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.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Module 8 - March 8-14

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Summary:
This story opens with Jenna Fox struggling to regain her memory after 'waking' 18 months after a terrible car accident. Her memory comes back in fragmented bits and pieces. She realizes that she looks the same but cannot shake the feeling that she doesn't feel the same. Intuitively, she realizes that she is not the same Jenna that she sees starring in her parents home movies. In her quest to find herself, Jenna stumbles upon the discovery that her parents broke laws to use new medical advancements to save her life. Jenna now finds herself struggling not only to find out who she is but to also find out what she is. How much of original Jenna enough? How far would YOU go to save a life of a loved one?

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I enjoyed this book for the thought provoking questions that it inspires. In an era of rapidly advancing technology and medical advancements, we must take the time to consider the morality and ethical responsibilites that we as a society face when going forward with some of these medical advancements. This story introduces these difficult questions through the life of a teenage girl who just wants to be normal. The author does an excellent job of helping the reader to feel the pain, frustration, and confusion as Jenna tries to come to grips with her new reality.

Reviews:
"Outstanding examination of identity, science and ethics. "I used to be someone. / Someone named Jenna Fox. / That's what they tell me," begins the hypnotic first-person narration. She woke from an 18-month coma two weeks ago, but she doesn't know how to smile or who her parents are. She watches recordings of each childhood year but they ring no bells. Why has her family brought her to a hidden cottage in California, distant from home and doctors? Mental flashes reveal a void of paralysis where "darkness and silence go on forever." Was that her coma? Voices call Jenna, hurry! into her ears-are those from the night of the accident, which she can't remember? Jenna recognizes that her gait is awkward and her memory peculiar (spotty about childhood while disturbingly perfect about academics), but asking questions provokes only furtive glances between her parents. Pearson reveals the truth layer by layer, maintaining taut suspense and psychological realism as she probes philosophical notions of personhood. A deeply humane and gripping descendent of Peter Dickinson's classic Eva." - Kirkus Reviews

"Jenna Angeline Fox has ostensibly just awakened from a year-long coma, supposedly the result of a serious accident, and she cannot remember anything about her prior life. Her parents assure her that will change. They are living in a crumbling California house with her maternal grandmother, Lily, who seems inexplicably hostile, although Jenna feels sure that was not always the case. Jenna's memory does begin to come back, but in strange ways. She can remember things that happened when she was much too young to have clear memories (her baptism), and yet she cannot remember if she ever had any friends. Her parents have documented her life in hours of video recordings, and Jenna watches them in an effort to recover her life and herself. What she finds is that her parents adored her, almost to the point of obsession. Can someone love you too much? As a parent, what would you do to save your child? This is a speculative novel set in perhaps a not-too-distant future when biogenetics can preserve and even promulgate life. Science has run amuck, and millions have died or been maimed by antibiotic-resistant germs. The backlash has created government mandates about what some see as life-saving technology. Jenna's narrative as she gradually uncovers the mystery of her history and existence is haunting and compelling. The other characters—family members, neighborhood friends, school friends—are equally complex and believable. Teen readers will be drawn in because the story is well-written, it is well-paced, and it deals with many of the same relationship and existential issues that shape adolescence. But the story also pushes us to think about larger philosophical questions such aswhat is it that makes us truly human? Neal Shusterman's Unwind and Nancy Farmer's The House of the Scorpion examine similarly thorny dilemmas about the value and meaning of an individual life. This book would be a great catalyst for a discussion around science and ethics—about our responsibilities to one another, to the environment and to society at large." Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D. -Children's Literature

Suggested Activities:
This book would work well to introduce a discussion on science and medical advancements. Students can prepare a debate from the perspectives of Jenna and her classmate Allys.

Bibliography: Pearson, M.E. (2008). The adoration of jenna fox. New York: Square Fish.

The Night Tourist

Module 8 - March 8-14

The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh

Summary:
Take a journey into the underworld with Jack, a ninth-grader who is intrigued with the Classics. Jack is involved in a car accident that literally changes the way that he sees things. Jack has an unusual meeting with a girl in New York's Grand Central Station. As he explores the station with Euri, he discovers areas of the station that are unknown to the living world. Soon he discovers himself in a ghostly adventure in the secret underworld of the dead. He dodges Cerberus, the three-headed dog, flys through the New York skyline, and experiences sledding - ghost style. Thoughout the course of his adventure, Jack discovers dark secrets about his family and finds that he is capable of meaningful relationships.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I thought this was a wonderfully written story. I enjoyed the modern day references of New York mixed with the history and legends of this historical state. Marsh also creatively infused pieces of Classical mythology, writers, and poets into the storyline. The storyline was one in which those who are familiar with the Classics would enjoy the references but those who are not familiar would still be intrigued by the overall plot.

