Module 15: The Golden Compass

SLIS 5420/ Module 15/ April 29- May 2
The Golden Compass
By: Phillip Pullman

Bibliography: Pullman, P. (1995). The golden compass. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary:

The Golden Compass is ultimately the story of growing up and leaving behind childish pursuits. Lyra is the protagonist in the story and she is a precocious and mischievous child. Lyra spends most of her time getting into trouble with her best friend Roger. But when Roger is kidnapped Lyra leaves Oxford in order to find her best friend. In order to rescue him from the "Gobblers" Lyra gets help from a host of different characters like her daemon Pantalaimon, Serafina Pekkala, Iorek Byrnison, and Lee Scoresby.

Impressions:
This is one of my favorite books that I have read all semester. It has everything that you could ask for twisty family revelations, witches, alternate English realities, kidnappers called "Gobblers", gypsies, and what ever daemons are (I'm still not quite sure, but I know I want one). I had seen the movie version of this book, but I have to say this is definitely a case where the book is much better than the movie. Ii makes sense that this book is in the controversial module. The religious undertones really color the narrative. I was not at all insulted while reading the book, but I can see how it would affect some readers. I really enjoyed the book and am definitely looking forward to reading the sequels.

Review:
Kirkus Review
Pullman (The Tin Princess, 1994, etc.) returns to the familiar territory of Victorian England, but this time inhabits an alternate Earth, where magic is an ordinary fact of life. Lyra Belacqua and her daemon familiar Pantalaimon spend their days teasing the scholars of Jordan College until her uncle, Lord Asriel, announces that he's learned of astonishing events taking place in the far north involving the aurora borealis. When Lyra rescues Asriel from an attempt on his life, it is only the beginning of a torrent of events that finds Lyra willingly abducted by the velvet Mrs. Coulter, a missionary of pediatric atrocities; a journey with gyptian clansmen to rescue the children who are destined to be severed from their daemons (an act that is clearly hideous); and Lyra's discovery of her unusual powers and destiny. Lyra may suffer from excessive spunk, but she is thorough, intelligent, and charming. The author's care in recreating Victorian speech affectations never hinders the action; copious amounts of gore will not dissuade the squeamish, for resonating at the story's center is the twinkling image of a celestial city. This first fantastic installment of the His Dark Materials trilogy propels readers along with horror and high adventure, a shattering tale that begins with a promise and delivers an entire universe. (Fiction. 12+)

Library Setting:
I think it would be fun to include this book in a talk about books that are made into movies. Lots of patrons like movies and kids might find it fun to discuss the differences between the adaptations, for both good and bad. Other books that could be included are The Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, etc.

Reference Review:
Kirkus Reviews. (2010, May 20). The golden compass. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/philip-pullman/golden-compass/
Image: http://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/Images/goldencompass.jpg

Module 14: Monsterologist

SLIS 5420/ Module 14? April 22- April 28
The Monsterologist
By: Bobbi Katz

Bibliography: Katz, B. (2009). The monsterologist. New York, NY: Sterling

Summary:
The The Monsterologist is written as a series of letters, memoirs, notes, and interviews of a monsterologist. The book is full of rhyme and is designed to look like an adventurer's journal. It is full of accounts about werewolves, vampires, witches, and all manner of monsters, all written in rhyme.

Impressions:
I thought that this was a very cool book. The poems and verse made the book different and engaging from some of the other books of this genre. I know that our library has several of these monsterologist, monstrology, fairy, oceanography, etc. types of books. Kids love the different mythical topics. I found myself very impressed with the overall construction quality of the book, from the binding and cover, to the cutouts and gatefolds in the interior of the book. I'm not always a big fan of books written in rhyme or poetry for that matter, but I thought that this was a very fun way to present this topic.

Review:
Booklist Review
Definitely not to be mistaken as an entry in the increasingly ubiquitous Ology line, this book offers a collection of hideous beastie-based verses. From an invitation to visit Count Dracula to an international zombie census, the quality of the poems is wildly inconsistent, sometimes even from line to line, as when a clever gross-out ( Greasy green lizards / and raw chicken gizzards, ) gets a poem rolling, only to have it fall flat on its face with spell-binding spells / cast by spell-casting wizards. More often than not, though, bursts of devilish humor and winking creepiness keep things moving, and McCauley's well-designed pages outfitted in a sort of loose, splashy collage, with a few sturdy fold-outs have browsing appeal. Cleverly, alongside old favorites from medusas and witches to krakens and the Loch Ness Monster Katz dreams up her own baddies, like the compu-monster, that gobbles up hard drives, and the voracious Verbivore (take heed, librarians!).--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2009 Booklist

Library Setting:
This book would make a great book for a Halloween program or monster program. The fact that it is written in verse makes it different from other books that could be read at the event. It would also be fun to include some kind of craft idea like making monster masks, have the  children write their own monster poems, and/or listen to "The Monster Mash".

Reference Review:
R.R. Bowker LLC. (2009). Books in print. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|25690942|24377977&mc=USA
Image:
http://designarchives.aiga.org/assets/images/000/100/331/100331_lg.jpg

Module 13: Amulet

SLIS 5420/ Module 13/ April 15- April 21
Amulet
By: Kazu Kibuishi

Bibliography: Kibuishi, K. (2008). Amulet. New York, NY: Graphix.

Summary:

Amulet is the story of a girl, named Emily,  and the extraordinary adventure that she embarks upon. After Emily's father is killed in a car crash, Emily's mother moves the family to their ancestral home in Norlen. The house is big, old, and needs a lot of TLC. When the family arrives and begins to clean it, Emily stumbles upon a stone amulet in one of the rooms. Before the family can enjoy even one night in their new home Emily's mother is abducted by a creature and carted off to a mysterious land that can be reached by a mysterious door in the basement of the house. Emily and her brother David enter the alternate land in order to find their mother, but what they find is more than they could imagine.

Impressions:
I really enjoyed reading Amulet. I think that it is a good example of a juvenile graphic novel the writing was sophisticated and not condescending. The art while less stylized than many adult graphic novels was not cutesy or overtly childish. This book has a lot of potential and I was glad to see that there are a whole series that go along with it. It is also nice to see a juvenile graphic novel that stars an intelligent and capable girl as the main protagonist. So often in comics and graphic novels the female characters are stuck playing second fiddle, the girlfriend or the damsel-in-distress, to the male characters. Emily and David both seem like real kids who just happen to be set in extraordinary circumstances. I would definitely recommend the Amulet series to library readers, for its narrative and visuals.

