Destination Space

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. Destination Space. Singapore: Harper Collins Publishers. 2002 ISBN 0-68816290-8

SUMMARY
Scientist have studied and contemplated forces in the universe for hundreds of years. The Hubble Space Telescope has been orbiting the Earth since 1990. It has taken many incredible photos of our solar system and other far away galaxies. Photos of a star cluster display thousands of yellow stars similar to our own Sun and other red stars near the ends of their lives. Spiral galaxies deep in space and the Milky Way are just some of the intriguing elements of the cosmos being studied by scientists through Hubble’s eyes.  With the launching of the Hubble Space Telescope, scientists have been able to learn that black holes really do exist and that Saturn, whose rings are made of ice chunks of different sizes, displays an aurora caused by a solar wind that sweeps over the planet, much like Earth’s Northern Lights.  These spectacular images are the most amazing ever recorded and help scientists explain in more detail concepts already known, as well as help them develop new ideas and hypothesis about other mysteries of the universe.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon uses clear, concise language to explain complex scientific ideas to children. Do black holes really exist? How long would it take to travel to another galaxy? How long is a light year? What is it that makes up the rings of Saturn? With over two hundred children’s science books to his credit, the author has mastered his craft.  His word choices compares difficult concepts to things that are common in a child’s world: “tadpole-shaped clumps of gasses” “water ice…that whirl…like swarms of tiny moons.” Providing just enough information in each two-page spread, Simon adds beautiful descriptions that evoke wonder and awe. Each photo generates enthusiasm to investigate further and is supported by large print and simple text that helps children comprehend scientific ideas. As an endnote, the author states the fact that scientists now  believe there are more than one hundred billion galaxies, and that each galaxy contains about one hundred billion stars. It boggles the mind when one remembers that each star is a sun, which might very likely support other planets in other solar systems. Who knows what we will find?  This is a very interesting and engaging book for children of all ages.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
ALA Booklist: “An attractive, informative addition to a fine series. One of those ‘must have books for children’s nonfiction collections…”

The Horn Book: “A comprehensible yet rigorous science text for young children.”

School Library Journal: “The author explains what discovery each image produced and how the information fits into our existing knowledge. His enthusiastic descriptions create vivid pictures in and of themselves.”

CONNECTIONS
*Coordinate with another teacher to help children do a report on a science topic related to the curriculum. A collection of age appropriate science books by Seymour Simon may include any of the following:

Bones: Our Skeletal System. 2000 ISBN: 10-0688177212


The Brain: Our Nervous System. 2006 ISBN 10-0060877197 


Comets, Meteors and Asteroids. 1998. ISBN 10-0688158439


Destination Mars. 2004 ISBN 10-0060546387


The Heart: Our Circulatory System. 2006. ISBN 10-0060877219  

Oceans 2006. ISBN 10-0060889993

RESOURCES
Picture:
http://www.thereadingnook.com/image_manager/attributes/image/image_5/0060596813_large.jpg

http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=8501546&isbn=0688162894&appid=4

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow. New York: Scholastic Inc. 2005 ISBN 0-439-35379-3

SUMMARY
 In 1925 Hitler wrote of his intentions to defy the Treaty of Versailles and outlined his plans to “Nazify” young people. By 1939 over seven million Hitler Youth became indoctrinated in National Socialist tyranny. More people were killed in World War II than in any other war in history. It left an estimated 53 million dead, including Jews, Catholics, young men in their late teens and early twenties, women and children, the elderly, the physically or mentally handicapped, and anyone who showed dissent to the Reich. Primo Levi, a Holocaust survivor, wrote of “willed ignorance,” asking, “How is it possible that the extermination of millions of human beings could have been carried out in the heart of Europe without anyone’s knowledge?” In her book, Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow, Susan Campbell Bartoletti shares personal letters and interviews from many of the youth caught up in this horrific time. What will happen to the world if new generations of our young people sacrifice everything in order to serve the ideals of a despot? This riveting book is an account of the young citizens who devoted themselves to the Hitler Youth organization, even to the point of reporting their own family members to Nazi authorities.