Reviews:
"It was just after dusk when the accident happened." This alluring first sentence grabs readers' attention, and the compelling story line will hold that interest. Marsh's story focuses on ninth-grader Jack Perdu, a prodigy of classic mythology. Absorbed in a book, Jack fails to see the car that knocks him down. He's physically okay, but after the accident he sees ghostly beings. In New York City's subway, he meets Euri, a spectral girl who leads him eight stories below Grand Central Station, and together they enter the residence of hundreds of ghosts. The spirits, several dead for more than 200 years, are suspicious of Jack, because to them he appears to be alive. Is Jack actually dead? If so, will he be able to locate his mother who disappeared years before? Both Jack and readers will simultaneously unravel the mystery surrounding the author's surreal setting as he learns how to enter and exit this supernatural world. Teenagers knowledgeable about mythology and appreciative of sophisticated wordplay will especially enjoy this intricate read." (Fiction. 12-15) - Kirkus Reviews

"Gr 7 Up -Jack Perdue, a prodigy, lives with his father on the Yale campus where he buries himself in classical literature. When an accident leaves Jack with a head injury, his father sends him to a very strange doctor in New York. Jack has not been to New York since his mother died and he and his dad moved to New Haven. In Grand Central Station, Jack takes a tour and meets a girl named Euri who suggests that he might want to see the underground station-places that the public never get to see. So begins the adventure into the underworld of ghosts as he searches for his mother and learns about her mysterious life and death. Adventure abounds as Jack and Euri visit with deceased authors and constantly avoid the ghost police with a three-headed dog looking for anyone who might be living. Along the way, Jack discovers some truths about Euri, himself, and his father. Actor Andrew Rannels narrates and provides a realistic voice for each character. Harry Potter fans will enjoy this fantasy (Hyperion, 2007)" Reviewed by:Jeana Actkinson - School Library Journal

Suggested Activities:
This book be a great introduction or serve as an extension to the study of some of the famous Classical mythology stories or Classical plays. In particular, the study of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Students should compare and contrast the stories of Jack and Euri with Orpheus and Eurydice. Students could extend this study all the way to re-creating a play of Orpheus and Eurydice.

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

My Louisiana Sky

Module 7 - March 1-7

My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt

Summary:
Tiger Ann is a bright girl who is quickly entering her pre-teen years. As most girls this age, Tiger is becoming very aware of herself and how she compares to others around her. Tiger suddenly becomes self-conscious of how the other girls don't play boyish sports such as baseball. She also becomes painfully aware that her parent's mental disabilities make them different from the other parents. Tiger is thankful for her grandmother who is the one she looks to for help in overcoming her frustrations. However, her life is turned upside down when her grandmother dies suddenly. Tiger's sophisticated aunt offers her the opportunity to reinvent herself in a big, exciting new city. In the end, Tiger learns a lot about families and discovers where she truly belongs.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
Although this book starts off a little slow, the characters develop into ones that you can almost see and hear. I felt that the author truly established Tiger Ann as a believable, pre-teen who struggles with the fact that her family is 'different'. I think many pre-teens and teenagers can relate as they notice qualities about their own families that embarass them. In this sweet coming of age story, Tiger learns that there is no set definition of a family. All families have their different strengths and weaknesses that allow them to love and care for each other through the good times and the hard times.

Reviews:
"For eleven-year-old Tiger Ann Parker, Saitter, Louisiana, is not only the place where she has lived her whole life with Momma and Daddy and Granny, but also a place where some people think that her "Momma and Daddy should have never been allowed to get married because they're different"-or "retarded." Momma giggles and coos in front of the new rabbit-eared television from morning 'til night ("It's Howdy Doody time...") and Daddy can't even do simple math. Granny, the backbone of the household and an integral source of strength for Tiger, tells her, "People are afraid of what's different. That don't mean different is bad. Just means different is different." But for Tiger, "different" has become just plain embarrassing. Why can't her parents be more like Aunt Dorie Kay, Momma's younger sister, who wears high-heels and make-up and has a fancy job in Baton Rouge? When the death of her grandmother presents Tiger with the opportunity to move with Dorie Kay to Baton Rouge, even in her grief she can hardly leave Saitter fast enough. But after cutting her hair . la Audrey Hepburn and going by "Ann" for a while, Tiger begins to see the ways of her parents that, while not glamorous or book-smart, root her to home and to herself. Holt's languid storytelling style is as unhurried as a Louisiana summer, a soft steady breeze turning the pages. She exercises unusual restraint for a first-time novelist as she eases the action along with a low-key, unpretentious plot, never resorting to over-dramatization or sentimentality in developing her uncannily credible characters. So honest is Holt's portrayal of Tiger, Momma, Daddy, Granny, and the rest that one wonders if she wrote their story while sitting in a rocker on a Saitter front porch, under the vast promises of a Louisiana sky." - The Horn Book Magazine