Review:
Kirkus Reviews
With many a SZZT! SZRAK! FWOOM! and SKREE!, young Emily learns to use an energy-bolt-shooting amulet against an array of menaces to rescue her captured Mom in this graphic-novel series opener. When a scuttling “arachnopod” sucks down their widowed parent, Emily and younger sib Navin pursue through a door in the basement and into the alternate-Earth land of Alledia. Finding unexpected allies in rabbit-like Miskit, grumpy Cogsley and other robots created by their mysterious great-grandfather, the children weather attacks from huge, tentacled Rakers, a pointy eared elf prince with shark-like teeth and other adversaries to get her back—only to discover that she’s in a coma, poisoned. Off to Episode Two, and the distant city of Kanalis, for a cure. The mid-sized, squared-off panels are sometimes a little small to portray action sequences clearly, but the quickly paced plot is easy enough to follow, and Kibuishi is a dab hand at portraying freaky monsters. Fans of Jeff Smith’s Bone will happily fret with the good guys and hiss at the baddies. (Graphic fantasy. 10-12)

Library Setting:
This would be a fun book to include in a book talk. It is an excellent example of an appropriate and fun graphic novel for kids. This talk could also be specifically targeted to young girls since the main character, Emily, is an empowered youth trying to save her family. Other books that could be included in the talk Nancy Drew, Sisters Grimm, Ramona, and Matilda.

Review Reference:
Kirkus, R. (2010, May 20). The stonekeeper. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/Kazu-Kibuishi-77820/the-stonekeeper/
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF7Y_4q2V3aU40LZKvMojcNMXXgaLl_V6VbL8CfquSY4xG07Seidd1tlc1rsQw_2ozgEnGlYjbeNJbyJ9ioALoYFraZPxi0jt8VSH-3gbzUO_V-FtjUPtcukC97Yy8A_1VKRpg8OCxE0Y/s1600/Autumn_Leaves.jpg

Module 12: Just Being Audrey

SLIS 5420/ Module 12/ April 8- April 14
Just Being Audrey
By: Margaret Cardillo

Bibliography: Cardillo, M. (2011). Just being Audrey. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Summary: Just Being Audrey is the biography of a young Audrey Hepburn. It chronicles the pivotal events of Audrey Hepburn's life from her childhood during the height of World War II, her rise to stardom in Hollywood, and her work later in life with UNICEF.

Impressions: This is an incredibly cute book for children who may have seen Audrey Hepburn in a movie and want to know more about her, or for parents who want to introduce their children to a real Hollywood legend. The book is an authentic biography that is written for a younger audience. Readers won't find a lot of specifics in this book, but it does touch on many of the most famous aspects of Audrey Hepburn's life. It is also worth reading and sharing for the pictures alone! The drawings are so simple and beautiful. I think that they really capture the essence of Audrey Hepburn.

Review:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 3-In this delightful introduction to Audrey Hepburn, readers learn that as a child, she was gangly and imaginative, in a world of her own. When she announced that she wanted to be the prima ballerina of all of Europe, her mother told her that the world was bigger than she was, and to always be kind, a tenet that seems to have stuck with her for life. She was born into a family of some privilege (her mother was a baroness), but their small wealth was no match for the advancing Nazi troops in World War II. Along with her family and 40 others, she hid in a country house with no heat and little to eat. Through the ordeal, she kept dancing and taught the other children. As the war in Europe ended, a UN volunteer gave her a chocolate bar, an act of kindness that seemed to inspire her. After the young woman realized that she would be more suited to acting, her Cinderella career took her from London to Broadway to Hollywood, but the power in this book lies beyond her fame in the spotlight. Her generous humanitarian spirit is seen through her actions and deeds as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF as she used her celebrity as a vehicle to assist others. With a light, sweet narrative style, readers can almost picture Hepburn dancing as they turn the pages. Evocative of the period, Denos's almost impressionistic pen-and-ink and watercolor artwork is lively and colorful. This picture-book biography is a great addition to any collection.

Library Setting:
This would be a great book to introduce a unit about biographies and autobiographies in school. It could also be used to introduce a nonfiction setting to young children.

Reference Review:
http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2063/ehost/detail?vid=3&sid=6370407d-d00e-48cb-8fed-6f5fbd766ec4%40sessionmgr4&hid=15&bdata=JnNjb3BlPXNpdGU%3d#db=brd&AN=518529267
Image: http://shannoneileenblog.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a5c8d9a9970c0148c7f71315970c-320wi

Module 11: Almost Astronauts

SLIS 5420/ Module 11/ April 1- April 7
Almost Astronauts
By: Tanya Lee Stone

Bibliography: Stone, Tanya. (2009). Almost Astronauts. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press

Summary:

Almost Astronauts is the story of the "Mercury 13" a group of women in the 1960s who dared to dream that they too could be astronauts. The book tells the story of these 13 women through the trials and tribulations that they faced both during the space testing and afterwards when they were publicly mocked for their belief that women were just as fit if not more so than men for space flight and exploration. It is story of dreams, discrimination, despair, fight, and triumph.

Impressions:
I thought that this book was amazing. It was by far my favorite book that I read for this module. I came into the book not knowing anything about the Mercury 13. I was not even aware that women went through astronaut testing during the 60s or that they did so well! I think that this book is an incredible resource for children who are interested in space. The overall book design leans more towards older readers. The book is almost 200 pages long and the text takes up entire pages. There is, however, a wealth of beautiful historic photographs that younger readers will enjoy, that lend well for older readers who want to put faces to the names in the book. I learned a lot from reading this book. I was dismayed by the discrimination and political hijinks that crushed these women's dreams and at the same time uplifted by their determination to never quit and to blaze a path for future generations of women.

Review:
Kirkus Reviews
The fascinating, dramatic story of the “Mercury 13,” a group of women aviators who proved to be as courageous, intelligent and fit as any man, but who were nonetheless barred from NASA’s astronaut program because of their gender. At the center of the story is Jerrie Cobb, a veteran pilot who successfully completed every test given to male astronauts. Her performance, and that of the others, proved women had the “right stuff,” but these findings were not enough to overcome the prevailing prejudices of the time. It took 20 years before NASA admitted women into the astronaut program. Stone poignantly chronicles how the efforts of Cobb and her colleagues were ridiculed and thwarted by everyone from Vice-President Lyndon Johnson to Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn and—in a bitter irony—Jackie Cochran, a highly respected, trailblazing female pilot, who appeared to be motivated by jealousy and spite. The author offers great insight into how deeply ingrained sexism was in American society and its institutions. Handsomely illustrated with photographs, this empowering story will leave readers inspired. (foreword, source notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 10 & up)

Library Setting:
In my opinion this book belongs in every library's nonfiction section. This books would work well in a classroom setting during a discussion of the 1960s. It could serve as a representation of the other side of NASA's space program as well as spark discussion on sexism in America. I think that this book could be used to inspire both girls and boys to not let anyone tell them what they can and cannot do, and to also shoot for the stars literally, pursuing science and math after being shown the practical applications of what you can do with this type of education.

