection of poems. The author did a great job of bringing out the nature of the human spirit in these apologies and their responses. I also enjoyed the variety of types of poems that the collection contains.

Reviews:
"Gr 4-7-Mrs. Merz assigns her sixth-grade students to write poems of apology, and what emerges is a surprising array of emotions, poetic forms, and subjects from dead pets and biting hamsters to angry siblings and betrayal of trust. The children decide to create their own book of these poems, complete with an introduction and occasional notes by editor Anthony K. Fast-talking Thomas writes a humorous poem patterned after William Carlos Williams's "This Is Just to Say," apologizing to Mrs. Garcia in the office, for stealing the jelly donuts in the teachers' lounge: "Forgive me/they were delicious/so sweet/and so gloppy." Mrs. Garcia's response poem says, "Of course I forgive you./But I still have to call your mother." A more serious concern emerges in "Next Time," written by Jewel: "Please, please come back./Don't leave me spinning alone,/like a slow, sad tornado./I'm sorry, Daddy./Next time I'll be/perfect." In the response poem, Jewel describes her father's wrenching reply telling her that, "None of the stupid things/I have ever done/are even close to being your fault." Sidman's ear is keen, capturing many voices. Her skill as a poet accessible to young people is unmatched. Zagarenski's delicately outlined collage drawings and paintings are created on mixed backgrounds-notebook paper, paper bags, newspaper, graph paper, school supplies. This is an important book both for its creativity and for its wisdom."- Reviewer: Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Suggested Activities:
Students could have a lot of fun writing creative apologies and making a class book of their own.

Bibliography: Osborne, M. P. (2007). This is just to say: poems of apology and forgiveness. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Magic Treehouse Tonight on the Titanic

Module 13 - April 19-25

Magic Treehouse Series - Tonight on the Titanic by Mary Pope Osborn

Summary:
This story continues the journeys of Jack and Annie as they use their magic treehouse to travel within various books and storylines. Jack and Annie journey to the Titanic in search of a clue that will help their newest friend, a dog named Teddy. They must find 'A gift from a ship lost at sea'. Their adventure leads them to the great Titanic on the fateful night that it hits an iceburg. While searching for their clue, Jack and Annie fearlessly do their best to help the passengers of this sinking ship.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I enjoy the Magic Tree House series for young children (1st through 3rd graders). Jack and Annie are characters that are easy for young readers to follow and become friends with. Boys and girls alike will enjoy the journey's through famous books and storylines. This particular book presents some basic details of the Titanic in an easy to read adventure.

Reviews:
"The entry in "The Magic Tree House" series of early adventure books takes Jack and Annie and their dog, Teddy, to the deck of the sinking ship, Titanic. While they can't change history or take anyone they meet back with them, they are able to help a brother and sister find their way to the lifeboats before the ship is lost. Mary Pope Osborne provides nicely paced excitement for young readers, and there's just enough information mixed in so that children will take away some historical fact along with a sense of accomplishment at having completed a chapter book." - Children's Literature

Suggested Activities:
This book would be a great lead in to additional research on the Titanic. Students can be grouped into groups to research and report on various different aspects of the Titanic. Students can research the time period, the actual ship and how it was built, life and activities on the ship, various classes of people who were on the ship, and the events of the night of the crash into the iceburg.

Bibliography: Osborne, M. P. (1999). Magic treehouse tonight on the titanic. New York: Scholastic Inc.

The Boy on Fairfield Street

Module 12 - April 12-18

The Boy On Fairfield Street by Kathleen Krull

Summary:
This story shares the story of Theodor Giesel and how he becomes the infamous Dr. Seuss. It begins by talking about Giesel's life as a little boy growing up on Fairfield Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. The reader learns about how creative he was and how others did not understand his desire to draw imaginative creatures and funny poems. Eventually, his work is realized and he finds his way as an author and illustrator. The end of the book includes a 4 page biography including the major event in Giesel's life as well as the publishing of some of his more popular books.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I thought this was an excellent, child-friendly biography of Dr. Seuss. It would be easy for young readers to follow and enjoy. The illustrations in the book are excellent.