"Tiger wonders why she's so different from her parents, why she can get all A's in school when her mother is sweet, but childlike, and her father is considered retarded. Luckily, she has her Granny to hold the odd household together-until Granny dies. Tiger faces discrimination from her classmates and even considers accepting her "normal" aunt's offer to move in with her in Baton Rouge. How she comes to terms with her backcountry family and the world of the nineteen-fifties is the meat of this delicately written book." - Children's Literature

Suggested Activities:
Students can create a chart that depicts the similarities and differences between big cities and small towns. Students can then discuss the pros and cons of living in a big city or small town. Afterwards, they can further extend the activity by writing a persuasive paragraph that persuades the reader to move to either a small town or a big city.

Bibliography: Holt, K. W. (1998). My Louisiana Sky. New York: Dell Yearling.

Peeled

Module 7: March 1-7


Peeled by Joan Bauer

Summary:
This is a 'David & Goliath' type story in which a teen girl from a small town organizes the downfall of a giant. Hildy, a budding teen journalist, and her friends from the school newspaper set out to discover the mystery behind the eerie events that are occuring at the town's local 'haunted house'. If they don't set the story straight, their town could be heading for disaster.

Thoughts from a Book Worm:
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I love the fact that it goes into so many of the aspects of journalism. Hildy is a brave heroine that works hard to uncover the mystery haunting the town. In the process of solving the mystery, she and her friends show that with confidence, hard work, and perserverance, young teens can earn a place of respect within the community.

Reviews:
"Bauer's (Hope Was Here) fans will appreciate this diverting novel's shout-out to the author's debut, Squashed, from which she also harvests a few themes. In an upstate New York hamlet known for its apples, aspiring teen journalist Hildy Biddle treasures her staff position on the high school paper, aptly named The Core. She does whatever it takes to find the facts for a story, hoping she is honoring the memory of her late father, a respected local reporter. But when the opportunistic publisher of the town paper whips the citizens into a frenzy with sensational stories of ghosts and eerie happenings, Hildy and her friends are determined to expose the truth—which involves a disreputable development company. With sharp pacing and an intriguing premise, Bauer renders a fully realized portrait of a small town dependent on an ever-fragile agricultural economy and threatened by modern encroachment. As always, she stocks her work with strong, sage women, the elements for a budding romance and plenty of funny moments. But it's Hildy readers will remember longest, a smart girl who realistically blends the spunkiness, brains and good humor that is Bauer's stock-in-trade. Ages 12—up." - Publisher's Weekly Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

"Ghosts and an economic downturn haunt the apple-growing town of Banesville, New York. Residents respond to the local paper's sinister headlines by selling their farms to a developer. But is this news accurate? Hildy Biddle, a reporter for the high school newspaper, The Peel, decides to investigate. When she prints a rebuttal to the local paper's so-called facts, town officials shut down The Peel. But Hildy and her teenaged buddies find a way to get the truth out. Readers will embrace this can-do tale of First Amendment rights and cheer Hildy as she takes on the big guys—and orchestrates their fall." Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum -Children's Literature

Suggested Activities: I think this book would be a great way to motivate a class or group to start their own small newsletter/or newspaper. This activity can work for a family, school, or group.

Bibliography: Bauer, J. (2008). Peeled. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree

Module 6 - February 22-28

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree

Summary:
This story is about Emma-Jean Lazarus, a seventh grade girl who has always observed her peers from afar. She is the type of girl who appears to get along better with wise and intelligent adults. Although she feels that she doesn't quite fit in with her peers - she enjoys watching and learning more about their actions. One day, Emma-Jean is given the opportunity to help a fellow seventh grade girl in need. She discovers Collen Pomerantz crying in the girl's bathroom and decides that though some creative prolem solving she could work out the problem better than her peers. Eventually, the problems snowball and Emma-Jean finds herself in the middle of the 'messy' lives that she has avoided for so long. She finds that analytical thinking does not always work to solve sensitive emotional issues. She also discovers that living life means that sometimes it gets a little messy.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I found this to be a great book that covers emotional situations such as the death of a loved one, bullying, peer pressure, and the desire to be accepted by your peers. In this creatively written book, the reader is allowed to see the situations from two perspectives, Emma-Jean's and Colleen's. In the end, both girls learn important lessons that encourage self-confidence and acknowledge that sometimes life can get a little messy.

