tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72947572116132005232024-03-06T01:27:33.760-06:00Library Resources for Children's LitResources available at and through the Dick Smith Library at Tarleton State University to support teacher preparation courses using children's literatureAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-22471728392514758032020-04-25T12:58:00.000-05:002020-04-25T12:58:46.436-05:00Disgusting Critters series<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="font-style: italic;">Head Lice,</i><i style="font-style: italic;"> The Toad, </i>and<i style="font-style: italic;"> The Cockroach</i><i> </i>are cute books in <a href="http://elisegravel.com/en" target="_blank">Elise Gravel</a>'s <a href="https://www.librarything.com/series/Disgusting+Critters" target="_blank">"Disgusting Critters"</a> series. The illustrations are funny and should interest children(especially some reluctant readers), while the text (especially the comments by the critters) has some humor for the adults that might be reading the book aloud, yet is simple enough for many early readers to comprehend. Plus they include some interesting facts about each creature.</div>
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The last page of <i>Head Lice</i>, rather than advising running away if one sees a louse (they ARE hard to see), could instead reminded children not to share hats, combs, and other items that come in contact with their hair and heads, and possibly add information about treatments for head lice.<br />
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These would be good additions to a school or classroom library...or a university library used by future teachers. </div>
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0735266425.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="368" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/P/0735266425.01._SX450_SY635_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
Even as someone who spent 25 years with the cockroach in her life, living in the humid Texas Gulf Coast region, I learned a lot about that bug!<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015, 2016, and 2020<br />
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[<i>Head Lice</i> and <i>The Toad</i> are available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call numbers EDUC QL570 .G7313 2015 and EDUC QL668 .E227 G72 2016 respectively. <i>The Cockroach</i> will be added in the future.]
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-33936105095420871612016-01-26T22:50:00.000-06:002020-04-25T12:59:02.356-05:00One Big Family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>One Big Family</i> reunion of various shades of redheads! The text by <a href="http://www.marcharshman.com/" target="_blank">Marc Harshman</a> has a repetitive format that will be easy for beginning readers to follow, and each line ends with a different verb, to increase vocabulary. The illustrations by <a href="http://www.sarapalaciosillustrations.com/" target="_blank">Sara Palacios</a><i> </i>are rendered digitally and with pen and ink, and are very realistic.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2016<br />
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[<i>One Big Family</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7 .H256247 ONE 2016.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-36380529527205553542015-09-26T22:38:00.000-05:002016-12-07T13:56:26.231-06:00Bug in a Vacuum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a wonderful picture book that not only has an amusing story about an insect (and a dog's toy) sucked up into a vacuum cleaner, but also a primer on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%BCbler-Ross_model" target="_blank">Kübler-Ross model of the five stages of grief</a>, as the bug (and the dog) go through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance in turn.<br />
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This book could be used with many ages to explain the stages of grief and help one going through death or another loss, disappointment, or traumatic event. The very first page (even before the title page) sets the stage:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Bug (buhg)<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>An insect</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>An unexpected glitch</li>
</ul>
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Vacuum (vak-yoom)<br />
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<li>A cleaning machine</li>
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<li>A void left by a loss</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
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Each stage of grief is presented as a household item. Denial is a can of repellent spray that “wipes out the ugly truth.” Bargaining is a box of detergent to “wash away your troubles.” Anger is a frozen dinner that is “quick and messy.” Despair is a book with "an unfair tale with an unhappy ending." Acceptance is a box of "gentle and comforting" facial tissues. Then the reader sees the bug's reactions to each stage inside the vacuum cleaner, and the dog's reaction just outside it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.scaredysquirrel.com/aboutmw.html" target="_blank">Mélanie Watt</a> uses mixed media to create a winsome bug (and dog) against a background of old-style furnishings and equipment (like the vacuum cleaner). Children will enjoy spotting items, on the floor in the earlier pages, inside the vacuum cleaner (and used in delightful ways by the bug) as the story progresses.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>Bug in a Vacuum</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7 .W33225 BU 2015.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-52028536708194861802015-09-19T22:32:00.000-05:002018-11-20T15:08:36.637-06:00The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is a sequel to <i><a href="http://riofriotex.blogspot.com/2014/06/409-2014-37-evolution-of-calpurnia-tate.html" target="_blank">The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate</a></i>, <a href="http://www.jacquelinekelly.com/" target="_blank">Jacqueline Kelly</a>'s 2010 <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery" target="_blank">Newbery</a> Honor Book, but you don't need to have read it in order to enjoy this one.<br />
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It takes up right where the previous book left off - the beginning of the year 1900, in the Tate home in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentress,_Texas" target="_blank">Fentress, Texas</a>. Twelve-year-old Calpurnia Virginia ("Callie Vee") Tate, the middle child among six brothers, is thrilled to find it snowing - a rarity in Central Texas in the winter.<br />
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This book continues the Darwinian theme with epigraphs for each chapter from Charles Darwin's <i>The Voyage of the Beagle</i>. Fitting, too, because this time, Callie's scientific explorations - mostly conducted with her grandfather - focus on animals instead of plants, as well as the weather and stars. <br />
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Callie's younger brother Travis (all but the oldest brother are named for various early Texas heroes) plays a big part in this book, with his quest to find the ideal pet. He adopts a series of inappropriate ones - an armadillo, a blue jay, a raccoon - and finally a half-coyote dog he names Scruffy. Callie's involved in (trying to) help him keep them hidden from their parents, and in caring for them when they are ultimately discovered.<br />
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In an <a href="https://bookpeopleblog.wordpress.com/2015/06/24/chris-barton-talks-with-jacqueline-kelly/" target="_blank">interview</a>, Kelly said she'd wanted to write a sequel, "but our big old house in Fentress, Texas, which served as the inspiration for so much of the first book, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 2010. It was a horrible experience and it took me some time to get over it." She also said she "drew a lot of inspiration from our dog Laika, a stray living near the San Marcos River, who we are pretty sure is half-Chow and half-coyote." Laika is the inspiration for Scruffy.<br />
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Kelly, who lived for a while in Galveston, works the 1900 hurricane that devastated that city into the story. Callie sees a coastal gull that's flown far inland, and her grandfather has her build a homemade barometer and make observations. They predict the big storm and try to warn their family in Galveston. After the storm, Callie's father and oldest brother go to help, and return with Callie's older cousin Agatha who comes to live with the Tates for a while - getting the bed in Callie's room while our heroine sleeps on the floor - while her family home is being rebuilt. They are accompanied by a veterinarian who sets up practice in Fentress. Callie assists him with some of his patients, and is frustrated by 1900s customs that would seem to prevent her from becoming a veterinarian herself.<br />
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The gentle reminders that girls didn't have the kinds of opportunities in the early 1900s that they do today, plus Callie's interest in science, encouraged by her grandfather (she even dissects a worm and a frog, and builds an astrolabe to learn about latitude and longitude), make this book especially appropriate for girls age 11 and up, as well as "all nature lovers, and all curious kids, and all strong readers," according to Kelly.<br />