Review Reference:
Kirkus Reviews. (2013). Almost astronauts review. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tanya-lee-stone/almost-astronauts/
Image: http://childrensbookalmanac.com/wp-content/uploads/Almost-Astronauts.png

Module 10: Greetings from Planet Earth

SLIS/ 5420/ March 25- March 31
Greetings from Planet Earth
By Barbara Kerley

Bibliography: Kerley, B. (2007). Greetings from Planet Earth. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

Summary: Greetings from Planet Earth is the story of a boy named Theo searching for identity. It is 1977 and Theo's family lives with the fact that his father never came back from Vietnam. There are two rules in their household, 1) Never talk about their father and 2) Pretend like everything is ok. THeo is given an assignment in school related to NASA's Voyager 2 mission. They are to make a one minute tape recording of what the most important thing about planet Earth is and bring a picture. What seems a simple assignment soon turns into a quest for answers as Theo seeks information that he has been denied for years. Theo wants to know his father, the war that took him away, and why his family shrouds itself in lies and secrecy.

Impressions: I flew through this book starting and finishing it in a single day. I was moved by Theo's story and search for answers. The setting was historical and reflected life in 1977 America while filling it with fictional characters. I admired Theo's hunt for the truth and cheered when he turned to the library for answers. I think that this is ultimately a story about both the good and bad parts of humanity. This theme is reflected in the narrative changes between Theo's search for his father and more information about the Vietnam war and his obsession with space and the moon. The former describes war and the terrible acts that mankind can inflict upon itself while the latter shows the heights that mankind can achieve once we decide to accomplish something.

Review:
Kirkus Reviews
The upcoming Voyager 2 space probe sparks 12-year-old Theo’s discoveries about life on earth in 1977. His teacher, Mr. Meyer, decides that the class should put together a golden record for the Voyager to share with any aliens encountered. Each kid in the class has to contribute the sounds of what they consider the best thing on earth. Theo’s close family consists of a busy mother, his older sister Janet and grandmother JeeBee, who lives nearby in their Virginia suburb. The absence of his father begins to ache like a sore tooth, and Theo’s exploration of his world, as he tries to figure out his contribution, gradually discovers inconsistencies and strange messages that he’s never really put into a logical sequence before. Finding letters from Vietnam written by his dad years earlier, Theo proves capable of probes that will lead him to the truth. Kerley’s structure is in alternating transcripts of a recording for an unknown reader, and a third-person account of Theo’s life with various sections labeled with geographic place names from the moon. The space capsule assignment reveals much about earthlings, and Mr. Meyer’s insightful questioning brings a depth and universality to what is essentially one family’s struggle with the past. (Fiction. 10-14)

Library Setting:
I think that this book would work well in a middle school classroom session discussing the space race, Vietnam war, or the 1970s in general. The book has vivid descriptions of family life at the time and moments like the Voyager 2 departure and Life magazine that make the setting come alive. I think that this book could also be used in conjunction with some newer more modern books or books about World War II to help explain what the wars did to society and families during those time periods. I think that sometimes in school we only get the broad view of "we won" or "fought for a noble purpose" I think it is important to impress upon children what we lost as well

Reference Review: Kirkus Review. (2010, May 20). Greetings from planet earth review. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barbara-kerley/greetings-from-planet-earth/
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDzOnNGxEmosIqD0Hf-_2vqdIAqAHQn7LQvhc26VPjNn0xoXwVdYMNi-6YVKyhjYH0mCiZYuwJXFrp5bouiJPxhkcNKsXQQKAFTyJf_kplGCKOIZtyLzrJK-2e1l7rNkSqxrdIqUUH5Sz/s400/planet+earth.jpg

Module 9: The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose!

SLIS 5420/ Module 9/ March 18- March 24
The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose!
By: Gabby Gosling

Bibliography: Gosling, G. (2004). The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose. Milwaukee, WI: Gareth Stevens, Inc.

Summary:

In The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose, the Queen of Hearts has had her strawberry tarts stolen and it has made her quite cranky. To find the perpetrator of the especially heinous crime the King and Queen call in the Chief Detective of Nursurey Rhyme Crime Mother Goose. Mother Goose investigates all of the chief suspects including the Knave of Hearts, Little Miss Muffet, and the Big Bad Wolf. But it will take all of Mother Goose's intellect and rhyming ability to discover the true chararacter behind this crime.

Impressions:
I picked this book off of our reading list without knowing a thing about it. I liked the title and that was about it. So I was really surprised when I went to pick up the book from the library and it turned out that I had chosen a picture book mystery. I had never really thought about pictures books fitting into genres like horror, mystery, or fantasy before this module. Anyway I was immediately drawn into this Mother Goose book. The illustrations are beautiful and the rhyming isn't overly cutesy, like what is so often found in children's books, but actually furthers and enhances the storytelling. It might not hold the attention of very young readers since the art is stylized and there is quite a bit of text on the pages, but older readers as well as adults should find the book amusing at least. I also liked how the author took fairytale characters that have been around forever and that readers are most likely intimately familiear with and turned them on their heads. Like how Little Miss Muffet didn't just sit on her tuffet, but was really doing yoga, and how the chef from the song "Patty Cake" was actually the baker of the Queen of Hearts favorite tarts. I would definitely recommend this book to readers.

Review:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 4-- When the Queen of Hearts discovers her strawberry tarts missing, she calls in Mother Goose, "Chief Detective of Nursery Rhyme Crime." The clues include a trail of crumbs, a dish and a spoon, and a hankie with the initials HM. As Mother Goose questions each suspect, a full-page illustration of that individual appears opposite the text, which is printed on a manila-folder background. A handwritten note with humorous details about that particular character appears to be paper clipped to the file. Readers may question the detective's technique as she chases down alleged perpetrators who do not have the correct initials. However, logic aside, the comical rewording of familiar facts will appeal to those who are conversant with nursery rhymes. The vibrant cartoons pop off the pages, and the witty details will have youngsters studying the pictures with interest. Serving as a foil for the boisterous cast of characters, Mother Goose appears almost too charming and sweet to be pitted against this wild and wacky lineup of possible criminals, but that only adds to the comedy. With its retro artwork and imitation of hard-boiled detective speech, this text-heavy mystery is more appropriate for older children, but the story and its solution may be a bit too simplistic to hold their attention. Fans of Jon Scieszka's humor seem the most likely audience for this book's campy art and puns.