  
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In the author’s notes Bartoletti explains that her idea for this story was sparked by an article she read in a 1944 issue of The Nation magazine. As a result, she felt compelled to investigate the phenomena of Hitler’s rise to power in more detail.  During her research she visited countless libraries, museums and other archives in the U.S. and Germany, where she poured over thousands of newspapers, magazines and photos. She has skillfully used extensive interviews, email and other correspondence together to convey this compelling piece of history. Many characters are depicted throughout the book in the black and white photos, showing some who remained devoted to Hitler and others who became disillusioned. The sidebars and photo captions remind the reader that these were real people, teenagers and young children with hopes and dreams much like any child in the world. Yet they became Nazis. Not only does Bartoletti share a captivating piece of history, she also provides additional details in the epilogue, bibliography, timeline and author’s notes at the back of the book.  This historical work is her attempt to makes sense of the adults who taught their children to hate and the choices the young people made to kill. It is an outstanding resource that will help us understand the role of young people in Hitler’s rise to power and remind us that we should never let this happen again.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist starred review- “The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum.”

Newbery Medal/Honor 2006

Notable/Best Books (A.L.A) 2006

School Library Journal starred review- “Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.”
Seibert Honor Books 2006

CONNECTIONS
Other nonfiction books for intermediate students:

*The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti 2008. ISBN-10: 0439680131

          

*An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy 2003 ISBN-10: 0395776082  

     

*The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain 2007 by Peter Sis 

ISBN-13: 9780374347017 
                                                                         

RESOURCES
http://www.blogger.com/goog_1268405880839

http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=8501546&isbn=9780439353793&appid=4

Picture:

http://www.audiobooksonline.com/media/Hitler_Youth_Susan_Campbell_Bartoletti_unabridged_compact_discs.jpg

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

Freedom Walkers

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Freedom, Russell. Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. New York: Holiday House. 2006 ISBN 978-0-8234-2031-5

SUMMARY
In 1955 segregation was the law in the American South. It separated whites from blacks in every aspect of life: in hospitals, schools, churches, hotels, restaurants and even simply riding a public bus. The laws of the South in the 1950s were such that blacks were prevented of being in the same company of whites in any public setting.  These “Jim Crow” laws required a black person to pay a poll tax to vote or to give up their seat to a white person even if he/she were sitting in a seat designated “for blacks only.” The black community of Montgomery, Alabama, led by Martin Luther King Jr. initiated a non-violent bus boycott in the spirit of his belief that “we must meet hate with love.” The boycott ended the use of this critical means of transportation for the poorer Negro population. The effort to change discriminatory laws lasted over a year and involved the entire community of Montgomery. This 381-day struggle resulted in an eventual Supreme Court ruling that declared Alabama’s state and local segregation laws a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This struggle for civil rights did not simply begin and end with Rosa Parks’ refusal one day to give up her seat to a white man. Russell Freedman’s compelling book is the story of the thousands of people who sacrificed and banded together in order to end this injustice and win a major victory in the civil rights movement.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Freedman’s inclusion of so many players in the Montgomery Bus Boycott sets this scene for the heroes who protested and changeed the course of American history. The courage of these American citizens to persevere in order to eliminate injustice and inequality leave the reader with a feeling of raw emotion, as if to experience the humiliation and anger present in those explosive times.  The black and white photos in each two-page spread are just a few of the illustrations depicting a united effort in this time of civil defiance. Even Mother Pollard, a well-known elderly woman in the community refused a ride from a car-owning minister and preferred to walk instead declaring, “My feets is tired, but my soul is rested.” Homes were bombed and blacks were intimidated by the white authorities and the Klu Klux Klan. Yet the long, peaceful struggle continued. Being arrested became a badge of honor, despite the palpable fear throughout the Negro community.