Reviews:
"At the beginning of this incisively voiced story, Emma-Jean Lazarus, a self-possessed but socially isolated seventh-grade girl, has no friends her own age. In fact, Tarshis's winning heroine views her classmates as an anthropologist might, observing them with great interest, but not really getting their strangely irrational behavior. And they, in turn, view her as simply strange. This begins to change when Emma-Jean comes across classmate Colleen Pomerantz sobbing her heart out in the bathroom. Colleen needs help in dealing with a girl bully, or as Emma-Jean sees it, the alpha chimp of Colleen's social set. Emma-Jean decides that she'll help Colleen and, later, others by utilizing the reasoning of her deceased father's hero, the illustrious mathematician Jules Henri Poincare. However, emotions have a way of defying logical analysis, and after a while, Emma-Jean discovers that she's become entangled-not only with peers, but with friends. The comic juice in the story comes from Emma-Jean's hyper-rational yet totally skewed take on reality, and her evolution from analyst to actor makes for a captivating, highly satisfying read. (Fiction. 8-12)" - Kirkus Reviews

"Emma-Jean is a bit different from the other seventh-grade students at William Gladstone Middle School. Emma-Jean loves to study things around her. She studies the local flora and fauna as well as her peers. She finds her classmates interesting but a bit illogical at times. In the past, she has refused to become involved in interactions with them, but a recent development with Colleen has shown Emma-Jean just how much her assistance is needed. Emma-Jean must draw on previous studies of her peers, love from her family, and a little help from Jules Henri Poincare to solve the problem. Her creative solutions work wonders, and she begins to reach out to help others. Everything runs smoothly until the school bully gets involved. Things quickly spiral out of control for both Colleen and Emma-Jean. The resulting aftermath changes things forever. This often humorous tale has some twists and turns that will surprise some readers. This gem of a book lends itself to a discussion of bullying (especially girl bullying), loss, friendship, character change, learning differences, and problem solving. This book links well with The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita, and Anne of Green Gables." Reviewer: L.M. Montgomery - Children's Literature

Suggested Activities:
A great activity to go with this book would be to have the teacher write up some social scenerios that the students would consider to be awkward or uncomfortable. The class could then be divided into smaller groups. Assign each group a scenerio and have them come up with a role play in which the students deal with/or solve the problem. After the students role play, discuss the situations - How easy were they to solve? Does it require creative thinking? What are some other ways the same situation can be solved?

Perspective could be used as a creative writing activity for older grades. Have the students write about 1 situation from the perspective of 2 different characters.

Bibliography: Tarshis, L. (2007). Emma-jean lazarus fell out of a tree. New York: Penguin Group Inc.

The Diary of a Spider

Module 5 - February 15-21

Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin

Summary:
This is a fun story that depicts the life of a young spider from his own point of view. Each page is a diary entry of Spider's antics and adventures for the day. His adventures include vacuum drills, a run-in with a Daddy longlegs, and encounters with his best friends Worm and Fly. He also includes important spider 'life lessons'.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This is an adorable book that is a creative, fun new way to introduce children to the world of spiders. It is also a charming way to teach children to be able to look at situations through another's perspective, in this case - a spider! It is a simple read but the cleverly detailed illustrations add so much more!

Reviews:
"Cronin and Bliss repeat the comic ingredients that made Diary of a Worm so successful in this rib-tickling sequel. This time the diary is written by Worm's friend Spider and filled with similar verbal high jinks, deadpan humor and visual jokes that offer readers a whimsical glimpse of the world from a small creature's point of view. Endpapers feature photos of Spider's family as well as his favorite book (Charlotte's Web), his discovery of a "neat sculpture!" (a toilet bowl) and a playbill from his school's production of "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" (a review blurb by Worm says, "You'll dig this play"). Children will relate to the book's droll humor, as when Spider goes to the park with his sister ("We tried the seesaw. It didn't work") or when he takes his molted skin for show-and-tell. A slight story line about the tension between Spider's friendship with Fly and his Grampa's prejudice against all six-legged bugs threads together the amusing vignettes. (When Grampa says, "Without spiders, insects could take over the world," Bliss features a menacing alien bug as President of the United States.) This endearing book delivers a gentle message that comes through when Spider muses, "I wish that people wouldn't judge all spiders based on the few spiders that bite. I know if we took the time to get to know each other, we would get along just fine. Just like me and Fly." Ages 4-8(Aug.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.-Publishers Weekly