Library Setting:
I have always wanted to do a detective program at a library. I could fill up an entire display of books devoted to mysteries like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, Box Car children, The Great Mouse Detective, etc. I think that this book would work so well in a display or program setting. It could also be used in a storytime session that dealt with rhyming and narratives. Younger children could be encouraged to play with words to make them rhyme. Pairing the book with something like Dr. Seuss would work well since both nursury rhyme characters and Dr. Seuss' characters are well known to many children.

Review Reference:

Edwards, L. (2004). The Top Secret Files of Mother Goose! (Book). School Library Journal, 50(5), 112.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYdTkNo1jkdC49-GDK81SSPLVxnewunpK3BJruCY9vY_KyKUg-CvdTZDFeFt54eBPjSOokNsL-me9I6Ssifjo7BfA6tqYpdEBQVnkgu2PuOeI6TfQrS8PBNgbwK_j2SHC7Z7VEy-aghu0/s1600/Top+secret+files+of+mother+goose.jpg

 

Module 8: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

SLIS 5420/ Module 8/ March 4-March 11
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
By Rick Riordan

Bibliography: Riordan, R. (2005). Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. New York, NY: Hyperion Books

Summary:
The Lightning Thief is the first book in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. In this book Percy learns that he is the son of Poseidon and a demigod. Percy's life takes a drastic change due to this knowledge soon he finds himself at Halfblood Hill, an academy/summer camp for the children of the gods, where they can train and learn. It isn't long, however, before Percy must set out on a quest with his friends Grover, the satyr, and Annabelle the daughter of Athena. Someone has stolen Zeus' master lightning bolt and all evidence leads to Percy. Percy must find the lightning bolt and return it to Zeus before the summer solstice in order to prevent a war among the gods.

Impressions:
I chose this book off of the list because it is always very popular at the library in which I volunteer. I wanted to see what the big deal is. I have always been a fan of Greek and Roman myths, so I really liked that aspect of the book. Rick Riordan manages to root his characters and universe in these myths while also making his book seem fresh and new. I liked how Percy and the other demigods were often diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia because their brains are actually "hardwired for ancient Greek". Little nuances like that make the book seem more realistic. The writing did seem a little juvenile to me, but I am not the author's target audience and so that first person sarcasm and attitude must appeal to elementary and middle school readers since this series is a best seller.

Professional Review:
Edgar Award–winning Riordan leaves the adult world of mystery to begin a fantasy series for younger readers. Twelve-year-old Percy (full name, Perseus) Jackson has attended six schools in six years. Officially diagnosed with ADHD, his lack of self-control gets him in trouble again and again. What if it isn’t his fault? What if all the outrageous incidents that get him kicked out of school are the result of his being a “half-blood,” the product of a relationship between a human and a Greek god? Could it be true that his math teacher Mrs. Dodds transformed into a shriveled hag with bat wings, a Fury, and was trying to kill him? Did he really vanquish her with a pen that turned into a sword? One need not be an expert in Greek mythology to enjoy Percy’s journey to retrieve Zeus’s master bolt from the Underworld, but those who are familiar with the deities and demi-gods will have many an ah-ha moment. Along the way, Percy and his cohort run into Medusa, Cerberus and Pan, among others. The sardonic tone of the narrator’s voice lends a refreshing air of realism to this riotously paced quest tale of heroism that questions the realities of our world, family, friendship and loyalty. (Fantasy. 12-15)

Library Setting:
This book would work well as a tool to introduce the school subject of Greek mythology. It would make a good part of a display on Greek and Roman myths as well as a display on popular or new series for middle school and elementary readers.

Reference Review: Kirkus Reviews. (2012). Percy jackson and the olympians: the lightning thief. Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rick-riordan/lightning-thief/
Image: http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120426104003/olympians/images/f/f8/The_Lightning_Thief-1.jpg

Module 7: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

SLIS 5420/ Module 7/ February 24-March 3
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl
By Barry Lyga

Bibliography: Lyga, B. (2007). The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. New York, NY: Graphia.

Summary:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl tells the story of a high school boy named Donnie. Donnie's life has always been plagued by bullies and family drama, but lately it has taken a turn for the worse. Donnie's mom is pregnant with his HALF sister or brother, the stepfascist is still married to his mother, and the bullying is just getting worse. Luckily Donnie has his one escape, Schemata. The graphic novel he has been working on for years. If he can just show it to Brian Michael Bendis at the comic-con coming up in a couple of weeks everything will turn around. Then Kyra enters his life and his world goes topsy-turvy again. Fanboy might not survive Goth-girl.

Impressions:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love comic books, superheroes, and all of those nerdy types of things. So I could really relate to Donnie's desire to meet Brian Michael Bendis. The characters in the Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl are also complex and deep, they seem like real people which is always nice to find in YA fiction. This book also deals with lots of teen angsty issues like suicide, bullying, divorce, death, and betrayal, but in a realistic and sympathetic way. I think it is nice to see such serious issues treated in a respectable way.

Professional Review:
Lyga has crafted credible protagonists in his first work of fiction about two misfit teens who forge a friendship. Donnie (aka Fanboy) is a comic-book aficionado, who lives with his newly remarried, pregnant mother and his “step-fascist.” Rule-abiding and honest, Fanboy’s goal in life is to meet writer and illustrator Brian Michael Bendis, to show him his own graphic novel. Unfortunately, Fanboy is tormented at school and has fantasies about school massacres; he finds comfort in his talisman, a single bullet. Enter Kyra (aka Goth Girl), who is confused and frustrated with Fanboy as she observes him refusing to stand up for himself. She reaches out to him, and the two quickly establish an uneasy albeit powerful relationship based on their mutual disdain for most of their peers and their love of comics. Although it seems likely that Goth Girl’s recklessness and cynicism will have a detrimental effect on Fanboy, he begins to see her as vulnerable, and helping her gives him new purpose. Because it’s authentic and well-written, teen readers will appreciate the complexities of these unique characters, and root for them to triumph. (Fiction. YA)

Library Setting:
This book would work well as part of a suicide, bullying, or high school issues book display or discussion. Even if the readers haven't dealt with any of these specific problems themselves The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl makes the characters easily relatable. This book can be used to bring these issues to light and make students aware of the issues their class mates might be facing.

Reference Review: Kirkus Reviews. (2012). The astonishing adventures of fanboy and goth girl. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barry-lyga/the-astonishing-adventures-of-fanboy-and-goth-girl/
Image: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgoey4spop1qe0xj3o1_400.jpg

Module 7: The Penderwicks

SLIS 5420/ Module 7/February 25-March
The Penderwicks
By Jeanne Birdsall

Bibliography: Birdsall, J. (2005). The Penderwicks. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary:
The Penderwicks is a family made up of a father, four daughters, and their dog Hound. To make their summer more magical they take a trip to Arundel and rent the cottage on the back of the estate. The girls bond throughout their three weeks at Arundel with the boy who lives in the main house, the gardener, and two friendly rabbits. Throughout their vacation the sisters forge deeper bonds between them and learn about friends, family, and growing up.