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Once again, the beautiful silhouette on the cover was designed by the talented <a href="http://bethwhitesilhouettes.com/about/" target="_blank">Beth White</a>. And native Texan Natalie Ross also reads this audiobook, with her soft but musical Southern-accented voice, perfect for Callie, who tells her own tale.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7 .K296184 CU 2015. The audiobook is also available in the Audiovisual Collection on the lower level, call number AV-AUDIO PZ7 .K296184 CU 2015B.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-66821447962782149322015-09-13T22:25:00.000-05:002016-09-09T22:26:46.225-05:00Absolutely Normal Chaos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you've read Sharon Creech's 1995 Newbery Medalist, <i><a href="http://newberryproject.blogspot.com/2007/08/walk-two-moons-1995.html" target="_blank">Walk Two Moons</a></i>, you might recognize some characters from that one in <i>Absolutely Normal Chaos</i>, Creech's 1990 novel, which is built around the journal assignment that also appears in <i>Walk Two Moons</i>. The Finney family, as well as some of Phoebe and Sal's classmates from <i>Walk Two Moons</i>, made their first appearance in this book. <i>Absolutely Normal Chaos</i> did not seem to have much press until after Creech won the Newbery, which is why many seem to think it was written after <i>Walk Two Moons</i>. Nope. It came before.<br />
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Mary Lou Finney, the second of the five children, is the journal writer in this book. And what a journal it is! She writes "on and on" sometimes, just like her best friend Beth Ann talks "on and on" about her latest boyfriend. I would hope thirteen-year-old Mary Lou just got caught up in the journal writing and didn't really intend to turn all this in to her teachers.<br />
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Author <a href="http://www.sharoncreech.com/meet-sharon-creech" target="_blank">Sharon Creech</a> says the<a href="http://www.sharoncreech.com/books/absolutely-normal-chaos" target="_blank"> inspiration for the book</a> came when she was living in England and missing her family. Just like Mary Lou, she actually has three younger brothers named Dennis, Doug, and Tom, but the book characters' behavior is fictional, just like those of her parents, older sister, and cousin (the latter two not named Maggie and Carl Ray in real life). Creech "did have a cousin who came to live with us when I was Mary Lou’s age, and he was quite like the character Carl Ray is," and "Mary Lou gives her address in this book as 4059 Buxton Road—and that was my real address," although it was in South Euclid, Ohio, and not the fictional Easton of the book.<br />
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While some of the plot isn't too plausible (especially Carl Ray's story), the portrayal of family life at the unnamed time is. There's a bit of timelessness in the setting of this novel that makes it appealing even today, 25 years after it was written, and nearly 60 years after the author was Mary Lou's age. The only real clue it's not set in the present is the many references to telephones that are *not* cells (or smart) - the kids call each other and don't text.<br />
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The book addresses some serious issues - death (the next door neighbor, who is not elderly) and poverty (Mary Lou travels with Carl Ray back to his home in Appalachia - no electricity, no flushing toilet). <br />
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Besides the summer journal to keep, Mary Lou also has a summer reading list. She picks out a book of poems by Robert Frost and the<i> Odyssey</i> to read, and makes comments and writes notes about them in this book as well. Her commentary is quite amusing.<br />
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Probably the funniest part of the book was the stretch in the journal where Mary Lou's mother tells her to stop saying "God," "stupid," and "stuff" so much, and to expand her vocabulary. So Mary Lou uses a thesaurus to find synonyms and starts using those instead, even in her journal. The results are hilarious (from page 139):<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Not much elixir happened today. Alex had to work all day, so I stayed home, watched Tommy, read some more Odyssey, and quintessence. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Mrs. Furtz came over again, all crying and nub, about some cabbageheaded letter she got....I do feel sorry for her and all, I really do, but Omnipotent!</blockquote>
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I like this book cover, with its with its flying pages of journal-writing.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>Absolutely Normal Chaos </i>is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC<i> </i>PZ7 .C8615 AB 1995.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-72108949902657316682015-09-01T22:14:00.000-05:002016-09-09T22:15:32.301-05:002010 Scott O'Dell Award<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>The Storm in the Barn, </i>a graphic novel written and illustrated by Matt Phelan, won the 2010 <a href="http://www.scottodell.com/pages/scotto'dellawardforhistoricalfiction.aspx" target="_blank">Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction</a> written for children or young adults. It was also a <a href="http://www.txla.org/TBA-faq" target="_blank">Texas Bluebonnet Award</a> nominee in 2011-2012.<br />
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It's set in Dust Bowl Kansas in 1937, and it hasn't rained in four years, since now-11-year-old Jack would have been old enough to help around on the family farm. Since there's no farming possible, Jack's father seems to perceive Jack as being useless. Being picked on by the town bullies doesn't help. The general store owner tells him stories of Jacks of folklore to bolster him. His sister Dorothy suffers from dust pneumonia, and it seems the only bright spot is when she reads aloud from some of Frank Baum's Oz books. Like Oz, the only illustrations in the book that are not monochrome occur when Jack's mother reminisces about the past.<br />
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Otherwise, Phelan's pencil, ink, and watercolor drawings use muted tones, browns and beiges in the daytime, and blues and grays at night, inside the barn, and during the rain that finally comes. In an author's note at the end, Phelan says some of his inspiration was the black-and-white images of Works Progress Administration photographers of the era such as Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. He wrote, "I began to imagine what the experience of living in the Dust Bowl must have been like through the eyes of a kid. Without the complicated explanation of the history of over-planting, soil erosion, and other factors, a young boy or girl would only know ... The rain had gone away. But where?"<br />
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While graphic novels are often good for struggling readers, the sparseness of the text in this story might be difficult for some. It was difficult to interpret what was going on in a few of the textless panel sequences. For this reason - and because of a (thankfully not-too-graphic) section about <a href="https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/jackrabbit-drives/12097" target="_blank">killing off jackrabbits</a> that were overwhelming the area - this book would be best for somewhat older readers, age 11 and up. The fantasy element in the book (the "storm in the barn" pictured on the cover), might make it more appealing for children.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>The Storm in the Barn </i>is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7.7 .P485 ST 2009<i>.</i>]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-12477248484105358752015-08-31T22:02:00.000-05:002016-09-09T22:03:38.231-05:001958 Newbery Medalist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Rifles for Watie </i>won the <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal" target="_blank">Newbery Medal</a> for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" in 1958. Unlike most Civil War novels, it is set on the western front, specifically in (what is now) Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.<br />
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Jefferson Davis "Jeff" Bussey is sixteen-year-old farm boy in Linn County, Kansas, when the war begins in 1861. Inspired by his admiration for Abraham Lincoln and an attack on his family by pro-slavery Missouri bushwhackers, he joins the Kansas Volunteers at Fort Leavenworth.<br />
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Jeff is eager to see battle, but has only a background role initially. Later he learns the harsh realities of combat, moves from the infantry, to an emergency participation in the artillery, to the cavalry, and becomes a scout. His time "undercover" on the Confederate side was one of the most interesting parts of the book. He learns that the Rebels are people just like him, and when he falls in love with a Confederate Cherokee girl, he feels torn between the two sides.<br />
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This book held the interest of a non-fan of war fiction throughout. It's well-written and provides much insight into the day-to-day life of soldiers in the Civil War's western front. The reading level and content of this book makes it more appropriate for grade six and up.<br />