"PreSchool-Grade 3–Children who enjoyed Diary of a Worm (HarperCollins, 2003) will be enchanted by this artistic team's latest collaboration. This time, Spider is the star. Through his humorous diary entries, readers learn about typical events in the life of a young spider. When Spider's mom tells him he's getting too big for his skin, he molts. Fly's feelings are hurt by a thoughtless comment from Daddy Longlegs, and Spider tries to help. He is concerned that he will have to eat leaves and rotten tomatoes when he has a sleepover with Worm. Spider's school doesn't have fire drills; it has vacuum drills (…vacuums eat spiderwebs and are very, very dangerous). Grampa tells him that spider-fly relations have improved over the years and shares the secret of long life–don't fall asleep in shoes. The amusing pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons, complete with funny asides in dialogue balloons, expand the sublime silliness of some of the scenarios." Reviewer: Beverly Combs Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. - School Library Journal

Suggested Activities:
This book could be used as a lead in about spiders. After reading the book, students can make a list of things that they learned about spiders by reading the entries. Afterwards, the class should go through the list and note which are real facts and which facts are just fantasy from the story.

As an enriching extension, students can pick and research a different type of insect. After researching the insect, they can create a diary using real facts and some fantasy.

Biography: Cronin, D. (2005). Diary of a spider. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Missing May

Module 4 - February 8-14

Missing May by Cynthia Rylant

Summary:
Summer finally found a family with her aunt and uncle after the death of her mother. However six years later, Summer faces death again with the passing of her beloved Aunt May. The death of May leaves behind a broken family as Summer and her Uncle struggle to resume their routines without her. Summer, Uncle Ob, and a young friend, Cletus, begin on a journey in which they hope to find a sign from May that will ease their loss and sadness.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This is a very touching story of how a family has to restructure after the death of a loved one. I enjoyed the visual images that the author gives the reader of the characters and the setting in which they live. I also appreciated the fact that this story depicts a very non-traditional family. I think that many children can relate to characters that do not necessarily fit the clichéd image of a family.

Reviews:
"This is one of the best books of 1992. When 12-year-old Summer's Aunt May dies, her Uncle Ob's grieving leaves the girl worried that she will lose him too unless she can give him a reason for living. Enter Cletus, a classmate of Summer's, weird according to Summer, but full of ideas and confidence. The 3 go on a trek to find May's spirit and in the process find inner strength in their friendship. What makes this book so memorable in Rylant's writing. In 89 pages, she paints vivid word pictures of the characters and gives us an intimate view of Summer and her deepest feeling for May and Ob that lasts long after the book is closed." 1993 - Children's Literature

"Gr 5-8-- They've been a family for half of Summer's 12 years, and when her Aunt May dies, a little bit of Summer and her uncle Ob dies too--and his whirligigs go ``still as night.'' Ob's 'gigs are his ``mysteries,'' works of art that capture the essence of Storms, Heaven, Fire, Love, Dreams . . . and May. For a time, he seems to be failing, and Summer fears she'll lose him, as well. Then he claims to have been visited by May's spirit. And, stranger still to Summer, he takes a liking to that ``flat out lunatic,'' Cletus Underwood. Lunatic or no, Cletus steps unhesitatingly into the space May has left, and all three take off on a journey in search of May. It's an ill - fated journey that, nevertheless, lets Ob and Summer turn a corner in their grieving--and sets Ob free. With homely detail, Rylant plunges readers into the middle of Summer's world, creating characters certain to live long in their memories. Her tightly woven plot wastes no words; May's death and the course of her husband and niece's grieving are both reflected in and illuminated by the state of Ob's mysteries and the course of that interrupted journey of discovery. There is much to ponder here, from the meaning of life and death to the power of love. That it all succeeds is a tribute to a fine writer who brings to the task a natural grace of language, an earthly sense of humor, and a well-grounded sense of the spiritual." Reviewer: Marcia Hupp - School Library Journal

Suggested Activities:
This book is best suited for students in grades 5-8. This book is very descriptive about the characters and the details of the way that they live. Students can use these details to create a collage that would help Summer and Ob to remember their days with May.

Students can also springboard off of Cletus's hobby and create stories from pictures. Students can look through a variety of magazines and pick a picture that intrigues them. They will then write the story that they feel the picture is telling.

Bibliography:
Rylant, C. (1992). Missing may. New York: Orchard Books.

The Midwife's Apprentice

Module 4 - February 8-14

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Summary:
This story is set in medieval England and starts out with a young, nameless girl between 10-13 who is orphaned and wandering, just living for the next piece of food and warm place to sleep. Her life begins to change when she meets a sharp-nosed midwife who takes her on as an apprentice. She finds herself quietly settling down with a place to stay, food to eat, and even discovers a name for herself. However, self-confidence eludes her and self-doubt eats away at her until she runs away from the village she has come to know as home. After several adventures in which she meets some inspirational characters along the way, 'Alyce' finds that there is meaning in her life and she does have a place in the world.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This book would best serve students in grades 6-9. This book has an excellent message about overcoming self-doubt, believing in yourself, and rising up to the challenges that stand in your way. I found it had a very interesting story line - midwifery is not a common subject in most young adult literature. The interesting subject combined with a medieval setting made this one stand apart from other books. Although I would have liked to see some of the other characters developed a little more, overall it was an easy read with a wonderful message.