Impressions:
The Penderwicks is as charming a book as the cover suggests. I immediately fell in love with all four of the Penderwick sisters. Their Rosalind's devotion to family and honor, Batty's ladybug wings that never left her back, the adventures of Sabrina Starr as created by Jane, and Skye's inability to not say everything that is on her mind. The author brings the innocence of youth and summer play into each sentence in the book. The characters are as vivid as the setting. When I finished the book I immediately wished that I could visit the magical Arundel, but since that is unlikely, I better just find the sequel.

Professional Review:
Kirkus Review
Echoes of Alcott contribute to the intimate charm of this story of “summer and magic and adventure.” Not since the Marches have readers met more engaging girls than the Penderwicks: Rosalind, 12, pretty and practical; Skye, 11, smart and blue-eyed; Jane, ten, aspiring author, whose alter ego, Sabrina Starr, is fearless and clever; and butterfly wing–wearing Batty, four. Dear Father is a botanist, fond of spouting witticisms in Latin; Mommy is in heaven. This year, vacation will be spent at the cream-colored cottage at Arundel, estate of snooty Mrs. Tifton, whose house is “like a museum, only without armed guards.” Unless she has a change of heart, Jeffrey, her gentle, music-loving only child, is doomed to be sent to Pencey Military Academy, “Where Boys Become Men and Men Become Soldiers.” Despite a few mishaps, the children become fast friends and partners in the sorts of lively plots and pastoral pastimes we don’t read much about these days. Their adventures and near-disasters, innocent crushes, escaped animals, owning-up and growing up (and yes, changes of heart) are satisfying and not-too-sweet. (Fiction. 8-12)

Library Setting:
I think that the Penderwicks could be used on a library display with its audio book version to draw new readers or children who don't like reading. The cover is inviting and the subject matter light and warm. The reader for the audio book also does excellent versions of each of the different characters that really capture their individual personalities.

Reference Review: Kirkus.com. (2013). Kirkus reviews: The penderwicks. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jeanne-birdsall/the-penderwicks/
Image: http://www.jennysbookreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/penderwicks_jeanne_birdsall1.jpg

Module 6: How to Clean Your Room in 10 easy steps

SLIS 5420/ Module 6/ February 18-24
How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps
By Jennifer LaRue Huget and Edward Koren

Bibliography:
Huget, J. L., & Koren, E. (2010). How to clean your room in 10 easy steps. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.

Summary:
The narrator of the book How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps provides readers with 10 easy to follow steps to have a cleaner room. While her advice may be solid in some instances most of the steps should be taken with a grain of salt and a fair share of humor.

Impressions:
I both like and dislike this book. I enjoyed the narrative storyline. The big sister in the book that is supposed to be "cleaning" her room reminds me of my own in some ways. "Pizza crusts many be munched on if they are less than a month old. If you can't remember how old they are, go over to your sister's room and give them to her". I think that most younger siblings will empathize with the younger sister in this book while all readers will enjoy the roundabout ways that "cleaning" gets done. The pictures are both the high and low points of this book. I love the way the illustrator puts funny little extra moments into the illustrations. For example, the fish whose hair and mannerisms mirror the main protagonists. At the same time, however, I was kind of turned off by the sheer amount of lines in the artwork. It kind of made the illustrations look like chicken scratch more than the clean cut lines and coloring that made up the other books I read this module. 

Review:
School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-A girl demonstrates how to get results and have fun at the same time. Dusting can be done with a sock, dust bunnies can be hidden away in a dresser drawer with the candy wrappers ("You know, for crafts"), and unwanted and broken toys can be wrapped up and given to a younger sibling. The things that you love should be shoved into the closet with the door secured tightly. "Watch out. It might explode." The tongue-in-cheek humor in Koren's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations and Huget's writing will be appreciated by children who are responsible for cleaning their own rooms. They may not have a pet cat and dog helping them as Ann Erica Kelly does, but her story lightens the burden of this most dreaded chore.-Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. 

Library Setting:
This book could be part of a storytime for younger readers that teaches counting and or the concept of irony. The protagonist of the books goes through easy to understand steps in a 1-10 interval that children can count with. Teaching irony with this book would be as easy as reading the story out loud and then having the kids point out the parts of the picture that don't fit.

Reference Review:
R.R. Bowker LLC. (2010). Books in print: How to clean a room in 10 easy steps. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|27216677|25984142&mc=USA
Image:
http://bellaonbooks.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/how-to-clean-your-room-in-10-easy-steps.jpg

   

Assignment A: Book Trailers

Book Trailer: A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle

Assignment A: Book Trailers

Book Trailer: The Giver
by Lois Lowry

 

Assignment A: Book Trailers

Book Trailer: The Book of Three
by Lloyd Alexander

 

Module 5: The Tequila Worm

SLIS 5420/ Module 5/ February 11-17
The Tequila Worm
By Viola Canales

Bibliography: Canales, V. (2005). The tequila worm. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Summary:
The Tequila Worm is the coming of age story of Sofia, a Mexican American trying to learn how to balance her family's culture and tradition with her dreams of going away to school. Along the way Sofia is helped by a colorful cast of characters including her younger sister Lucy, her best frenemy Berta, her mama, papa, Tia Petra, and Doña Clara. Sofia has always been different than her sister and Berta, she doesn't want a quinceañera and she finds great joy in cleaning beans with her papa. Sofia's world is turned upside down when she receives a scholarship to a prestigious private school in Austin, Texas that appears to hold the key to her future dreams. But Sofia must learn that the things taken for granted everyday won't always be there and that to be happy you must first learn to accept and love yourself.

Impressions:
This isn't the type of book that I normally like to read. No magic, paranormal goings on, or detectives, but I found myself drawn into Sofia's story. I think that everyone can empathize with Sofia's struggle to accept herself and her family. There is also a good lesson in this book about sorting out personal priorities and expectations from those that your family places on you. I liked the way that this book was written, English intermingled with a few Spanish words, even if some people thought that the definitions written into the text seem rather elementary. I found myself wanting to know more about Sofia's life once I had finished this book and wondering if there was more to these characters' lives than had been written.