Reviews:
"Krull's (V Is for Victory) fond tribute to Dr. Seuss focuses on the well-loved author/artist's youth. Growing up in Springfield, Mass., Ted Geisel "feasted on books and was wild about animals" and "excelled at fooling around." The informal, anecdotal narrative explains that Geisel early on demonstrated a passion for drawing (even on his bedroom walls) "whatever popped into his head." He took only one art class, in high school, and quit when the teacher scolded him for "breaking rules" and told him he would never be successful. While attending Dartmouth, Geisel was admired for his "talent for silliness" and, Krull notes with comic irony, "He was clearly gifted, though no one knew at exactly what. It wasn't as if men could doodle for a living." The tale ends rather abruptly as the 22-year-old Geisel arrives in New York City to embark on his artistic career. A four-page addendum, presented in a smaller font, chronicles the highlights of Dr. Seuss's publishing career and provides intriguing tidbits about the creation of some of his beloved books. Johnson and Fancher's (New York's Bravest) representational, nostalgic paintings effectively evoke both the period and Geisel's appealingly puckish personality. Featured in spot art, familiar Seuss characters frolic through these pages, thematically complementing the illustrations while reminding readers why Geisel's life is worth celebrating." Ages 6-12.- Publisher's Weekly Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

"Once upon a time, there lived a boy who feasted on books and was wild about animals." So begins this young biography of Dr. Seuss. Taunted at school because he was German, his escapes were drawing, the comics he loved, and the zoo, where his father was the parks superintendent in Springfield, Mass. His high-school art teacher warned him he'd never be successful at art; in Dartmouth he was voted "Class Artist and Class Wit," and he left Oxford to draw and write verse. Truly only about his youth, the narrative ends at age 22, when Seuss goes to New York City to launch his career. Four following pages provide a synopsis of his life and a timeline up to his death in 1991. Bordered, full-page oil-on-gessoed-paper illustrations evoke pertinent scenes, while spot art of Seuss drawings dot the opposite pages. Some of these original images are absolutely haunting; the magic of his name will make this a huge hit, but it's the lively writing that puts the hat on the cat."(Picture book/biography. 7-11)-Kirkus Reviews

Suggested Activities:
This book would be an excellent read aloud or resource to use during the week of Dr. Seuss's birthday. After reading, students can then use various art materials to create a unique creature of their own using their imaginations. Afterwards, they can write a creative story telling about their unique creature.

Bibliography: Krull, K.(2004). The boy on fairfield street:how ted geisel grew up to become dr. seuss. New York: Random House Children's Books.

An Egg is Quiet

Module 11 - April 5-11

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston

Summary:
An Egg is Quiet is a well-written informational books on eggs found in nature. It gives young readers examples of how eggs in nature vary in size, color, texture, shape, and design. It also touches on the purpose of eggs and gives examples of different animals that hatch from eggs.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I loved this book. It is well-written and beautifully illustrated. It introduces young readers to the beauty and purpose found in nature. The text is simple with expanded details on each page. This book would serve as a great introduction to a unit on eggs and provides details and expanded information for students to springboard into further research into this subject if necessary.

Reviews:
"K-Gr 2-An exceptionally handsome book on eggs, from the delicate ova of the green lacewing to the rosy roe of the Atlantic salmon to the mammoth bulk of an ostrich egg. Aston's simple, readable text celebrates their marvelous diversity, commenting on size, shape, coloration, and where they might be found. The author occasionally attributes sensibilities to eggs ("An egg is clever," for example). Still, her quiet descriptions of egg engineering and embryo development (no mention of mating) are on the mark, and are beautifully supported by Long's splendid watercolor depictions of a wide variety of eggs. (One teeny carp-Steller's jays are not spelled with an "ar," though they are stellar performers when wheedling for your lunch at a campsite!) A beautiful guide to the unexpected panoply of "the egg."-Patricia Manning Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.- School Library Journal