Reviews:
"With simplicity, wit, and humor, Cushman presents another tale of medieval England. Here readers follow the satisfying, literal and figurative journey of a homeless, nameless child called Brat, who might be 12 or 13-no one really knows. She wandered about in her early years, seeking food and any kind of refuge and, like many outsiders, gained a certain kind of wisdom about people and their ways. Still, life held little purpose beyond survival-until she meets the sharp-nosed, irritable local midwife, which is where this story begins. Jane takes her in, re-names her Beetle, and thinks of her as free labor and no competition. Always practical but initially timid, the girl expands in courage and self-awareness, acquiring a cat as a companion, naming herself Alyce, and gaining experience in the ways of midwifery. From the breathless delight of helping a boy to deliver twin calves, to the despair of failure during a difficult birth, to the triumph of a successful delivery, Alyce struggles to understand how she can allow herself to fail and yet have the determination to reach for her own place in the world. Alyce wins. Characters are sketched briefly but with telling, witty detail, and the very scents and sounds of the land and people's occupations fill each page as Alyce comes of age and heart. Earthy humor, the foibles of humans both high and low, and a fascinating mix of superstition and genuinely helpful herbal remedies attached to childbirth make this a truly delightful introduction to a world seldom seen in children's literature." Reviewer: Sara Miller - School Library Journal

"Like Cushman's 1994 Newbery Honor Book, Catherine, Called Birdy, this novel is about a strong, young woman in medieval England who finds her own way home. Of course, it's a feminist story for the 1990s, but there's no anachronism. This is a world, like Chaucer's, that's neither sweet nor fair; it's rough, dangerous, primitive, and raucous. Cushman writes with a sharp simplicity and a pulsing beat. From the first page you're caught by the spirit of the homeless, nameless waif, somewhere around 12 years old, "unwashed, unnourished, unloved, and unlovely," trying to keep warm in a dung heap. She gets the village midwife, Jane Sharp, to take her in, befriends a cat, names herself Alyce, and learns something about delivering babies. When she fails, she runs away, but she picks herself up again and returns to work and independence. Only the episode about her caring for a homeless child seems contrived. The characters are drawn with zest and affection but no false reverence. The midwife is tough and greedy ("she did her job with energy and some skill, but without care, compassion, or joy"), her method somewhere between superstition, herbal lore, common sense, and bumbling; yet she's the one who finally helps Alyce to be brave. Kids will like this short, fast-paced narrative about a hero who discovers that she's not ugly or stupid or alone." Reviewer: Hazel Rochman - Booklist

Suggested Activities:
Students can journal about a time that they faced (or are facing) a challenge that they felt they could not rise up to meet. Students should write about how they found a way to rise up to the challenge and what the end result was. If they are choosing to write about a current challenge, they should be encouraged to write about ways that they can improve the situation or meet the goal.

This book also can serve as a great lead in to a unit on medieval times. Students can research various aspects such as food, clothing, hygiene, midwifery, economic classes, jobs, and social expectations of men and/or women.

Bibliography:
Cushman, K. (1995). The midwife's apprentice. New York: Clarion Books.

Bud, Not Buddy

Module 3
February 1-7

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Summary:

This is a heartwarming tale, set in the Depression Era, about a young African American boy who has lost his mother and never knew his father. The story begins with young Bud in an orphanage about to be taken to a new foster family. The foster family is not very kind and Bud soon runs away. He sets out on an adventure to find the man who he assumes to be his father. Bud shows tremendous courage and determination as he makes his way to Grand Rapids, Michigan. He meets interesting characters along the way who help him on his journey. His naivety shows through as he seems unaware of the dangers that face a young African American boy working his way through an area that is filled with racial hatred. Although his adventure does not end as he expected, he does find the love and support he was searching for.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:

This is a great book choice for older children in grades 4-7. I thought this was an entertaining tale of a young boy filled with humor and determination to find the love and acceptance of family. Curtis does a great job of filling the story in with factual aspects of the depression, racial tensions, as well as the music industry during this time. Boys as well as girls will enjoy the adventure, drama, and present in this story.