Review:
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-Sofia, 14, lives in McAllen, TX. What she lacks in material possessions, she makes up for in personality and intelligence. When she is called a "taco head" by a student at her school, she decides to "kick that girl" by getting better grades and being a better soccer player than her tormentor. As a result of this determination, Sofia is offered a scholarship to the elite Saint Luke's school in Austin. Now she must convince her family and herself that she is up to the challenge. Canales includes vivid descriptions of life in a Mexican-American community. Her prose is engaging and easy to read, making this novel a good choice for reluctant readers. The momentum slows a bit after Sofia's arrival in Austin in contrast to the portion of the book set in McAllen. Still, the story is a good addition to most collections.-Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Library Setting:
The Tequila Worm would be a great book to display for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is every year from September 15 to October 15th. Not only is the book written by a Hispanic writer but Sofia's journey highlights the Mexican culture along with positive ways to deal with racial problems. This book could be displayed along with books that highlight quinceañeras, Hispanic holidays including Dia de Los Muertos and Hispanic Easter traditions.

Review Reference: R.R. Bowker LLC. (2012). Books in print: the tequila worm. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|14634379|13534279&mc=USA
Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpj8gOKP0Bx0EAfIXVZHZU-TZNiLq3qzn2s87M57qk8ab5TsDm4cDBTGHMcsgrCd8Dxohym1ElejLo_F2fctGGH3r0vr-JXdhJRPmgp7sVdS_gFRc2hN2WosuShgNTzZ0oxJkwx7ELQ/s1600/tequila_worm.jpg

Module 5: Where Things Come Back

SLIS 5420/ Module 5/ February 11-17
Where Things Come Back
By John Corey Whaley

Bibliography: Whaley, J. C. (2011). Where things come back. New York, NY: Atheneum Books For Young Readers.

Summary:
Where Things Come Back takes place in the small town of Lily, Arkansas. Cullen Witter is a stereotypical teenager, bored and pessimistic about just about everything. The only people he can stand to put up with are his only friend Lucas Cader and his younger brother Gabriel. Like many teenage boys he dreams about the girl, Ada Taylor, that he thinks he can never get. But when his brother disappears without a trace during the summer his life  is changed drastically. This event also coincides with the appearance in Lily of a long thought extinct woodpecker. While bird enthusiasts flood to Lily and the town embraces its newest attraction Cullen just wants everything to go back to normal. At the same time the sad stories of Benton the missionary who has lost his faith and Cabot Searcy his roommate are woven into the fabric of the narrative. Transforming what could have been a simple kidnapping tale into a heady book about destiny, love, hope, and transformation.

Impressions:
I was surprised by how much I was affected by this book. The disappearance of Gabriel Witter seems like something out of an episode of Dateline and the reader despairs along with Cullen of ever finding news of his brother Gabriel. I enjoyed the quirk of Cullen's character in which he constantly thinks of book titles and writes them in a notebook, while at the same time never actually turning any of them into a book. Each chapter is named after one of his books and really sets the stage for what is to come. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of the town of Lily's overwhelming enthusiasm for a never seen woodpecker against Cullen's own personal tragedy and the complete implosion of his family. The ending of the book is open to interpretation which could frustrate some younger readers looking for more resolution. But the overall reading experience is rewarding.

Review:
Booklist
An answer to complaints about simplistic YA problem fiction, this debut novel, set in Lily, Arkansas, takes on the whole small town with alternating viewpoints, beginning with the first-person narrative of Cullen, 17, and moving on to a huge cast of friends, enemies, family members, lovers, and neighbors. In a parallel plotline, Benton, 18, fails as a missionary in Ethiopia ( passing out food, water, and Christ ) and, after returning to college in the U.S., commits suicide, setting off a chain of interconnected, unexpected events. What will hold readers most is the moving story of Cullen's beloved younger brother, who suddenly goes missing, leading to mystery, heartbreak, and an astonishing resolution on the very last page. Whaley's numerous themes range from religion to Internet technology to the environment, and a wry subplot about the so-called sighting of a long-extinct Lazarus woodpecker brings levity, as Lily's residents try to capitalize on the new tourist trade with creations such as th. Lazarus burger. An intriguing, memorable offering teens will want to discuss.--Rochman, Haze. Copyright 2010 Booklist
 Library Setting:
I can see this book being used in a classroom library setting. It would do well as a discussion book for small groups to read together in a reading class or English class. The themes of growing up, hope, despair, and transformation have the potential for an interesting discussion. The readers could discuss how the different narrators stories are woven together and whether the ending brings enough closure to Cullen Witter's story.

Review Reference: R.R. Bowker LLC. (2012). Books in print: Where things come back. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|31604362|31021800&mc=USA
Image: http://www.granitemedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/wherethingscomeback.jpg

Module 4: A Wrinkle in Time

SLIS 5420/ Module 4/ February 4-10
A Wrinkle in Time
By Madeleine L'Engle

Bibliography: L'Engle, M. (1962). A wrinkle in time. New York: Scholastic Book Services.

Summary:
A Wrinkle in Time is a refreshing juvenile/young adult read about a very different sort of family. Meg Murray is a smart girl who always seems to be getting into trouble at school through little to know fault of her own. The only people in her family that seem to understand her are her brother Charles Wallace and to a lesser extent her mother. Her fauther went missing several years ago while working on a secret government project. Her brother Charles has the strange ability to seemingly know and understand more about a person than they let on. He also has an ability to make friends in the strangest of places. When Meg, Charles, and their friend Calvin meet up with Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which they begin a quest to save Mr. Murray and battle the evil threatening their planet.

Impressions:
Like I said above I found this book refreshing. The writing was firmly grounded in reality while at the same time I found myself thinking about the author's choice of diction and wondering if it was reflection of the time period in which the book was written. Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace are strong protagonists each with different depth to their character and their own set of problems.I think that this makes them very relatable and real. I like the esoteric and spiritual nature of the book. The tesering to different planets all described with such detail that I could see them clearly in my head even though what the author was describing has never existed. I especially loved her descriptions of the "beasts" on planet Ixchel and the kind "Aunt Beast" that Meg comes to love. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series when I get the chance.

Review:
Though written decades ago, all three novels connect with current headlines on bullying, societal conformity, dangerous microorganisms, and potential threats of nuclear aggression.  L'Engle's modern classics are school and public library standards.-Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted

Library Setting:
A Wrinkle in Time would be a good book to use in a school or library setting to support a discussion on bullying. The main characters of A Wrinkle in Time are all bullied in some way whether it is by teachers, family, or students. This book could be used to introduce the topic of discussion and then the leader could expand on the topic by giving strategies to deal with bullying in a positive way.

Review Reference: R.R. Bowker LLC. (2012). Books in print:a wrinkle in time professional reviews.
Image: http://businessclarksville.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/wrinkle-in-time.jpg

Module 4: Shadow of a Bull

SLIS 5420/ Module 4/ February 4-10

Shadow of a Bull

by Maia Wojciechowska

Bibliography: Wojciechowska, M. (1964). Shadow of a bull. New York: Books for Young Readers.