Freedman’s writing is compelling and informative. It encourages critical thinking and lively discussion. The interviews and quotations from those directly involved in the boycott, the black and white photographs depicting segregated scenes, and the inclusion of so many important, yet largely unknown facts, make this an exceptional reference book for intermediate students. The bibliographic references and an extensive index provide additional resources for students who want to learn more about this period. In his own words about Martin Luther King Jr. Freedman says, “More than any other leader of his turbulent era, he had been able to give America’s conscience a voice.” Freedman has given young people the ears and eyes to stand up and take notice of injustice and the knowledge that peaceful protest can evoke hope and change.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
ALA Booklist starred review- “In his signature clear prose, Freedman draws on the best of those personal stories and historical accounts to provide a dramatic overview of how the 381-day resistance to segregated buses spearheaded the civil rights movement.”

Horn Book starred review

School Library Journal starred review- “…an exemplary presentation…a powerful introduction to the Civil Rights Movement.”

CONNECTIONS
*Link Freedom Walkers to other books about the Civil Rights Movement. Encourage students to write a poem that extends the meaning of Martin Luther King’s message “we must meet hate with love.”
(p. 66)

*Discuss the terms “justice” and “oppression” and what it means for minorities and those who mistreat them. How has peaceful resistance changed the course of other historical struggles?

*Additional Russell Freedman books that chronicle extraordinary events or people:

Buffalo Hunt. 1995 ISBN-10: 0823411591

Give Me Liberty: The Story of the Declaration of Independence. 2002 ISBN-10: 0823417530

The Life and Death of Crazy Horse. 1996. ISBN-10: 0823412199

RESOURCES

http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/812/freedom-walkers/

http://titlepeek.fsc.follett.com/tp/query?action=3&subnumber=8501546&isbn=9780823420315&appid=4

Picture:
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewWorkDetail.do?workId=1211772&

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT. Libraries Unlimited. 2008.

Stop Pretending

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sones, Sonya. Stop Pretending: what happened when my big sister went crazy. New York: Harper/Collins. 1999.  ISBN 10-0-06-446218-8

SUMMARY
Sonya Sones writes this verse novel based on her own life experiences chronicled in journals she kept as a teen. Cookie, the voice of this story, shares her perspective of family members dealing with mental illness. She speaks of embarrassment, shame, and the pain of losing her sister, her parents and later her friends. In “My Sister’s Christmas Eve Breakdown,” Cookie shares her confusion: One day he was my dad/ so calm and quiet and in control/ the next he was a stranger…/ One day she was my mom/ so reliable and good in a crisis/ the next she was a stranger…That day I sank into the wall/ wondering what these three people were doing in my house… All of the family energy is put into her sister who is institutionalized, leaving Cookie alone at a time in her early teens when she needs them the most. The poems are sad and heartfelt, but offer the reader a sense of empathy and hope as she begins to find new interests and surprising subtle changes in her sister.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sones has crafted a verse novel from the perspective of a 13-year-old girl. The reader discovers a character who, not only struggles with the exceptional case of her sister’s mental illness but with her own self-discovery. The poems are a journey of raw emotion and grief in losing someone very close, someone who does not even recognize her anymore. The poetry is brief and simply written but leaves the reader with unbridled emotion. The poignant impact of “Minus” leaves one with a feeling of deep sadness, compassion and understanding. This morning I’m sitting here taking the test/ but the numbers on the page keep scrambling in my head/ and the only equation I really understand is: 4-1=0.
A change in the mood and tone of the story is evident in “Tired” as Cookie pours out her loneliness and eventually reaches out to someone else to help her cope: I’m tired of this lump in my throat/ and this ache in my chest/ and these knots that gnaw at my stomach…/ I’m tired of having nobody to talk to…/and of crying till my eyes look like I’ve walked into a door/ I’m tired of not believing in God/ or in miracles or in angels…/ I’m tired of being thirteen/ and of not being twelve anymore/ I’m tired of wanting to help my sister and of not being able to help. This is a book of teenage insecurities, coping with unspeakable family issues, making friends, finding new love, anger, grief and hope.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review in Booklist “…this novel-in-verse shows the capacity of poetry to record the personal and translate it into the universal.”