Reviews:
"Children's book fans had a red-letter day when the Newbery Award was announced. Curtis' book follows a young African-American boy as he struggles to find a home during the Depression. The author takes on a difficult time and seemingly sad plot, but Bud, the hero, has humor and originality that will open new doors and understanding about this era." Reviewer: Susie Wilde - Children's Literature

"Gr 4-7-When 10-year-old Bud Caldwell runs away from his new foster home, he realizes he has nowhere to go but to search for the father he has never known: a legendary jazz musician advertised on some old posters his deceased mother had kept. A friendly stranger picks him up on the road in the middle of the night and deposits him in Grand Rapids, MI, with Herman E. Calloway and his jazz band, but the man Bud was convinced was his father turns out to be old, cold, and cantankerous. Luckily, the band members are more welcoming; they take him in, put him to work, and begin to teach him to play an instrument. In a Victorian ending, Bud uses the rocks he has treasured from his childhood to prove his surprising relationship with Mr. Calloway. The lively humor contrasts with the grim details of the Depression-era setting and the particular difficulties faced by African Americans at that time. Bud is a plucky, engaging protagonist. Other characters are exaggerations: the good ones (the librarian and Pullman car porter who help him on his journey and the band members who embrace him) are totally open and supportive, while the villainous foster family finds particularly imaginative ways to torture their charge. However, readers will be so caught up in the adventure that they won't mind. Curtis has given a fresh, new look to a traditional orphan-finds-a-home story that would be a crackerjack read-aloud." School Library Journal - Kathleen Isaacs, 1999, Cahners Business Information

Suggested Activities:
This book could serve as a great lead in to discuss various music artists at this time. Various sound clips of music styles and popular artists could be played. Students could compare and contrast music from this era to music of the current era.

This book also addresses topics such as racial discrimination and how these issues affected African Americans during this time period. Students can discuss racial discrimination and how it affects others. Students can then create a collage to depict fairness and equality.

Bibliography:
Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not Buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

Snapshots From the Wedding

Module 3 - February 1-7

Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto

Summary:
This is a very descriptive book that takes the reader through the events that make up a hispanic wedding. Starting from the moments of getting ready, to the ceremony at the church, and finishing up at the lively reception. The events of the wedding are detailed moment by moment by the young flower girl, Maya. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout the text giving it a very authentic retelling. The illustrator creatively uses three dimensional objects in a 'shadowbox' design to illustrate the pages.

Thoughts from a Book Worm:
I thought this book was fantastic peek into a Latino celebration. The book draws the reader in with the descriptive details from the young flower girl. You can almost hear the sounds, feel the textures, and taste the foods. The creative illustrations and fun-filled celebration will make this a book your little one will want to read over and over.

Reviews:
"Photographs with shadowboxes filled with sculpted clay figures form the eyecatching art for Soto's "diary" of Maya, a flower girl. The text sprinkled with Spanish words, is eloquent and funny (a bride's hands are "soft as doves"; a cousin wiggles his tongue "in the space between his baby teeth, white as Chiclets") - and it deftly captures the flavor of a Latino wedding, complete with mariachi band. Garcia's singular, deliciously creative artwork steals the show here, however. More playful than the dioramas she composed for The Old Lady and the Birds, these lifelike, three-dimensional scenes serve as an elaborate stage set. Readers will be enthralled by Garcia's use of details, from the "actors" and "actresses" decked out in wedding finery to the garlanded ribbons festooned across the shadowboxes to the objects that enhance each scene (tiny silk flowers in the bride's bouquet; potato chips on the buffet table.) Using Soto's words as a springboard, Garcia tweaks the perspective, offering a legs and feet only view, for instance, of a scene in which Maya describes the younger wedding guests' "shoes off" romp down the hallway (complete with authentically dusty soles of socks). Another snapshot shows a pair of sculpted hands holding a plate with a flower-topped slice of wedding cake. A happy marriage of talents. Ages 4-8. - Publisher's Weekly

Suggested Activities:
This book would be a wonderful lead in to a discussion on various customs and how they can differ between cultures. Have the children compare details of weddings that they have been to. How did people dress? What was the wedding ceremony like? Where did it take place? Was there a party or celebration afterward? What kind of food was served? What kind of music was played?

The artwork in this book is another aspect to highlight. After discussing the details in the various pages - encourage children to create their own shadowbox art. Encourage them to think of an important event in their lives: for example, a wedding, a birthday celebration, or a graduation. Provide a variety of materials, paper, clay, 3-D objects, cloth, and other materials.

Biography:
Soto, G. (1998). Snapshots from a Wedding. New York: Penguin Group.