Summary:

Shadow of a Bull is the story of Manolo Olivar and his search for identity. Manolo's father Juan Olivar was the greatest bullfighter in all of Spain. Manolo's entire town expects Manolo to be the second coming of his father, but Manolo has no desire to fight bulls. Manolo's friend Jaime and his brother Juan try to help prepare Manolo for his tienta and bullfight. But all Manolo wants to do is not embarrass his family and actually be given a choice about what he wants to do with his life.

Impressions:
I chose to read this book because I love Spain. I have been there several times with my family and was excited to see a book of this type on the reading list. I wasn't disappointed either. This book manages to capture the atmosphere of the smaller Spanish cities and villages that I have been too and their way of life. I can see why this book won a Newbery Award. The writing in the book brings the characters to life and is especially strong when Manolo is speaking. I really felt for Manolo and his desire to be a doctor. I think that this is a good book for children to read and help understand that almost everyone struggles between their own aspirations and the aspirations that the people around them have for them.

Review:
Kirkus Review
‘Haunted by the legend of his father, a world-famous bull fighter, 11-year-old Manolo Olivar searches for the courage to pursue his own dream. Manolo's emotional struggle to remain faithful to himself while retaining the honor of his family and the respect of the townspeople who are looking to him to restore the glory that his father had once brought to their small Andalusian town. Wojciechowska's coming of age story, while set in surroundings unfamiliar to most Americans, will strike a responsive chord with young listeners facing their own issues about growing up, meeting others' expectations, and discovering that there are many different kinds of courage.‘Cindy Lombardo, Ashland Public Library

Library Setting:
This would be an excellent book to use in a classroom environment around the fourth or fifth grade when projects about other parts of the world are prevalent. The way that the Shadow of the Bull is written along with the Spanish vocabulary would be a great teaching/learning tool for students. The presenter could share words from the book in Spanish and translate them into English for their classmates. It would be easy to work this book into a project or as an example of the project.

Review Reference: Library Journals LLC. (2012). Books in print. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|158936|1444808&mc=USA

Image: http://cc.pbsstatic.com/l/24/0424/9780689300424.jpg

Module 3: Arrow to the Sun

SLIS 5420 / Module 3 / January 28-February 3

Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale

By Gerald McDermott

Bibliography: McDermott, G. (1974). Arrow to the sun. New York: The Viking Press Inc.

Summary:
Arrow to the Sun tells the story of The Boy whose father the Lord of the Sun sent the spark of life to earth. The Boy is different from the other children in the village and they won't let him join in their games. Because of this The Boy leaves his mother and goes to seek his father. In a play on "Are You My Mother" The Boy asks many different people if they are his father, but none of them are. The Arrow Maker, however, fashions him into an arrow and shoots him towards his father the Sun. The Boy then goes through several trials to prove to his father that he is his son and is transformed. After his transformation he is sent back to earth by his father to "bring his father's spirit to the world of men".

Impressions:
I was drawn to this book because of the fabulous illustrations. They are incredibly different from many of the books that I read this week. The illustrations are blocky, brightly colored, and reflective of Native American culture. I think that this book is interesting to read. Because at heart it is observably a creation story, but from a different culture's perspective. It amazes me the parallels that can be drawn to the story of Jesus, Greek creation with Uranus, Assyrian creation myths, and many others. I think that it is obvious why this story won the Caldecott Award. This is definitely a book that makes a reader look twice after it has been pulled down off of the shelf.

Review:
Kirkus Review

The gold, ochre and black of the stylized pueblo, the Boy's transformation from a Kachina-like silhouette into an arrow strong enough to reach his father the Sun and, finally, the explosion of color as Boy enters the Sun's four chambers to confront monster lions, serpents, bees and lightning -- all add up to a richer, more kinetic, more functional balance between story and visual effects than were to be found in McDermott's highly praised Anansi the Spider. In this spare, simple form the tale of the Boy who leaves the earth to pass the tests set by his immortal father and then returns to earth where the people celebrate his presence with a Dance of Life has obvious Christian and other parallels. McDermott's fusion of primitive costumes, motifs and legend with contemporary design and color sense is highly ambitious -- and, in this instance, explosively, elementally beautiful.

Library Setting:
This would be an excellent book to use in a display for Native American Heritage Month in November. It could be paired with other books about Native American tribes, myths, and books by Native American authors. This book could also be used to spark a discussion about creation stories and how people all over the world have similar and yet different stories explaining creation.

Review Reference: Kirkus Media LLC. (2012, May 3). Arrow to the sun. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gerald-mcdermott/arrow-to-the-sun/

Image: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eyaE0DryL._SL500_SS500_.jpg

Module 3: Tuesday

SLIS 5420 / Module 3 / January 28-February 3
Tuesday
by David Wiesner

Bibliography: Wiesner, D. (1991). Tuesday. New York: Clarion Books.

Summary:
Is a Caldecott winner that relies on its pictures to do most of the story-telling. The book starts out on a Tuesday evening around eight and follows a group of frogs as they discover that they have the ability to fly on their lillypads. The frogs soon go for a joy ride in a nearby town,flying though backyards, into hanging sheets, startling citizens having snacks in their kitchens, watching tv in an older woman's house, and flying alongside a running dog. As the sun comes up the lilypads appear to lose their powers and the frogs are unceremoniously dumped backed ino the pond from wence they came. The town is baffled by the lilypads all over the streets and policeman are called to investigate. Finally the end of the book warns that there is always another Tuesday and pigs are shown flying out of a barn.

Impressions:
The first time that I flipped through the pages of this book I was a little put off that there were apparently less than ten words to the entire book. But as I read the book again I found charm in the fact that the pictures were able to accurately narrarate the book with little to no help from the words. Besides that the illustrations are beautifully painted with vibrant blues and greens throughout. The pictures contain fun little hidden wonders for readers to discover like a frog using the tv remote with its tongue, a frog that gets a sock caught around its neck like a cape, and the man whose snack they interrupted talking to the police at the end and pointing towards the sky.

Review:
Booklist
Wiesner offers a fantasy watercolor journey accomplished with soft-edged realism. Studded with bits of humor, the narrative artwork tells a simple, pleasant story with a consistency and authenticity that make the fantasy convincing. While this trip may not take children far, its open-ended conclusion invites them to carry on the fantasy, allowing for unexpected magic in everyday, modern settings. ~--Carolyn Phelan

Library Setting:
This book would be fun to use in a storytime with children aged approximately 3-6. It would be an excellent resource for shoing the power of the imagination in books with few words and getting your audience into the story by asking what the children see in the pages and what is happening. The open ending of the book also invites the children to continue to think about the story even after it is over.