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Author <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Keith" target="_blank">Harold Keith</a>, a native Oklahoman who had a master's degree in history, interviewed 22 Confederate veterans then living in Oklahoma and Arkansas as part of his research for the book. He also read diaries and journals of mostly Union veterans, and hundreds of letters, including many from the mixed-blood Cherokees who participated in the war, such as family members of the Confederate general <a href="http://www.britannica.com/biography/Stand-Watie" target="_blank">Stand Watie</a> of the title (although there is no evidence Watie ever attempted to get the repeating rifles of the title and the fictional plot).<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>Rifles for Watie</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7 .K255 RI 1957.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-56714974720010815822015-07-16T21:52:00.000-05:002016-09-09T21:54:43.121-05:00Two Picture Books About Acceptance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
These two books are about acceptance and tolerance - but of the LGBT community and young boys who like to dress up. They were the subject of a book challenge at my local public library recently - fortunately, the books are still on the shelves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3lzu0ELkpVJ7B4Q-y8eD6NxZQMMXQGrCSgpcIPIKvU4XDyX-pCrVDFNeg2qTVqRlCEFl18IBsqclcLyCiQtXU5LrgEhQv5vK1G6k2o5qMC-N1drtJ3maMTMIu8EpfRA42FzZUwEWiZA/s1600/MyPrincessBoy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3lzu0ELkpVJ7B4Q-y8eD6NxZQMMXQGrCSgpcIPIKvU4XDyX-pCrVDFNeg2qTVqRlCEFl18IBsqclcLyCiQtXU5LrgEhQv5vK1G6k2o5qMC-N1drtJ3maMTMIu8EpfRA42FzZUwEWiZA/s400/MyPrincessBoy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>My Princess Boy</i>, written by <a href="http://myprincessboy.com/" target="_blank">Cheryl Kilodavis</a>, is subtitled "a mom's story about a young boy who loves to dress up" -- in this case, her four-year-old son. The narrative is a bit pedantic, but there's an important message about compassion and tolerance. <a href="http://desimonegraphics.com/" target="_blank">Suzanne DeSimone</a>'s illustrations are notable for the lack of features on the faces. I like to think that is so the reader or listener can imagine anyone's and everyone's faces on the characters - further promoting acceptance of others and one's own uniqueness.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkFJ0SswUXhl4ah1wew8TUn14Nw8UlKqR6UYfieglQU2RiZuPCsD5ylzDEWOgXL24tQIrv7W-HaC2YsjnPMC3i29Pw53PCjKLZA8LQo8IeAP6keXJptXW-INZWfgl4LUPUovKrRVrwEQ/s1600/ThisDayInJune.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkFJ0SswUXhl4ah1wew8TUn14Nw8UlKqR6UYfieglQU2RiZuPCsD5ylzDEWOgXL24tQIrv7W-HaC2YsjnPMC3i29Pw53PCjKLZA8LQo8IeAP6keXJptXW-INZWfgl4LUPUovKrRVrwEQ/s400/ThisDayInJune.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>This Day in June</i>, written by <a href="http://gaylepitman.com/" target="_blank">Gayle E. Pitman</a>, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, won the 2015 <a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/02/day-june-wins-2015-stonewall-children-s-and-young-adult-literature-award" target="_blank">Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award</a>, given annually to "English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.'<br />
This was the first time in the award's 44-year-history that a picture book won (or was even named an honor book).<br />
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The book portrays the sights, sounds, and emotions of a colorful gay pride parade with short rhyming text and intricate illustrations by <a href="http://www.kristynalitten.com/" target="_blank">Kristyna Litten</a>. Young children who look at this book will see a fun parade; older children and parents will see some of the subtler messages in the shirts and signs of parade participants and watchers (the latter generally rendered in simple outlines and pastels). Pitman also included an interesting four-page reading guide that provides more background for the images in each of the double-page-spread illustrations, as well as a four-page "note to parents and caregivers" with ideas on using the book and talking to children of various ages about the issues it might bring up. I would definitely recommend this book.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>My Princess Boy</i> and <i>This Day in June</i> are available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call numbers EDUC HQ1075 .K535 2010 and EDUC PZ8.3 .P5586836 TH 2014 respectively.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-66785130375625619632015-06-28T21:42:00.000-05:002016-09-09T21:46:48.555-05:00The Boys Who Challenged Hitler<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCCeJmh383IFtaUbzW1uvsqff0r2eXAtNN0KHHnOBAieKu1jiRy5_6o_S4MqBh_0h_NxS5msgeUAJu3GFh8zLT1FTPqV2xosZ87EFex5n5lFk9iSGZQj-Hn6f7AGqkf107uvVpyYCWonN/s1600/BoysWhoChallengedHitler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCCeJmh383IFtaUbzW1uvsqff0r2eXAtNN0KHHnOBAieKu1jiRy5_6o_S4MqBh_0h_NxS5msgeUAJu3GFh8zLT1FTPqV2xosZ87EFex5n5lFk9iSGZQj-Hn6f7AGqkf107uvVpyYCWonN/s400/BoysWhoChallengedHitler.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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This is the true story of the book's subtitle, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knud_Pedersen" target="_blank">Knud Pedersen</a> and the Churchill Club. Pedersen founded the group, consisting of himself and seven other teenage boys, to perform acts of sabotage against the Germans occupying Denmark in World War II.<br />
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The story is told primarily through Pedersen's words. <a href="http://www.philliphoose.com/books/claudette-colvin-twice-towards-justice/" target="_blank">National Book Award winner</a> <a href="http://www.philliphoose.com/about/" target="_blank">Phillip Hoose</a> worked with Pedersen in 2012 to create an English version of his story, little-known outside Denmark. Hoose conducted 25 hours of face-to-face interviews and exchanged nearly 1,000 e-mails with Pedersen.<br />
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The narrative is exciting and should hold the interest of the target teen audience, especially boys. The book can definitely be used in history classes on World War II (there's a <a href="http://www.philliphoose.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-Boys-Who-Challenged-Hitler-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">teacher's guide</a> from the publisher on the author's web site), and could also spark some interesting discussions on courage, on the morality of sabotage in wartime, and on taking risks and keeping secrets.<br />
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The book includes photographs, maps, and other illustrations, as well as a bibliography, end notes, and index (useless in the e-book as there are no page numbers or links). An audio version (narrated by the author as well as actor and voice artist Michael Braun) is also available, and would enhance understanding for any struggling readers in the targeted high school age group.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>The Boys Who Challenged Hitler</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC D802 .D4 H645 2015.]
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-44830275554441944642015-03-01T22:15:00.000-06:002016-09-08T22:17:58.618-05:002015 Newbery Honor Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuUWhjURhkP-WEmx3m-jkSs0Tj17eSiZuPtHPr65H23k0aYSxd6WMTy6bV1QesFP8d8r-kU8leT0hizkXEwE7hYc0kJBdjx3eb7gAbWqPuD68nvL-MSQExTHe5fhiGVsxeWlQ6gXNVUg/s1600/ElDeafo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuUWhjURhkP-WEmx3m-jkSs0Tj17eSiZuPtHPr65H23k0aYSxd6WMTy6bV1QesFP8d8r-kU8leT0hizkXEwE7hYc0kJBdjx3eb7gAbWqPuD68nvL-MSQExTHe5fhiGVsxeWlQ6gXNVUg/s1600/ElDeafo.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
This partial autobiography/memoir in graphic novel format won a much-deserved <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal" target="_blank">John Newbery Award</a> Honor Book designation, given "to the author[s] of the most distinguished contribution[s] to American literature for children."<br />
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<a href="https://cecebell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">CeCe Bell</a> suffered a severe hearing loss as a result of meningitis at age four. While she could wear a less conspicuous hearing aid at home, she needed to use a "<a href="https://cecebell.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/check-it-out-sock-monkey-tries-the-phonic-ear-in-a-photo-comic/" target="_blank">phonic ear</a>" at school, a rather bulky personal sound amplification system, to best hear the teacher. <br />
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Bell, who also did the illustrations (colored by David Lasky), gives her characters rabbit ears and faces, and they remind me of the anthropomorphic characters in <a href="http://www.marcbrownstudios.com/arthur/books/" target="_blank">Marc Brown's <i>Arthur</i> series</a> - which, interestingly, came out about the time this book begins, in the late 1970s, when Bell is age four. The book ends when Bell is in the fifth grade. <br />
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The rabbit ears, of course, highlight the issue of hearing. Empty speech bubbles (when Bell can't hear) and random collections of letters (when she can hear but not understand) emphasize some of the issues she had. The Phonic Ear and her hearing aid solve some of these, but not when they are broken or have dead batteries. CeCe learns to lip read at in a kindergarten class with other hearing-impaired children. The summer following, though, her family moves to a smaller town, and CeCe is in a regular classroom for first grade on.<br />