Madeline

Module 2 - January 25-31

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Summary:
Classic story about a spirited little girl, Madeline, and her life at her school with her teacher Miss Clavel. One night, Madeline wakes up in pain. She is taken to the hospital to have her appendicitis out. Her friends worry about her but soon discover that being sick has it's perks! This simple tale is told in rhythmic rhyme. The illustrations alternate from colorful to simple yellow and black. Readers young and old can appreciate this simple tale.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
This book is a classic favorite of mine. This well written rhyming tale has a fun song like quality. Although the tale is simple, the illustrations add to the story by giving us a clear visual of Madeline, a brave little girl who seems to love life. The love how the ending reminds me of my own children and how they do tend to envy the care and attention that the sick receive.

Reviews:
"Mr. Bemelmans' drawings of the Opera, of Notre Dame in the rain, of the sun shining on birds and children in the Luxembourg and Tuileries gardens have put an authentic Paris within the covers of the book. The rhymes in which the tale is told make it one that children will enjoy repeating." - The New York Times


Activities:
This book lends itself to discovering and playing with rhyming words. Kids can have fun exploring and finding the rhyming words on each page. An extension activity could be to have the children form a circle. One child starts by saying a word & rolling a ball. The child that receives the ball would need to come up with a word that rhymes. This would continue until there are no more rhyming words. Then a new would could be picked and the rhymes can continue.

This book can also be used to help children deal with a hospital stay (whether it is themselves or a loved one who needs to be in the hospital.) An extension activity could be to make 'Get Well' cards.

Biography:

Bemelmans, L. (1939). Madeline. New York: Puffin Books.

Little Women

Module 2 - Janurary 25-31

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Summary:
This book takes his into the lives of the four girls of the March family: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The setting takes place during the Civil War and shows how the girls and their mother cope with the hard times as the father is off at war. The story follows these girls through their adolecent years as they follow their own very different paths to find love, peace, and true happiness.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I thought this was a beautifully written book that truly inserts the reader into the setting with this close family. I enjoyed getting to know the individual personalities of the four sisters. This book reminds me of the ties I have to my own sister. Although their family ties are strong - they soon learn that they must each follow their own path to happiness. The style of writing/language is different from more contemporary writers - so younger readers may find themselves reading this book a little slower to gain the full understanding of the text.

Reviews:
"Many of us grew up reading Louisa May Alcott's books and lived vicariously in the world of Jo March and her family. They struggle to make ends meet during the Civil War, and gave to those who had even less. Jo befriended and in turn was befriended by Mr. Laurence and his grandson. She struggles mightily to control her temper and battles to break out of the decorum society imposed on women. She never loses her spirit and even in this much-abridged version of the story, the warmth and caring which epitomized the March family shines through. Gerver has retained the essence of Alcott's story, and this version is filled with wonderful period and those that depict life during the Civil War. For today's readers this may be as close as they will come to Alcott, but it is my hope that interest will be piqued and that her other books (Little Men, Jo's Boys, Rose in Bloom, etc.) will soon find their way into readers hands." 1999, Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature

Activities:
This story would make a great lead in to discussion about how life was different during the time of the Civil War. Students could research different aspects such as : clothing, food, social expecations, economic classes, how the Civil War affected families, and how men and women helped out during the war to name a few.

Another activity, geared for girls, would be to have the girls pick one of the characters that they can relate to the most. Have the students discuss why they chose this character, giving examples from the book.

Biography: Alcott, L. M. (1996). Little women. New York: Viking.

The Giving Tree

Module 1

January 19-21

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Summary:
This is a story that follows through the passage of time to tell the story of how a tree sacrifices and gives to a loved one. It starts with the tree naturally being able to keep a young boy happy. The story continues on to show how as the boy gets older his needs and wants change. The tree finds ways to give to the boy in order to provide him with happiness. In the end, the tree and the boy find happiness in each other once again.

Thoughts of a Book Worm:
I can see how his moving tale has remained a favorite story through the years. It shares such a moving lesson of love and sacrifice in a very simple way. This book can be truly enjoyed by readers of all ages.

Reviews:
"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." Shel Silverstein's 1964 tender picture book parable about a self-sacrificing apple tree and about a demanding boy has touched millions of readers and even inspired lively scholarly symposiums about its underlying message. Adults can debate the moral of its story, but The Giving Tree continues to give unmitigated pleasure to millions of young readers around the world. A poignant, unforgettable tale for all ages." - Barnes and Noble

Suggested Activities:
This simple book can be utilized as a lead in to a variety of lesson topics

It would serve as a great lead in to discussing the relationship between trees and people. Students can discuss and chart various ways that trees are important resources to people and animals. Students can then discuss and chart ways that people can preserve and ensure trees continue to be viable resourse.

The Giving Tree is also a great book to introduce a lesson on the passage of time and life cycles.
Students can create a timeline of how humans change and how their needs change along with them.

Bibliography:
Silverstein, S. The giving tree. Harper Collins Publishing. 1964