Review Reference: R.R. Bowker LLC. (2012). Books in print. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|727941|1793297&mc=USA
Image:
http://reviews-of-childrens-literature.pbworks.com/w/page/10581742/f/Tuesday%20by%20David%20Wiesner_Cover.jpg

Module 2: The Book of Three

The Book of Three
by Lloyd Alexander

Bibliography: Alexander, L. (2006). The Book of Three. New York: Square Fish.

Summary:
The Book of Three stars Taran, the assistant pig keeper for an oracular pig named Hen Wen. Taran dreams of excitement and adventure to take him away from his everyday boring existence. But in a classic case of be careful what you wish for when Hen Wen runs off and Taran pursues her he becomes mixed up in all sorts of trouble. As Taran runs for his life from the Horned King he meets some new friends including Gurgi, Eilonwy, Doli, and Fflewddur Fflam. These friends become invaluable allies along Taran's journey to find Hen Wen and save Prydain from the evil of Annuvin and its Lord Arawn.

Impressions:
The only encounter I have ever had with this book before I sat down to read it for this module was Disney's animated version of the Black Cauldron. I loved the movie as a child so when I saw this book on the list I knew I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed either. The Book of Three has everything that makes children's fantasy so fun and engaging. Strong likable characters that are also fallible, humor, creatures, magic, and mythical settings. I'm honestly surprised a movie studio has not attempted to adapt these books yet. I will definitely be seeking out the rest of the series to read.

Review:
Kirkus Review
"Taran, young boy, dubbed "Assistant Pig Keeper" to satisfy his dreams of glory, is the central character. A ward of the wizard, Dallben, he is in charge of an oracular pig, Hen Wen. His search for her after a raid by the horrible Horned King brings him to such strong fantasy characters as: Gwydion, a prince who teaches him the first principle of leadership -- self control; Eilonwy, a runaway junior witch, and Fflewddur, an incompetent bard. If these characters don't suggest T.H. White's treatment of the Arthurian legends, they should. The author draw his figures with the same touches of irritability, doltishness and contrariness that leavens with high good humor the high fantasy. The major theme is good against evil-- black magic against white -- but (give thanks for creative restraint) only to a draw." (Kirkus Review, Oct. 27, 2011).

Library Setting:
The Prydain series would do excellent in any middle or elementary school library next to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter or Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. It might also be fun to do a library program or display highlighting Disney movies, which almost all kids are familiar with, and then juxtapose the DVDs with the books that serve as their source material.

Reference Review:
Kirks Reviews. (2011, October 27). Kirkus reviews the book of three. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lloyd-alexander/the-book-of-three/
Image:
http://jacketupload.macmillanusa.com/jackets/high_res/jpgs/9780805080483.jpg

Module 2: Harriet the Spy

SLIS 5420 / Module 2 / January 21-28

Books for this module
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhough

Bibliography
Fitzhough, L. (2000). Harriet the Spy. New York: Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

Harriet the Spy
by Louise Fitzhough

Summary:
Harriet M. Welsch wants to be a writer. In order to achieve this goal she sets about writing down everything she sees everyday, both the good and the bad, in her green notebook. Unfortunately, Harriet's green notebook is found by her friends one day and Harriet's life is turned upside down as her painfully blunt comments are read aloud. This sets into motion a series of events that any child who has ever gone to school recognizes as Harrit stumbles about trying to stay true to herself as well as make amends.

Impressions:
I never read Harriet the spy as a child and was pleasantly surprised by how touched I was reading it as a 23 year old. I was almost brought to tears when Harriet lost Ole Golly, the only adult that truly understood her. I think that Harriet the Spy is such an enduring children's book because Louise Fitzhough has managed to capture universal aspects of childhood and growing up. From the sting of a friend's betrayal, that almost any reader can empathize with, to learning that making amends can sometimes mean humbling yourself, Harriet has many life lessons to impart. I would recommend this book to both children and adults in a flash.

Review:
School Library Journal
"Gr 3-6-Louise Fitzhugh's novel (HarperCollins, 1964), comes to life in this superbly narrated recording. Harriet M. Welsch, an intensely curious and intelligent 11-year-old, aspires to be a writer when she grows up. Encouraged by her nurse, Ole Golly, she practices for this future vocation by spying on people on her after-school route and writing about them in her secret notebook. She is a keen observer of all that goes on around her as she tries to make sense out of life. When her classmates find her notebook and read her painfully blunt comments about them, Harriet finds herself an outcast. Even her best friends, Sport and Janie, desert her. Harriet has to find a way to win back her friends without giving up her own individuality." (School Library Journal, July 1, 1999)

Library Setting:
Harriet the Spy would be a welcome addition to any middle school or elementary library since she is such a realistic protagonist that children can identify with. It might also be fun to include Harriet in a Public or School Library display about detectives, spys, and/or writers.

Reference Review: Elizabeth, B. (2012, June 1). School library journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/12/top-100-childrens-novels-17-harriet-the-spy-by-louise-fitzhugh/
Image:
http://ca.pbsstatic.com/l/20/0120/9781557360120.jpg

Module 1: The Rainbow Fish

SLIS 5420 / Module 1 / January 14- 20

Book for this Module

Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Bibliography
Pfister, M. (1992). Rainbow fish (J. A. James Trans.). New York: North-South Books.

Summary:
The Rainbow Fish has sparking shimmering scales, he is the most beautiful fish in the sea. He is also proud and vain. Because of this he has few friends and is lonely. Rainbow Fish turns to a wise octopus to learn a valuable lesson about what is truly important in life.

Impressions:
Rainbow Fish from the onset is a beautifully illustrated book with a pink, purple, green, and blue color palette. Between the illustrations and Rainbow Fish's special foil scales, children will be drawn to Rainbow Fish immediately. The story itself is pretty simple and the translation seems a little clunky in places, but the pictures and words together create a total that is far greater than the sum of their individual parts.

Reviews:
School Library Journal
"The delicate watercolors of underwater scenes are a perfect foil to the glittering scales that eventually form a part of each fish's exterior. This is certainly a story written to convey a message, but in its simplicity, it recalls the best of Lionni. Besides, what three-year-old doesn't need reinforcement about sharing?"

Library Setting:
Storytime or Program
In a public library or even a kindergarten class I think that children would enjoy storytime with Rainbow Fish. Not only does the book reinforce a valuable message about sharing and giving, but the storytime's leader could also introduce a coloring or craft project focused on this message that also incoporates the watercolor technique or glittery scales of Rainbow Fish.

Review. (1992, Nov.). The Rainbow Fish [Review of the book The Rainbow Fish]. School Library Journal. Available from: http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|15193504|1329877&mc=USA
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