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CeCe struggles to find a best friend who will accept her as she is and not make a big deal of her deafness. She has her first crush. She imagines a superhero alter-ego she christens "El Deafo" to help her through the tough times. All in all, though, this memoir is positive, because CeCe remains upbeat. <br />
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An author's note at the end of the book explains that deafness has many causes and degrees - and that deaf people choose different ways to deal with it, ranging from trying to fit in, as CeCe does, with hearing aids and lip reading, to embracing the Deaf community or culture, in which sign language (which CeCe resists learning as a youngster) is the preferred means of communication. I loved her conclusion:<br />
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I found that with a little creativity, and a lot of dedication, any difference can be turned into something amazing. Our differences are our <i>superpowers</i>.</blockquote>
Despite the picture-book like illustrations, at 233 pages, this book is probably most appropriate for third through sixth graders.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[<i>El Deafo</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC HV2534 .B44 A3 2014 .]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-56758189177808629112015-02-26T22:02:00.000-06:002016-09-08T22:06:56.917-05:002015 Schneider Family Book Award Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-muvGep1cbzn_j9x0TBRCpgXoBmDfoTh-ZMpWV93wbVTBfgWzW8djbk9yQHeyjtANtHLTOMC4Lq-OUPn6nE9j5YBlfGRLtY0mDOiuoWaRd_eXn2h76rfYeehwjGPL4aErCML0o0esTE/s1600/cover_boy_jaguar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-muvGep1cbzn_j9x0TBRCpgXoBmDfoTh-ZMpWV93wbVTBfgWzW8djbk9yQHeyjtANtHLTOMC4Lq-OUPn6nE9j5YBlfGRLtY0mDOiuoWaRd_eXn2h76rfYeehwjGPL4aErCML0o0esTE/s400/cover_boy_jaguar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><b>A Boy and a Jaguar</b></i> is an autobiographical picture book about and by wildlife conservationist <a href="http://www.panthera.org/people/alan-rabinowitz-phd" target="_blank">Alan Rabinowitz</a>. In it, he tells how his stuttering as a child led to his passion to protect jaguars and other animals. This book won the 2015 American Library Association <a href="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/schneider-family-book-award" target="_blank">Schneider Family Book Award</a> in the children's category "for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." <a href="http://www.catiachien.com/" target="_blank">Catia Chien</a>'s acrylic and charcoal pencil illustrations help the reader feel the enormity of the isolation Rabinowitz sometimes felt as a child, as well as the possibilities of the huge forests and jungles he finds so rewarding as an adult. Rabinowitz's book will be inspiring for any children who stutter (and their friends, families, and classmates).<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[The call number for <i>A Boy and a Jaguar</i> is QL83 .R33 2014.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-79127965948646315552015-02-25T21:51:00.000-06:002016-09-08T22:00:00.580-05:002015 Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3a0D_gW4U2yKBYcI131N3TT4xan9gQpdaiL6kRqPHqmb735QVioGCf6NMFlJsSUgXFrD5o6Zmw9SOMItExQ8KvLjvgiuWz9qkpps2gxMf_M0ANEVUsJK-Yp3b7Hy2lLLv34Mvfu0iqVA/s1600/DayCrayonsQuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3a0D_gW4U2yKBYcI131N3TT4xan9gQpdaiL6kRqPHqmb735QVioGCf6NMFlJsSUgXFrD5o6Zmw9SOMItExQ8KvLjvgiuWz9qkpps2gxMf_M0ANEVUsJK-Yp3b7Hy2lLLv34Mvfu0iqVA/s1600/DayCrayonsQuit.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<i><b><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=440583{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">The Day the Crayons Quit</a></b></i> was recently announced as the 2015 winner of the <a href="http://www.txla.org/TBA-about" target="_blank">Texas Bluebonnet Award</a>, a children's choice award by students in grades 3-6. This hilarious fantasy by debut book author <a href="https://twitter.com/drewdaywalt" target="_blank">Drew Daywalt</a> (who has <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206782/" target="_blank">lots of experience</a> in film writing and directing) has the crayons in the box on strike and writing letters to their owner about their various complaints. <a href="http://www.oliverjeffers.com/about.aspx" target="_blank">Oliver Jeffers</a>' whimsical illustrations incorporate crayons (of course!) as well as mixed media. This book would be a great mentor text for a lesson on letter-writing.<br />
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The Texas Bluebonnet Award is one of many children's choice competitions across the country. Some of you Tarleton students probably remember participating when you were in grades 3-6. Students are supposed to read at least five books on the list of twenty, and then vote for a favorite in January of the following year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6KqWfOe7B8lqYli8l0Kj7OmcGSOpOWp_64xolnu76e3IV9pLKom1Ebhb9ZglPU1a_czK3_nPhtBTJcvblEDdj_8Nv1RtwUuJrP90kI6pgoW17KAdSa_YeXeHq_meLdPHTul7j2hDQ5fA/s1600/TBA_read5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6KqWfOe7B8lqYli8l0Kj7OmcGSOpOWp_64xolnu76e3IV9pLKom1Ebhb9ZglPU1a_czK3_nPhtBTJcvblEDdj_8Nv1RtwUuJrP90kI6pgoW17KAdSa_YeXeHq_meLdPHTul7j2hDQ5fA/s1600/TBA_read5.jpg" /></a></div>
A Texas Bluebonnet <a href="http://www.txla.org/TBA-winners" target="_blank">Award has been given since 1981</a>. The <a href="http://www.txla.org/TBA-booklists" target="_blank">master lists and voting results</a> from all those years are still available. We have <a href="http://www.txla.org/TBA-winners" target="_blank">all of the winners</a> and <a href="https://www.librarything.com/catalog/rdg301library&tag=Bluebonnet" target="_blank">596 books</a> from the lists in the Dick Smith Library (on the lower level in the Curriculum Collection).<br />
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The <a href="http://www.txla.org/TBA-nominees" target="_blank">master list of nominees for the current year (2015-2016)</a> was announced a few months ago. <a href="https://www.librarything.com/catalog/rdg301library&tag=Bluebonnet%2B15-16" target="_blank">We have these books</a> in both the Dick Smith Library and the Texan Hall Library in the Hickman Building of the Fort Worth campus. Students across the state are reading these books and will vote for their favorite in January 2016. Here's a one-minute video of the covers of these books:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="243" id="vp1WNcQS" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1424729885&f=WNcQS4CgeZatkuKkjhuqbA&d=0&m=a&r=360p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=" title="Video Player" width="438"></iframe>
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
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[The call number for <i>The Day the Crayons Quit</i> is PZ7 .D3388 DAY 2013.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-81933930659473783182015-02-23T21:18:00.000-06:002016-09-08T21:23:17.693-05:00Red (a book about bullying)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnWUd6UBFDhdTO7fVRwO8iBzbrhmFmYTqUXxpK-G7YabxV0ZiCkHBQT3LthmZEXkeTvMtMNrcekBkIKAYFH4DJ2z6v_azk2yjX0LV8kCcc4BhdjiuyYz3omKqLhSlZhVdfu8NugH5hok/s1600/RedJanDeKinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnWUd6UBFDhdTO7fVRwO8iBzbrhmFmYTqUXxpK-G7YabxV0ZiCkHBQT3LthmZEXkeTvMtMNrcekBkIKAYFH4DJ2z6v_azk2yjX0LV8kCcc4BhdjiuyYz3omKqLhSlZhVdfu8NugH5hok/s1600/RedJanDeKinder.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Red</i> is a good picture book about the issue of bullying and should spark good discussions - although it would have been better if the girl who started the teasing had been brave enough to be the first to stand up for her friend when teasing turned into bullying. The illustrations by Flemish author <a href="http://www.jandekinder.be/About/Jan-De-Kinder-1">Jan De Kinder</a> were created using pencil, charcoal, ink, <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aquarelle" target="_blank">aquarelle</a> (watercolor), acrylic and collage (bits of newspaper in the tree leaves); and red, obviously, is a predominate color. <br />
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Originally published in Belgium, the English translation of this book is by Laura Watkinson under the <a href="http://buitenland.vfl.be/en/45/content/123/about-us.html">Flemish Literature Fund</a>.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2015<br />
<br />
[<i>Red</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7 .D36825 RED 2015.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-67857262580905092212015-02-05T20:56:00.000-06:002016-09-08T21:15:48.534-05:002015 ALA Youth Media Awards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/02/american-library-association-announces-2015-youth-media-award-winners" target="_blank">On Monday, February 2, the American Library Association (ALA) announced its Youth Media Awards</a>. These are a number of awards for books and other media (such as audiobooks and videos) given annually in January or early February - check out the link above for a list of the winners.<br />
Two of the award winners are also on the <a href="http://www.txla.org/sites/tla/files/groups/TBA/docs/TBA-15-16.pdf" starget="_blank">Texas Bluebonnet Award reading list for 2015-2016</a>, and were already available in both the Dick Smith Library in Stephenville and in the Texan Hall Library in the Hickman Building in Fort Worth. Many of the other winners, including all of the <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberymedal" target="_blank">Newbery</a>, <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott.cfm" target="_blank">Caldecott</a>, and <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal" target="_blank">Sibert</a> winners and honor books, have been ordered for the Dick Smith Library.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxVryISpBN-s-reCLACE48ns-ddmlOCAW0ZNEF_Uqto3oAUEE-HNPlilzvm5_6dCHPGi3ivtvf-Qd1d8jfw9Br3xlo6xfJQmBNR23APYhZMLWBFPyuVDW3ymT3LuItldyI0TtfP2KkZDq/s1600/RightWord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxVryISpBN-s-reCLACE48ns-ddmlOCAW0ZNEF_Uqto3oAUEE-HNPlilzvm5_6dCHPGi3ivtvf-Qd1d8jfw9Br3xlo6xfJQmBNR23APYhZMLWBFPyuVDW3ymT3LuItldyI0TtfP2KkZDq/s1600/RightWord.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