School Library Journal: “An unpretentious, accessible book that could provide entry points for a discussion about mental illness-its stigma, its realities and its effect on family members.”

Kirkus Reviews: “Individually the poems appear simple and unremarkable…Collected they take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie…telling a compelling tale and presenting a painful passage through young adolescence…”

CONNECTIONS
*Other verse novels by Sonya Sones:
what my mother doesn’t know. 2003 ISBN-10: 0689855532
one of those hideous books where the mother dies. 2004 ISBN: 0689858205

*Other verse novels for teens:
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. 1997 ISBN-10: 0590371258
Make Lemonade by Virginia Euwer Wolff. 1993 ISBN-10: 0805080708
Keesha’s House by Helen Frost. 2003 ISBN-10: 0374400121
Dead Girls Don’t Write Letters by Gale Giles. 2003 ISBN-10: 0761317279


RESOURCES
http://www.sonyasones.com/spreviews.htm


http://www.sonyasones.com/greatbooks.htm

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. 2008

Picture: http://www.sonyasones.com/mybooks.htm

Fold Me A Poem

BIBLIOGRAPHY
George, Kristine O’Connell. Fold Me A Poem. Ill. by Lauren Stringer. Singapore: Harcourt, Inc. 2005. ISBN 0152025014

SUMMARY
A young boy shares his imagination through the origami animals he makes of all shapes and sizes while sitting at the table contemplating their adventures. In “Possibilities” he ponders what to make next. Forty bright sheets of colored paper./A world of animals./ Who will be next? As he begins, he realizes that the camel didn’t quite turn out right and makes reference to checking the directions again. The story begins at breakfast and ends at bedtime while the giraffe keeps his place in a book and the animals settle in his room. Throughout the day he and the animals have encounters with a blowing fan, birds in the outside world, and a troublesome cat. There are thirty-two poems in this collection with a note from the illustrator at the end that provides references for learning more about this beautiful art of paper folding.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Kristine O’Connell George uses gentle line breaks to pause the reader, and to convey a child's feelings expressed in her poetry (e.g. kindness, empathy, disappointment, impatience, warnings). The language is sensitive to the simplicity of a child deeply engaged in his craft. He warns the dragon to behave, reminding him “You are made of paper.” Her use of figurative language and the arrangements they make on the page express forethought and reflection. “Folding a snake? / Need advice? / Be precisssssse.” George does what poets do best; she says a great deal using very few words.

Stringer’s beautifully detailed illustrations almost bring the animals to life. She skillfully places art materials in the pictures, suggesting to young children that there is so much you can do with your imagination and a piece of brightly colored paper. The colors are vibrant and the detail amazing in this 32-page work of art. She explains in her note at the end of the book how she came to be such an expert at origami and invites children to visit other books for help as well as her website. This amazing display of creativity is a delightful book for young children to experience the potential of their own imagination.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist (ALA): “Warm in colors and often large in scale…Unusual, handsome, and good for reading aloud.”

Publishers Weekly: "A dazzling celebration of imagination...Each turn of the page brings a clever new perspective or insight-even humor."

School Library Journal: “…selections exhibit a creative spark, take their meaning from the illustrations, which are the real strength of the presentation.”

CONNECTIONS
*Have students work in pairs to make a list of verbs found in the poem.
*Invite children to make an origami bookmark and compose haiku poems to accompany them.
* Coordinate curriculum studies with classroom teachers to recommend and select appropriate topic poetry books to share with children. 

