Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Amazing Faces




Amazing Faces
poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
illustrated by Chris Soentpiet

2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Book

Elementary



This collection of sixteen poems portrays the many kinds of people that make up our nation.  Diversity in race, age, gender, and various emotions are present.  The book is full of expressive illustrations that help bring each poem to life.  Each reader will be able to relate to some of the poems on a personal level because they are about life.  I especially enjoyed A Young Soldier by Prince Redcloud.  This collection of poems will help readers celebrate what America is all about.

I created this Animoto book trailer to highlight the diverse nature of the poetry in Amazing Faces.

The Storm in the Barn




The Storm in the Barn
by Matt Phelan

2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Book

Tweens




Jack is an 11 year old boy living in Kansas during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.  Jack's family has not seen rain for four years, and they are beginning to suffer.  Crops will not grow, his sister is suffering from dust pneumonia, and Jack questions if the things he sees in a neighbors barn are real or if he is suffering from dust dementia.  The failed crops and lack of rain have hindered Jack's ability to prove himself a man.  Will Jack trust his heart and be a hero for the town that is dying?

This graphic novel is part historical fiction and part folk tale.  The illustrations are simple sketches, yet they are able to express a great deal of emotion.  Muted grays and browns set the mood and setting of the dust storms.  When Jack's mother describes what life was like before the drought, the colors are rich and vibrant.  Children of many ages will enjoy this book filled with history and mystery. 

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda




The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
by Tom Angleberger

2011-2012 Texas Bluebonnet Book

Tweens




Origami Yoda is a finger puppet Yoda that gives advice to McQuarrie Middle School students.  The real question is whether the advice is magical or just the quirky ideas of Dwight, the nerdy kid who created the puppet.

Each chapter of the book is a personal account of one student's experience with Origami Yoda's advice.  The personal accounts humorously depict typical middle school awkward situations.  Yoda repeatedly comes up with clever solutions that readers will enjoy.  I appreciated the variety of fonts and the illustrations added throughout the book.  These features could very well attract reluctant readers to pick up the book.  Read you must...

Abram Books created a YouTube video with Tom Angleberger demonstrating how to fold an Origami Yoda.  Watch this video and create your own Origami Yoda! 

                   

Nothing




Nothing
by Janne Teller

2011 Printz Honor Book

Teens




This novel tells the story of a group year 7 students in Denmark.  At the beginning of the school year, Pierre Anthon declares that nothing in life has meaning and that everything is a waste of time.  To prove his point, Pierre climbs up a plum tree and taunts his classmates with his ideas.  They are bothered by the idea that everything is meaningless, so they devise a plan to prove to Pierre wrong.  They begin building a "heap of meaning" at an old abandoned sawmill.  Their collection consists of meaningful items from each person in the group; and to be sure that a real sacrifice is made, each person decides what someone else must contribute.  As the collection grows, the demands become more and bizarre and sinister.

This book was disturbing to read and  will not be easily forgotten.  Does life have meaning?  This book explores what people do when they are confronted with the idea that life may be meaningless.  I enjoyed the fact that the chapters varied in length, some chapters were only one sentence long, and some were poetic.  I found it interesting that the book was originally written in Danish and won the Best Children's Book Prize from the Danish Cultural Ministry.

Sunday, March 27, 2011




Matched
by Ally Condie

2011 Lone Star Reading List

Teens




On the evening of Cassia's 17th birthday she attends her Match Banquet and learns that The Society has chosen Zander to be her match - her future mate.  In fact, The Society controls all major decisions, and Cassia has never questioned this authority until now.  Circumstances lead Cassia to wonder about The Society's motives and especially to wonder about Ky, a young man who, unfortunately, is not her match.

The futuristic setting of Matched captured my attention and heightened my curiosity.  Fans of the Hunger Games series will also enjoy this dystopian novel which is part mystery, part romance.  I especially appreciate the book's cover.  I feel the image captures the controlling nature of The Society.  Matched is the first book of a trilogy.  The second book in the trilogy, Crossed, will be released November 2011.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty



Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty
by G. Neri
illustrated by Randy DuBurke

2011 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

Teens




Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty is a graphic novel that tells the true story of an 11 year old gang member. Robert "Yummy" Sandifer grew up on the streets in Chicago.  Like many young boys in his neighborhood, Yummy did not have a father figure in his life, and he longed to belong to a family.  He joined the Black Disciples gang and quickly became involved in serious crimes.  The gang members routinely found minors to commit crimes because the penalties were not as severe for  minors.  When Yummy accidentally shoots a young girl from his neighborhood during a turf war, he learns that his "family" is not as loyal as he thought. 


The combination of illustrations and text  help readers understand the harsh realities of life on the streets in urban America.  The book will bring up questions about who is to blame for street violence and what can be done to change the situation.  The book would be an excellent tool to discuss the consequences of gang life with students.

I created a Voki presentation using one of Yummy's friends to describe the events in the book.





Saturday, March 19, 2011

Moon Over Manifest




Moon Over Manifest
by Clare Vanderpool

2011 Newbery Award Book

Tween




Manifest - verb. To reveal to make known.  The setting of this historical fiction novel is Manifest, Kansas during World War I.  Twelve year old Abilene Tucker's father has sent her to spend the summer in Manifest, the only town he ever really called home.  Abilene is determined to learn all she can about her father's past, but she gets more than she bargained for.  By piecing together mementos found in a hidden cigar box, old newspaper articles, old letters written from a soldier, and stories from the diviner, Miss Sadie, Abilene learns the colorful history of Manifest and many of its citizens. 

Vanderpool uses the setting and time period to weave an incredible story.  The book switches back and forth between the present day (1936) and 1918.  I found the plot to move slowly in the beginning, but as the book progressed, I was just as anxious as Abilene to find out about her father and the secrets of the past.  I appreciated the author's notes at the end of the book letting readers know what parts of the book were fact and fiction and where much of the information was obtained.

To hear Clare Vanderpool give information about the making of Moon Over Manifest:

http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=4890&a=1