<i><a href="https://zeus.tarleton.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat00784a&AN=tarlc.u477565&site=eds-live" target="_blank">The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus</a></i>, won the 2015 <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award</a> for the most distinguished informational book for children. It was also named as an Honor Book (a runner-up) for the 2015 <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott.cfm" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Randolph Caldecott Medal</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, which "honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children." It also received a 2015 </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus" target="_blank">National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus</a> Honor Book designation, for outstanding nonfiction for children.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> <a href="http://www.jenbryant.com/" target="_blank">Jen Bryant</a> (a previous winner of the <a href="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/schneider-family-book-award" target="_blank">Schneider Family Book Award</a>, another ALA award, last year; a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/zolotow.asp" target="_blank">Charlotte Zolotow Award</a> Honor Book designation in 2009; and the Orbis Pictus Award last year) was inspired to write about <a href="https://zeus.tarleton.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=imh&AN=imh518817&site=eds-live" target="_blank">Peter Mark Roget</a> (1779-1869) when she accidentally picked up an early edition of his <i>Thesaurus</i> instead of the novel she'd planned to read on a road trip. This picture book biography features watercolor, collage, and mixed media illustrations by <a href="http://melissasweet.net/" target="_blank">Melissa Sweet</a>, a previous winner of the Sibert Award (in 2012) and a Caldecott honoree (in 2009, for <i><a href="https://zeus.tarleton.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat00784a&AN=tarlc.u348895&site=eds-live" target="_blank">A River of Words</a></i>, written by Jen Bryant).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The call number for this book is CT788 .R534 B79 2014.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e1mdh3RxqRYjaOZr3LYicFqrU9xefdHA3DBYBg63EPF3lVKZcS87bvmnbmm8TLz4I4kebm29ijE8E0Kf63HrFJnAnkXDp4CCIZ2-R3ehiTVh-RlvwAQ7Uef9FKGPymhOo3fHeOgO_zXI/s1600/SeparateIsNeverEqual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e1mdh3RxqRYjaOZr3LYicFqrU9xefdHA3DBYBg63EPF3lVKZcS87bvmnbmm8TLz4I4kebm29ijE8E0Kf63HrFJnAnkXDp4CCIZ2-R3ehiTVh-RlvwAQ7Uef9FKGPymhOo3fHeOgO_zXI/s1600/SeparateIsNeverEqual.jpg" width="327" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> A runner-up for this year's Sibert Award was <i><a href="https://zeus.tarleton.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat00784a&AN=tarlc.u477569&site=eds-live" target="_blank">Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation</a></i>. This picture book is about the little-known school desegregation case in California that preceded the more famous 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education case by seven years. This book was also named a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">2015 </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpremedal/index.cfm" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">, given to "Latino/Latina ... illustrator[s] whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth." The author and illustrator of this book, <a href="http://www.duncantonatiuh.com/" target="_blank">Duncan Tonatiuh</a>, won the latter award in 2012 and had honor books named in 2011 and 2014. His books also won the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://riverabookaward.org/" target="_blank">Tomás Rivera </a></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://riverabookaward.org/" target="_blank">Mexican American Children’s Book Award</a> in 2012 and 2014. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">His artwork is inspired by ancient Mexican art, particularly that of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixtec_writing" target="_blank">Mixtec writing</a> system. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">The call number for this book is LC214.2 .T66 2014.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">© Amanda Pape - 2015</span></span><br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-80987801946437496252014-12-31T20:45:00.000-06:002016-09-08T20:48:32.192-05:00Who Needs a Desert?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75iteKE2UIBKuTUMudbrZHajGK0DLAcWNEfj2HPRlCwsgiMSgHOL81z_a0_kBk48hy-azC1XAb9RWr0h2WeLFVX-8VV5DCe_HGVg5acM2pQqMGJG5qXcbBct4ditkysWsl0fH2SDyqmo/s1600/WhoNeedsADesert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75iteKE2UIBKuTUMudbrZHajGK0DLAcWNEfj2HPRlCwsgiMSgHOL81z_a0_kBk48hy-azC1XAb9RWr0h2WeLFVX-8VV5DCe_HGVg5acM2pQqMGJG5qXcbBct4ditkysWsl0fH2SDyqmo/s1600/WhoNeedsADesert.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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<br />
<a href="http://karenpatkau.com/" target="_blank">Karen Patkau</a>'s <i>Who Needs a Desert?</i> is a basic introduction to desert ecosystems. Double-page digitally-rendered illustrations feature desert plants and animals with text that will encourage readers to find the one described. The best ones are those in the section on "Living in the Desert" which move through a day from early morning to late at night. A little more information is provided about each plant and animal in four pages near the end of the book. This section would have been better with larger illustrations, perhaps paired with actual photographs. The glossary on the final page is a plus. This is one of six books in the author's Ecosystems series.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
<br />
[<i>Who Needs a Desert?</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC QH541.5 .D4 P377 2014.]
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-72526616475504437132014-09-25T21:43:00.000-05:002016-09-08T21:45:19.823-05:002014 Banned Books Week: Most Challenged Books in Texas Schools<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.aclutx.org/resources/banned-books/">Since 2002</a>, the <a href="http://www.aclutx.org/">American Civil Liberties Union of Texas</a> has posted an annual report, <i>Free People Read Freely</i>, during <a href="http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/">Banned Books Week</a> that provides information about challenged books that have been removed, restricted, or retained in Texas public and charter school libraries and class reading lists during the previous school year. This information is obtained through an <a href="http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/requestors.shtml">Open Records</a> request by the ACLU under the <a href="http://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/pia/piasign090105.html">Texas Public Information Act</a>.<br />
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Here, in no particular order, are the eight children's books on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library that were challenged (elsewhere!) in 2013-2014. Click on the titles to get the call numbers and more information about the books:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1Mg_msa2hrY7TotJHKPL2DgtPD2i_F12S1UY0Ciy79bWEgkSzHL4wiuRpxto0x37KZKcsRx_futOHLD8ofF-L6XyQwEyunJeRibyvRDr6lPJQMWHRzqFBPWcoxcMquy8SSFYvfoYs6mC/s1600/Bad-Kitty-Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1Mg_msa2hrY7TotJHKPL2DgtPD2i_F12S1UY0Ciy79bWEgkSzHL4wiuRpxto0x37KZKcsRx_futOHLD8ofF-L6XyQwEyunJeRibyvRDr6lPJQMWHRzqFBPWcoxcMquy8SSFYvfoYs6mC/s1600/Bad-Kitty-Christmas.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
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1.<span style="color: red;"> </span><i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=310707{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">It’s Perfectly Normal</a></i> by Robie Harris<br />
Reason Cited: Inappropriate for grade level (a middle school)<br />
Action Taken: Retained (no restrictions)<br />
<br />
2. <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=187187{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">Esperanza Rising</a></i> by Pam Munoz<br />
Reason Cited: Politically, socially, or racial offensive (parent felt book promoted illegal immigration and was not age appropriate)<br />
Action Taken: Retained (no restrictions) - 5th/6th grade<br />
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3. <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=331601{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian</a></i> by Sherman Alexie<br />
Reason Cited: Sexual content<br />
Action Taken: Retained (no restrictions) - intermediate school<br />
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4. <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=399104{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">Lovingly Alice</a></i> by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor<br />
Reason Cited: Sexual content or nudity<br />
Action Taken: Use restricted (book was moved from elementary to secondary campus)<br />