"Worthy successor to Ruth Heller's Chickens Aren't The Only Ones (1981), this engrossing album pairs images of dozens of precisely detailed eggs and their diverse wild parents to basic facts presented in neatly hand-lettered lines. Nearly all depicted actual size (and those that aren't, are consistently so labeled), Long's eggs look real enough to pick up, whether placed in natural settings or suspended on white pages. All, whether from birds, insects, reptiles, fish or amphibians, are not only identified, but Aston adds both topical phrases-"Eggs come in different sizes"-to each spread and, usually, memorably presented additional facts: "An ostrich egg can weigh as much as 8 pounds. It's so big and so round, it takes two hands to hold one egg." A delight for budding naturalists of all stripes, flecks, dots and textures." (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-9)-Kirkus Reviews

Suggested Activities:
This book is a wonderful resource when studying oviparous animals (those that hatch from eggs). After reading the book, have students decorate an egg shaped templates with various art materials to illustrate that eggs in nature come in a variety of shapes, colors, and textures. An extention would be to have students pick an animal from the book, decorate the egg appropriately, then draw that animal on the back side of the egg. Students can play a type of guessing game to discover which animals hatch from each egg.

Bibliography: Aston, D. H. (2006). An egg is quiet. New York: Scholastic Incorporated.

Goin' Someplace Special

Module 10 - March 29-April 4

Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack

Summary:
This story is about a young girl in the South and her journey to her 'special place' during the 1950's, a time of segregation. She wants to show her independence and goes out on the town alone without her granny for the first time. She find the journey difficult and becomes discouraged and disheartened by the segregation laws. She eventually finds the courage to make it to her 'special place' - the Public Library. The one place that, at the time, accepted all people equally.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I truly enjoyed this book which gives readers a true perception of the life of a young girl during the time of segregation. McKissack shows the both the discouragement and strength of African Americans during this unjust period in history. The story is based on events from McKissack's own life growing up in Nashville.

Reviews:
"McKissack draws from her childhood in Nashville for this instructive picture book. "I don't know if I'm ready to turn you loose in the world," Mama Frances tells her granddaughter when she asks if she can go by herself to "Someplace Special" (the destination remains unidentified until the end of the story). 'Tricia Ann does obtain permission, and begins a bittersweet journey downtown, her pride battered by the indignities of Jim Crow laws. She's ejected from a hotel lobby and snubbed as she walks by a movie theater ("Colored people can't come in the front door," she hears a girl explaining to her brother. "They got to go 'round back and sit up in the Buzzard's Roost"). She almost gives up, but, buoyed by the encouragement of adult acquaintances ("Carry yo'self proud," one of her grandmother's friends tells her from the Colored section on the bus), she finally arrives at Someplace Special a place Mama Frances calls "a doorway to freedom" the public library. An afterword explains McKissack's connection to the tale, and by putting such a personal face on segregation she makes its injustices painfully real for her audience. Pinkney's (previously paired with McKissack for Mirandy and Brother Wind) luminescent watercolors evoke the '50s, from fashions to finned cars, and he captures every ounce of 'Tricia Ann's eagerness, humiliation and quiet triumph at the end." Ages 4-8 Publisher's Weekly Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"Tricia Ann endures the indignities of segregation in the 1950s South, fortified with the love of her family and friends. As a Negro, she must sit at the back of the bus. Because of Jim Crow laws, she can only sit in the back of the balcony at the theater. When a crowd rushes into a plush downtown hotel following a celebrity, 'Tricia Ann is caught up in the throng—and then thrown out of the all-white establishment. She tolerates all of these insults because she is on her way to Someplace Special. That someplace is full of good things and it welcomes all people. That place is the Public Library. Based on McKissack's early life in Nashville, Tennessee, this is a story about how unfair life can be—and how love and persistence can triumph over injustice. Artwork is rendered in pencil and watercolor on paper by artist Jerry Pinkney, the only illustrator to have won the Coretta Scott King Award four times." Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer:Chris Gill -Children's Literature