 *Other poetry and resource books for teachers and young readers: 

Franco, Betsy. Math Poetry: Linking Language and Math in a Fresh Way: Grades 2-5: Teacher Resource. 2006 ISBN: 10-1596470720

Prelutsky, Jack. Read a Rhyme, Write a Rhyme. Ill by Meilo So. 2005. ISBN: 978-0-375-82286-5

Shields, Carol Diggory. The Bugliest Bug. 2002. ISBN:13: 978-0763622930

RESOURCES

http://www.kristinegeorge.com/teachers_guide_fold_me_a_poem.html

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited 2008

Picture: http://www.kristinegeorge.com/foldmepoem.html

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sidman, Joyce. Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. Ill. By Beth Krommes. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 2006.
ISBN 978-0-618-56313-5

SUMMARY
 Joyce Sidman creates a distinctive combination of poetry and prose as the reader tours the peaceful meadow. There is a diverse mix of poetry style throughout the book and a striking arrangement of words on many pages that create visual images of the animals. A hint of the use of concrete poetry is evident in the shape of "Peal Deal" that resembles a snake, while "Ultraviolet" suggests the shape of a butterfly’s wings. Visual images in Krommes’s illustrations provide clues for readers who miss this clever style. The artful use of repetitive language captures a sense of urgency in "Shhh! They Are Sleeping."  Some poems like "Always Together" lend themselves to unique readings of two voices in paired recitations using partner words and phrases: We tumble/we twitter, we dip, float and flitter/ on thistle we rustle/and whistle and bustle/dip-dogging/leap-frogging/ we're birds of a feather...Sidman provides a scientific narrative explaining the habitats or behavior habits of the creatures in the meadow following each pair of poems and a useful glossary explaining scientific vocabulary.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Sidman tries a variety of different styles that work well for each poem. The artful arrangement of the words on each page let the reader experiment with different voice and techniques in reading the poetry. Her use of rhyming and repetitive language provides rhythm and cadence that add to the ease of reading and will keep the interest of intermediate readers. Beautiful bubbles/bubbles of foam/ bubbly castle/ snug bubble home/ keeps my skin tender/saves me from drought/ (I’ll never/I’ll never/ I’ll never come out!) Although the varied poetry may be difficult for young readers, the prose following each pair of poems makes this a pleasant read aloud for all children.

Beth Krommes, a Caldecott winner, uses a scratch-board technique that adds much detail to the illustrations. She skillfully uses a black and white drawing medium to create each picture, adding a thin veneer of fine, white clay covered by layers of india ink. Then each picture is finished with watercolor paint. Each two-page spread is filled with earthy tones and complimentary colors that draw the reader's attention to the hidden wonders of the meadow.  These beautiful illustrations will keep even the youngest reader entranced in observation of the detailed flora and fauna of nature.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred Review: Kirkus, Aug. 3, 2006  
“Combining striking illustrations and evocative poems do double duty as riddles and lucid prose commentary. This venture into the natural world stands out for both its beauty and its unusual approach…A top drawer blend of art and science.”

Starred Review: The Horn Book Magazine, Sept-Oct. 2006
“The verse is vivid, melodious, and rich in variety…Krommes’s scratch-board illustrations are splendid…they reflect such precise observation that each species is easily recognizable…An elegantly conceived, beautifully integrated volume.”

Starred review: School Library Journal, Oct. 2006
“Sidman applies her flair with poetry to explore the interactions of creatures and plants in a particular environment. This book is a handsome and versatile compendium, melding art, poetry and natural history”

CONNECTIONS
*Invite children to compose their own “letter poem” to animals, seasons or types of weather. Ask them to include a compliment, question or wish. Share their poems in a display in the library. 

*Other topic poetry books:
George, Kristine O’Connell. Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems. 2004
ISBN: 0152023259
George, Kristine O’Connell. Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems. 2001
ISBN: 0-618-04597-X
Hamilton, Virginia. When Birds Could Talk and Bats Could Sing. 1996
ISBN: 10:0590473727
Sidman, Joyce. Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems. 2005
ISBN: 10: 0618135472

RESOURCES
http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/

http://bethkrommes.com/illustration/reviews-for-butterfly-eyes-and-other-secrets-of

http://www.joycesidman.com/butterflyeyesTG.html

Vardell, Sylvia. Children’s Literature in Action. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited. 2008

Picture:
http://www.bethkrommes.com/img/illustration/covers/butterfly-eyes-cover.jpg