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5 <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=440265{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">A Bad Kitty Christmas</span></a></i> by Nick Bruel<br />
Reason Cited: Promotes homosexual/lesbian couples<br />
Action Taken: <span style="color: red;">Banned</span> from a PreK-8 charter school<br />
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6. <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=162532{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">The Giver</a></i> by Lois Lowry<br />
Reason Cited: Offensive to religious sensitivities<br />
Action Taken: Alternate book allowed (curriculum only)<br />
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7. <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=327148{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">A Christmas Carol</a></i> by Charles Dickens<br />
Reason Cited: Parent did not want the student reading about ghosts<br />
Action Taken: Alternate assignment was provided for the student<br />
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8. <i><a href="https://lib01.tarleton.edu/uhtbin/cgisirsi.exe/x/0/0/57/5/3?searchdata1=332820{CKEY}&searchfield1=GENERAL^SUBJECT^GENERAL^^&user_id=WEBSERVER" target="_blank">Persepolis</a></i> by Marjane Satrapi<br />
Reason Cited: Politically, racially, or socially offensive<br />
Action Taken: Retained (no restrictions) in a high school<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2014</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-87637073197155228512014-09-18T20:21:00.000-05:002016-09-08T20:25:23.067-05:00Spic-and-Span!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWh8h_C2Z2YMUvuoswr9_F0Uwtaf3t0iLC9cB_Uq3i_XdU039CfoShaAUSqzT2EGVjZPRaAMRBja01xn_sQsrgjujbBv1TdworzxO31-04_G0aOc_e1O25r8xvufL0DyUcpcj0HYcXgI/s1600/SpicAndSpan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWh8h_C2Z2YMUvuoswr9_F0Uwtaf3t0iLC9cB_Uq3i_XdU039CfoShaAUSqzT2EGVjZPRaAMRBja01xn_sQsrgjujbBv1TdworzxO31-04_G0aOc_e1O25r8xvufL0DyUcpcj0HYcXgI/s1600/SpicAndSpan.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheaper_by_the_Dozen" target="_blank">Cheaper by the Dozen</a></i> and its sequel <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belles_on_Their_Toes" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Belles on Their Toes</a><i> </i>were chapter books about industrial engineers <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Bunker_Gilbreth,_Sr." target="_blank">Frank</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillian_Moller_Gilbreth" target="_blank">Lillian Gilbreth</a> and their large <a href="http://s180.photobucket.com/user/jamesmargaret3rd/media/July-August%202014/ca239ac9-fd66-4540-9117-892860becf87_zps679d9c5e.jpg.html" target="_blank">family</a> in the early 1900s. This hardbound picture book biography is about Lillian, a pioneer in her field and an inventor in the area of ergonomics. She was responsible for the electric mixer, refrigerator compartments, and trash cans with foot pedal lid openers! The author, <a href="http://www.monicakulling.com/" target="_blank">Monica Kulling</a>, has written other books in her "Great Ideas" picture book biography series. <a href="http://www.davidparkins.com/childbks.html" target="_blank">David Parkins</a>' pen-and-ink with watercolor illustrations are amusing and add to the story.<br />
<br />
© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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[<i>Spic-and-Span!</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC T55.85 .G64 K85 2014]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-1367387302639440892014-08-04T22:40:00.000-05:002018-03-03T09:09:10.125-06:00In Search of the Little Prince<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ffQcw7pO-nzkP9Kk1h_T7PzZrlAQsuix086D0mSakrGT2yb3fGsIQbwJvMITzoZ9-wXWGXH81cdxAQiGXXnSAtIAO5JKQtCmRx57igvw_9TZ84O8foXPatcAF5hLySpX1ZBmHhFJMAo/s1600/InSearchOfTheLittlePrince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ffQcw7pO-nzkP9Kk1h_T7PzZrlAQsuix086D0mSakrGT2yb3fGsIQbwJvMITzoZ9-wXWGXH81cdxAQiGXXnSAtIAO5JKQtCmRx57igvw_9TZ84O8foXPatcAF5hLySpX1ZBmHhFJMAo/s400/InSearchOfTheLittlePrince.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>
Subtitled "The Story of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry," this is a picture book biography about the author of the French classic <i>The Little Prince</i>.<br />
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The book was originally published in Italian, as Italy is the home of the author/illustrator, <a href="http://www.bimbalandmann.com/welcome.html" target="_blank">Bimba Landmann</a>. Her soft illustrations are fanciful yet serious. There are a number of actual photographs of and quotations from Saint-Exupéry in the book. The amount of text on each page makes this book more appropriate for grades 3-5.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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<i>[In Search of the Little Prince </i>is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PQ2637 .A274 Z748 2014.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-109067822159426492014-07-23T17:03:00.000-05:002016-06-08T17:12:33.674-05:00Manger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwumiblEmGIyCtwMwCBInD4mBZ_ecJOzYTyVWQ40Xwhl0n8VWDbSeKHPHoto9GEPOCdZIZ4LkqlggLXVrBEbyk1fpMxkbWlMz8lcT8zKw4Kj4nbF8iEaPQmp6MfYKc1uyOBca_9EC-pc/s1600/Manger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwumiblEmGIyCtwMwCBInD4mBZ_ecJOzYTyVWQ40Xwhl0n8VWDbSeKHPHoto9GEPOCdZIZ4LkqlggLXVrBEbyk1fpMxkbWlMz8lcT8zKw4Kj4nbF8iEaPQmp6MfYKc1uyOBca_9EC-pc/s400/Manger.jpg" width="324" /></a></div>
<i>poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by Helen Cann</i><br />
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This picture book is a collection of 15 poems by selector <a href="http://www.leebennetthopkins.com/" target="_blank">Lee Bennett Hopkins</a> and some other well-known poets and writers, such as <a href="http://xjanddorothymkennedy.com/" target="_blank">X. J. Kennedy</a>, <a href="http://marilyn-nelson.com/" target="_blank">Marilyn Nelson</a>, <a href="http://janeyolen.com/" target="_blank">Jane Yolen</a>, <a href="http://almaflorada.com/" target="_blank">Alma Flor Ada</a>, <a href="http://annwhitfordpaul.net/home-page2" target="_blank">Ann Whitford Paul</a>, and <a href="http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/birthbios/brthpage/04apr/4-7schertle.html" target="_blank">Alice Schertle</a>, as well as a few newer authors unknown to me, and one traditional verse. The theme tying the poems together is what different animals might say or do or think if present at the manger for the birth of Jesus. <a href="http://www.helencann.co.uk/" target="_blank">Helen Cann</a>'s vibrant illustrations, rendered in watercolor, collage, and mixed media, tie everything together.<br />
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The poems are written for ages 4-8. This would be a great read-aloud during the holiday season, and the poems are easy enough for beginning readers too.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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[<i>Manger</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PS595 .C47 M36 2014.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-50830866182590302322014-07-01T11:30:00.000-05:002014-08-29T11:37:26.631-05:00The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFApYyCS0UQsL54DPj-LQhlxU75YHodYdacfgKILgeeCbrK8-LoG9-8-nXxyE5rnfamR92ptWoo-McOgbuRkJzCS-fynp5Dp0FnTJwcvc6SGEvnlGYkbbJsrazhtk5mOmKdSPsidxh7Pc/s1600/CalpurniaTate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFApYyCS0UQsL54DPj-LQhlxU75YHodYdacfgKILgeeCbrK8-LoG9-8-nXxyE5rnfamR92ptWoo-McOgbuRkJzCS-fynp5Dp0FnTJwcvc6SGEvnlGYkbbJsrazhtk5mOmKdSPsidxh7Pc/s1600/CalpurniaTate.jpg" height="640" width="435" /></a></div>
It's 1899, and almost-12-year-old Calpurnia Virginia ("Callie Vee") Tate is growing up as the middle of seven children (and only daughter) of a wealthy cotton and pecan farmer and gin owner in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fentress,_Texas" target="_blank">Fentress, Texas</a>. She's a bit of a tomboy, and would rather accompany her retired grandfather on his expeditions to study plants and wildlife than learn to play the piano, cook, or sew, all expected of a girl of that age and time. She even helps her grandfather in his experiments to make an alcoholic beverage with pecans, and in identifying what they hope is a new species of vetch, a common plant in Texas.<br />
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The book starts in the summer of 1899 and ends as 1900 begins. The reader experiences everyday life with Callie's large and active family, as well as special occasions such as holidays, the county fair and a trip into town for a photograph. These feel authentic to the time period.<br />
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This book was a <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery" target="_blank">Newbery</a> Honor Book in 2010 (for the "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children,") and I can see why. I loved it! The developing relationship with her previously-remote grandfather is wonderful. I found it amusing that five of Callie's six brothers are named for early Texas heroes--<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Houston" target="_blank">Sam Houston</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabeau_B._Lamar" target="_blank">(Mirabeau) Lamar</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_B._Travis" target="_blank">(William B.) Travis</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Sullivan_Ross" target="_blank">Sul Ross</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bowie" target="_blank">Jim Bowie</a>--and she has interesting (and funny!) interactions with most of them, particularly her oldest brother Harry (named for a rich bachelor great uncle). Even her exasperated mother and the overworked family cook, Viola, are rendered vividly. <br />