Suggested Activities:
This book can help lead a discussion to how African Americans were treated differently during this period in time. Before reading the book, tell the girls that they seem hungry & could use a little snack. Give each girl 2-3 M&Ms or some other type of candy. Do not give any to the boys & do not offer any explanation other than the candies are only for the girls. Then read the book. After the book is read, ask the students how 'Tricia Ann felt as she went on her journey to the library. Discuss the fairness of the laws at the time. Now ask the boys how they felt being left out of the snack. Discuss whether or not that situation was 'fair'. At the end, give the boys some of the M&Ms.

Bibliography: McKissack, P.C. (2001). Goin' someplace special. New York: Scholastic Incorporated.

Where's The Big Bad Wolf?

Module 9 - March 22-28

Where's the Big Bad Wolf? by Eileen Christelow

Summary:
Detective Doggedly sets out to find out who is bothering the pigs in the area. The only one he ever finds in the area at the time of each event is Esmerelda, an odd looking sheep who loves to give the pigs bad advice. The Doggedly eventually solves the riddle in time to save the pigs.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I thought this book was hilarious. Adults and children alike will enjoy following Doggedly as he slowly discovers the culprit - a wolf in sheep's clothing. Christelow does a great job of adding some fun twists and turns to this children's classic. Young children quickly solve the mystery and laugh aloud as they anxiously await for Doggedly to discover what they already know!

Reviews:
"Christelow (The Great Pig Search) offers more animals who bamboozle slow-witted innocents in this rib-tickling take on the Three Little Pigs. Canine detective Phineas T. Doggedly asserts, "There's only one no-good rascal in this town... the Big Bad Wolf!" So when "a big gust of wind Hufffs and Pufffs," he sets out to round up the usual suspect, who's nowhere to be found. The fact that an odd-looking sheep named Esmerelda happens to be strolling by every time disaster strikes seems odd to the sleuth, but, he says, "I just can't quite put my paw on what it is." Young readers will likely spy the big gray nose sticking out of Esmerelda's white wool long before Phineas does, and will follow the action with relish. Comic-book-style panels alternate with full-bleed spreads as Doggedly's midnight stake-outs fail to produce results. When he finally nabs the wolf ("This no-good, pig-poaching, huffing, puffing, wolf-in-sheep's-clothing is under arrest!") the scoundrel spends a couple of nights in jail before he's back to his usual tricks. The familiar story line allows Christelow to include plenty of details and extra cast members; two elderly cows in bathrobes provide comic running commentary. Both adults and children will enjoy listening to Esmerelda urge the pigs to put down those bricks: "Build a cardboard house. It's so much easier!" - Publisher's Weekly Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

"Gr 1-2-A determined Detective Doggedly pursues the elusive BBW (Big Bad Wolf) in a delicious parody of the traditional tale. Three dim-witted and naive pigs, a wolf with a taste for unusual costuming, and three sharp-eyed residents of the nearby "Home for Elderly Cows" create a mystery worthy of the slightly befuddled detective: who is destroying the pigs' houses, when the wolf is currently hospitalized with mysterious flulike symptoms? Doggedly catches the culprit, but one doubts that this "egg-snatching, pie-pinching, chicken-chasing, pig-poaching" villain is ready to change his habits when released. Christelow's pen-and-ink and gouache cartoons show sticks and straw flying across pages, the not-too-bright protagonist, and a hilarious wolf in sheep's clothing. Characters comment on all the goings-on in dialogue balloons that add to the fun and humor. Pair this book with Jon Scieszka's True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Viking, 1989), another choice for lovers of fractured tales." Reviewer:Mary Elan -School Library Journal Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Suggested Activities:
This book book can be used to compare and contrast storylines. The teacher can read the classic version and then read this version. Students can compare and contrast the similarities and differences in the story. Teachers can continue the activity by finding other versions of the story as well.

Bibliography: Marsh, K. (2007). The night tourist. New York: Hyperlion Books for Children.