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I also liked the emphasis on the scientific method (particularly recording your observations), and the way debut author <a href="http://www.jacquelinekelly.com/" target="_blank">Jacqueline Kelly</a> worked new inventions into the story - the telephone, the automobile, and even an early motorized fan (much appreciated in the Texas heat!). I felt she did a fine job with the Texas setting. Born in New Zealand, growing up in the rain forest of western Canada, moving to El Paso, Texas, in high school, and later living in Galveston, Austin, and Fentress, she seems to have a true appreciation for my home state, and got a lot of details right, adding to the story. In a 2009 <a href="http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2009/09/author-interview-jacqueline-kelly-on.html" target="_blank">interview on Cynsations</a>, Kelly said,<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The book was inspired by my huge 140-year-old Victorian farm house in Fentress, a tiny community on the San Marcos River. I bought the house some years ago and promptly ran out of money to fix it up. The house is grand but falling down around my ears. One summer, I was lying on the daybed in the living room under the ancient air conditioner, which was barely cooling the room, and I thought to myself, how did people stand it in the heat a hundred years ago, especially the women, who had to wear corsets and all those layers of clothing? And with that thought, Calpurnia and her whole family sprang to life to answer the question for me.</blockquote>
Sadly, "the house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground" in 2010, according to Kelly in a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/us/austin-writer-jacqueline-kelly-turns-to-willows-sequel.html?_r=0" target="_blank">later interview</a>, which could have something to do with why a planned sequel hasn't materialized.<br />
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The language in this book is beautiful. The descriptions of the natural world are detailed and evocative. In the Cynsations interview, Kelly (who has both medical--which may explain those descriptions--and law degrees) said,<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A friend of mine, a very successful trial attorney, once said, "Every lawyer I know has got a novel hidden away in his laptop somewhere." I think it's because we all love language, and using it to convey precise ideas. Or maybe it's because so many lawyers were English majors who couldn't then figure out what to do with their degrees.</blockquote>
<br />
Kelly begins each chapter with a quote from Charles Darwin's <i>The Origin of Species</i>, which Calpurnia's grandfather gives to her to read early in the story (hence the title of the book). The cover art is a lovely and intricate silhouette cut by <a href="http://nashvillearts.com/2009/12/04/beth-white-whimsical-silhouettes/" target="_blank">Beth White</a>. The narrator of the audiobook is Natalie Ross, a native Texan, who makes a perfect adult Calpurnia looking back at that half-year and telling her own story. This will definitely be a book I'll re-read. I think it will also appeal to avid young female readers ages 11 and up.<br />
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<br />
© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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<i>[The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate </i>is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library, in print in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC PZ7 .K296184 EVO 2009, and in the Audiovisual Collection, call number AV-Audio PZ7 .K296184 EVO 2009B.] </div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-33444670960412790382014-05-12T23:08:00.000-05:002016-09-08T23:13:55.239-05:00Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
The <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal">Robert F.
Sibert Informational Book Awards</a> are given by the American Library Association to the most distinguished informational
books for children. A 2014 Honor Book (runner-up) was <i><a href="http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763645613">Look Up!
Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard</a></i>, written and illustrated by Annette
LeBlanc Cate. Her ink and watercolor illustrations are done in a cartoon style, with the birds making humorous wisecracks in speech bubbles. The 51-page book is packed with information, though, on where to look for birds and what to look for on them. Cate also provides advice on drawing birds, as well as a bibliography and an index for each bird type mentioned in the book. The comic-book-like style and the book's complexity makes it more appropriate for third grade and up, and less appropriate as a read-aloud.
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
<br />
[<i>Look Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC QL677.5 .C38 2013.]<br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-48963665176630711822014-05-11T23:05:00.000-05:002016-09-08T23:06:29.848-05:00The Mad Potter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ctdWuxZ5l6vHBWYc7VBwfMJbqd1LXZ9LSS8hAbImeA_xLIyADjoDOa22zW1PVBCgLcv_rI-hj0GwWywmkMICQHqUjGeMzWFrxaHZ0_I4tntU3qZ5VUD9FGnBkBAOMmIsyo93LrkorZo/s1600/MadPotter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ctdWuxZ5l6vHBWYc7VBwfMJbqd1LXZ9LSS8hAbImeA_xLIyADjoDOa22zW1PVBCgLcv_rI-hj0GwWywmkMICQHqUjGeMzWFrxaHZ0_I4tntU3qZ5VUD9FGnBkBAOMmIsyo93LrkorZo/s1600/MadPotter.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<i><a href="http://www.jangreenbergsandrajordan.com/pages/books/george-ohr/index.html">The
Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius</a></i>, written by <a href="http://www.jangreenbergsandrajordan.com/index.html" target="_blank">Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan</a>, is a 2014 <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal">Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award</a> Honor Book, as one of the most distinguished informational books for children. It is also an Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for 2014. The <a href="http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus">NCTE Orbis Pictus Award</a>
was established in 1989 by the National Council for the Teachers of English for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing
of nonfiction for children.<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Ohr" target="_blank">George Ohr</a> was a ceramics artist ahead of his time. This 45-page biography is illustrated with period photographs of Ohr, his family, and Biloxi, Mississippi (where he lived), as well as brilliant color images of some of his (very) unusual works. Various text fonts are also used for some quotes and captions to add further interest.<br />
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Due to the length and complexity of the text, the book is more appropriate for grades 4-8. There is information at the end about the <a href="https://www.georgeohr.org/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Ohr-O'Keefe Museum</a> in Biloxi, how to evaluate and to make your own pots, and an extensive bibliography, end notes, and photo credits.<br />
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Greenberg and Jordan also teamed up on <i><a href="http://www.jangreenbergsandrajordan.com/pages/books/marthagraham/" target="_blank">Ballet for Martha</a></i>, which won the 2011 Orbis Pictus Award and was a Sibert Honor Book that year.</div>
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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[<i>The Mad Potter</i> is available on the lower level of the Dick Smith Library in the Curriculum Collection, call number EDUC NK4210 .O42 G74 2013,]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-63409779831916070872014-05-10T22:56:00.000-05:002016-09-08T22:56:43.675-05:002014 Schneider Family Book Award Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenBl_HlE7bgOA2qw8-H63Y_Xtac1E6PReotP8NJ9Yarssj-jNNmB2vVzfUpUmXwdpX-bc9PrRn0H6MoDEX0JKBPxF26rBpPFkHfVw9eufJtThZ9Tg2p6RfTb-SlCrkF14Ipy1wDSIqhE/s1600/SplashOfRed.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenBl_HlE7bgOA2qw8-H63Y_Xtac1E6PReotP8NJ9Yarssj-jNNmB2vVzfUpUmXwdpX-bc9PrRn0H6MoDEX0JKBPxF26rBpPFkHfVw9eufJtThZ9Tg2p6RfTb-SlCrkF14Ipy1wDSIqhE/s1600/SplashOfRed.jpeg" width="248" /></a> <i> </i><i><a href="http://asplashofredbook.com/">A
Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin</a></i>, by <a href="http://www.jenbryant.com/index.html" target="_blank">Jen Bryant</a>,
illustrated by <a href="http://melissasweet.net/" target="_blank">Melissa Sweet</a>, won the 2014 <a href="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/schneider-family-book-award">Schneider
Family Book Award</a> for books for ages up to 10 that "embody an artistic
expression of the disability experience."<br />
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It was also the 2014 Orbis Pictus winner this
year. The <a href="http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus" target="_blank">NCTE Orbis Pictus Award</a> was established in 1989 by the National Council for the Teachers of English for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. Finally, it was also named a 2014 <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal">Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award</a> Honor Book for one of the most distinguished informational books for children.<br />
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This picture book biography (definitely appropriate for ages 6-10) is about African-American self-taught artist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Pippin" target="_blank">Horace Pippin</a> (1888-1946), who painted despite a severe injury to his right arm suffered in World War I.<br />
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Bryant and Sweet teamed up on <i><a href="http://www.jenbryant.com/books/inprint/bk_river.html" target="_blank">A River of Words</a></i>, a picture book biography of William Carlos Williams, which was a Caldecott Honor Book in 2009. Bryant was inspired to write about Pippin while researching for another book. Sweet also wrote and illustrated <i><a href="http://melissasweet.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/121.pdf" target="_blank">Balloons Over Broadway</a></i>, which won the Sibert AND the Orbis Pictus in 2012. Sweet used watercolor, gouache, and mixed media (including fabric and wood carvings) in her illustrations for <i>A Splash of Red</i>. She also lettered in many quotes from him among the illustrations. The book also includes a page of resources (further reading, web sites, etc.), and there is a map on the back end pages showing places you can see Pippin's art, as well as some actual examples of his work.</div>
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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[The call number for <i>A Splash of Red</i> is ND237 .P65 B79 2013.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-67060386470547340652014-05-09T22:44:00.000-05:002016-09-08T22:47:26.564-05:002014 Sibert Award Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The 2014 <a href="http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal">Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award</a> winner, for the most distinguished informational books for children was <i><a href="http://cindykane.net/parrotsoverpuertorico.html">Parrots over Puerto Rico</a></i>,
written by <a href="http://www.susanlroth.com/" target="_blank">Susan L. Roth</a> and <a href="http://www.cindykane.net/" target="_blank">Cindy Trumbore</a>, and illustrated by Roth. This book is also an Orbis
Pictus Honor Book for 2014. The <a href="http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus">NCTE Orbis Pictus Award</a>
was established in 1989 by the National Council for the Teachers of English for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing
of nonfiction for children. The book tells the story of the beautiful Puerto Rican parrot and its near extinction.<br />
<br /></div>
Susan Roth’s incredibly detailed paper and fabric collages are gorgeous! Once you open the book, you need to rotate it 90 degrees, as this orientation (portrait rather than landscape) best takes advantage of the view towards the treetops and sky from the ground, and makes the reader feel like s/he is right there in the story. The book includes pronunciation guides for some unfamiliar words, a four-page afterword with photographs and more facts, a timeline (the last two written at a higher reading level), and a list of the authors' sources.
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
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[The call number for <i>Parrots over Puerto Rico</i> is QL696 .P7 R68 2013 .]
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7294757211613200523.post-46481117562598535342014-02-16T22:34:00.000-06:002016-09-08T22:37:15.953-05:002014 Caldecott Medal Winner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you have a train lover in your family - adult or child - this is the book for you.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.brianfloca.com/Locomotive.html" target="_blank">Locomotive</a></i>, written and illustrated by Temple, Texas native <a href="http://www.brianfloca.com/About.html">Brian Floca</a>, uses an imaginary train trip by a family in 1869 as the framework for an homage to steam engines and the Transcontinental Railroad.<br />
<br />
This book won the 2014 <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott.cfm">Randolph Caldecott Medal</a>, which "honors the illustrator of the year's most distinguished American picture book for children." The 53-page narrative is set in a very readable Scotch Roman typeface, and Floca used watercolor, ink, acrylic, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouache" target="_blank">gouache</a> in his illustrations. He uses different typefaces for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onomatopoeia" target="_blank">onomatopoeia</a> and other emphasized works sprinkled throughout the book. I learned a lot about trains from this book!<br />
<br />
The front endpapers lay the groundwork for the story, giving the historical background to the Transcontinental Railroad and a map of its route. It's clear even from this brief introduction how significant this railroad was to travel in the United States.<br />
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The second-person narrative and the perspective of many of the illustrations pull you into the story and make you feel as if you are there. It starts with a little human piece of the railroad's history and then moves right into the cross-country trip. The sounds the steam engine makes are very realistic (based on my limited experience riding the <a href="http://www.durangotrain.com/" target="_blank">Durango & Silverton Railroad</a>).<br />
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Floca lets the reader experience the train ride from the point of view of both passengers and crew. As passengers, you see what it was like to eat (at stops) and sleep (in a berth if you were rich enough) and even use the toilet on the train! I also got a feel for what life must have been like for my great-grandfather as a fireman on the railroad... <br />
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...as well as learning about the roles of the engineer, brakemen, and switchmen. Floca also shows you the scenery both crew and visitors see, with lovely drawings of various landmarks along the way.<br />
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There's a detailed note at the end of the book about locomotives, as well as a list of all the author's sources. The endpapers at the back of the book feature a detailed diagram of the steam locomotive and an explanation of how the engine works - that I (not at all mechanically-minded) could actually understand.<br />
<br />
Because of its length and all the detail in this book, I think it is most appropriate for about fourth grade and up. Younger children would enjoy the free-verse-style narrative being read aloud to them. Links to various educational resources are available on Floca's website.<br />
<br />
Besides the Caldecott, the American Library Association (ALA) also awards the <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal/index.cfm">Robert L. Sibert Informational Book Medal</a>
each year to "to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most
distinguished informational book published in English during the
preceding year....Information books are defined as those written and
illustrated to present, organize, and interpret documentable, factual
material for children. There are no limitations as to the character of
the book, although poetry and traditional literature are not eligible.
Honor books may be named; they shall be books that are truly
distinguished." <i>Locomotive</i> is a 2014 Honor book, as was Floca's <i><a href="http://riofriotex.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-sibert-awards.html" target="_blank">Moonshot</a></i> in 2010 and <a href="http://www.brianfloca.com/Lightship.html" target="_blank"><i>Lightship</i></a> in 2007.<br />
<br />
<i>Locomotive</i> is also an Orbis Pictus Honor Book for 2014. The <a href="http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus" target="_blank">Orbis Pictus Award</a> was established in 1989 by the National Council of Teachers of English for promoting
and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children. Floca also illustrated <a href="http://brianfloca.com/BalletForMartha.html" target="_blank"><i>Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring</i></a>
by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, which in 2011 won the Orbis Pictus and was a Sibert Honor book.<br />
<br />
Floca spent about four years working on this book, and it shows. In an <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/60815-an-unreal-and-fantastic-caldecott-call-for-2014-winner-brian-floca.html" target="_blank">interview with <i>Publisher's Weekly</i></a> just after winning the Caldecott, he said about this book that "his goals were twofold. 'Those engines themselves are such
fascinating pieces of machinery. They’re really complicated on one
level, but they’re also very understandable machines. I was hoping the
book would visually convey how they work so that readers could go
through the book and piece it together.' Second, he also aimed to
provide a 'sense of moving through a landscape and the landscape
changing.'” I think he achieved both goals.<br />
<br />
It was disappointing to find a number of one-star reviews for this book on Amazon.com. They were all from people who read this as an e-book. I'm of the opinion that most picture books (especially ones like this one that have many double-page spreads and lots of details) should not even be offered in the e-book format by the publishers.<br />
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© Amanda Pape - 2014<br />
<br />
[The call number for <i>Locomotive</i> is TJ603.2 .F56 2013.]</div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09902380558583190500noreply@blogger.com0