Welcome to ChildrensLit Now –the brand new newsletter from Children’s Literature Review Source!
Children’s Literature Review Source has been reviewing children’s and young adult literature since 1993. Our mission is to review a wide variety of children’s and young adult titles from a wide variety of voices. We do so with several goals in mind. One, that every child and teen find themselves represented in literature. Two, that they learn about and respect others that are different from themselves. Three, that they are exposed to enjoyable fiction and nonfiction to help educate, provide understanding, and inspire. Thus, we currently accept books for review from small, medium, and large publishing houses. We also provide a unique opportunity for indie authors to showcase their work.
Whether you are an aspiring author, seasoned librarian, or new parent, our new ChildrensLit Now newsletter will bring you book reviews, literary information, and interviews to present a unique insight into current trends within children’s and YA literature.
Shelley Oakley
Director, Children’s Literature review source
ChildrensLit Notable Reviews
She Can You Can: the A-Z Book of Iconic Indian + Indian American Women
By: Garima Kushwaha
Illustrated by: Anastasia Damani
Publisher: Mango & Marigold Press, 2021
ISBN: 9781645437642
Reviewer: Shelley Oakley
She Can You Can will be a keeper on bookshelves for many years to come. Kushwaha has provided a diverse selection of accomplished Indian women to create a book worthwhile of any library collection. In ABC first name order, readers are given short biographies of great Indian women who conquered sexism and other obstacles to achieve great things. Women highlighted include athletes, doctors, businesswomen, scientists, government officials, artists, and more. But spotlighting women in unique professions makes this title stand out and provides even more inspiration for readers. Women like Deepa Malik, whose paralysis did not stop her from winning awards and medals in various sports that no one thought she could. And Uma Devi Khatri, whose poverty and size only pushed her to break stereotypes. In language geared towards middle-grade readers, Kushwaha points out each woman’s expertise, barriers, and ultimate problem-solving methods to gain success. Each woman’s feature includes a quote by either herself or someone who has worked with her, awards received, birthplace and birth/death dates, and an illustration of the woman. The unique activities at the end of the book reinforce finding a positive female role-model and how one is never too young to start dreaming big. Older female readers, who will also be inspired by this title, will identify with the struggles many of the women faced, such as proving themselves in a male-dominated society. Younger readers, especially girls and more specifically Indian girls, will gain self-confidence in their own aspirations. Recommended for libraries that want to truly create a diverse collection and honor all societies.
Becoming a full-time children’s book author takes guts and Kim Ventrella proves she has the guts that it takes. Debut author Kim Ventrella discusses her book, Skeleton Tree (Scholastic 2017), and her transition from a librarian to a full-time novelist. Her next book, Bone Hollow, will hit book shelves in Spring 2019.
There are children’s books about monsters and aliens. Why a skeleton?
Skeleton Tree does feature a slightly scary, but mostly adorable skeleton, but it’s more about friendship and family than monsters. The main character is 12-year-old Stanly, who discovers a finger bone in his backyard that grows into a skeleton that only children can see. My hope is that readers will come away from the story with a new perspective on life, death and family. I’m never that great at describing my own books, but one of my favorite authors, Paul Griffin, described it this way: “Like Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief, Skeleton Tree upends the myth of the Grim Reaper. Scary, sad, funny and always so, so sweet, Skeleton Tree will haunt me and remind me that life is miraculous when it’s rooted in hope and empathy.”
Skeleton Tree delves into several tough life situations. What was the most difficult scene to write?
Probably the scenes in the end involving Stanly’s father. In the early versions, I had their relationship resolving in a more positive way, but my editor encouraged me to push harder, which led me to a more difficult, but also more impactful conclusion. The fact that Stanly has this extremely distant father who doesn’t respond to his emails or return to solve all of Stanly’s problems, as he’s hoping, became one of the roughest, but also most important parts of the book. My own parents got divorced when I was a baby, and I’ve only met my father once or twice (I can’t remember which). I sent him this letter at some point when I was a child, and he never responded. Like never. That was the memory I was channeling when I wrote the conclusion to Stanly’s relationship with his father, and I have been surprised to hear how much it has resonated with readers, even though it may not be easy to read.
What do you think has influenced you more as an author- your desire to write or working as a public librarian?
More than anything, I think my love of stories has influenced me most as an author. Ever since I was a kid, I have been a huge day dreamer. I absolutely love when a story (whether from a book or TV or a movie) inspires me to create my own stories. I actually became a librarian because of my desire to write and create new worlds of my own. I was pursuing a master’s in French when I attended a writing conference and heard a presentation by two librarians who had published their first book while working in the library. I changed my degree program that same day to Library and Information Studies, and the rest is history.
You recently made the move from writing while holding down a full-time job to a full-time writer. How has your writing schedule changed?
I’ve wanted to be a starving artist since I was little, and so I am loving the self-employed life. Also, while libraries are obviously super awesome and vital to society, I’ve never really been cut out to work for the Man. I love knowing that every second of my day can be directed toward my passions. Overall, I’m super disciplined, but, of course, there are days when I do less productive things, like watch a bazillion back-to-back episodes of Supernatural, but, come on, what would the writing life be if I didn’t make a little room for bromance?
You are so gracious in that you provide free Skype visits for grades 3-7. What question do students ask you the most? What questions do teachers ask you the most?
I love doing Skype visits. A lot of students ask me how I get the ideas for my books, why I wanted to become a writer and if I’ll consider putting them in my next book. I also get a lot of questions about my dog and why I love skeletons so much. Teachers often ask about the revision process and why it’s so important to keep trying even in the face of obstacles.
Your next book is Bone Hollow. Can you tell us a little about it?
I can tell you that the tagline for the back-cover copy is: “Death is only the beginning…” It has a beautiful cover, and one of the main characters is an adorable dog named Ollie. It does not feature the same characters from SKELETON TREE, but it is basically the world’s sneakiest prequel.
If we were to visit you and look at your bookshelf, what genre would we find the most?
Definitely fantasy, though I love all kinds of books. I mean, the Harry Potter section alone…
When the ice on which three polar bears are standing breaks loose, they seek a new home but find they are unwelcome in most places.
Science: This book could introduce climate change. It could also serve as a first step in learning about animal habitats, with the example being the polar bears, panda bears, giraffes, and monkeys.
Social Studies: The inside book flap states that this book was inspired by the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. Depending on the age group, discussions and research could be developed about various worldwide refugee situations in the past and in the present.
Language Arts: Throughout the book many words in the text are in bold, larger font. There is no obvious reason as to why certain words were picked- some are nouns, some are adjectives, etc. To build vocabulary, in reading groups (or in pairs), have readers think of different words to replace those words in bold.
Imaginary companions come in all shapes and sizes- monsters, animals, skeletons, and other humans. They come for many reasons too, but in most fiction imaginary companions come to help a child get through a difficult situation. Our Imaginary Companions reading list provides picture books and chapter books from the perspective of the child, and a few from the perspective of the imaginary companion.
The day twelve-year-old Stanly finds a finger bone growing into a skeleton in his yard everything changes–his seven-year-old sister Miren adopts the skeleton, which only children can see, as a friend and playmate, and as her health continues to deteriorate Stanly blames the skeleton and tries to drive it away, although it is the only thing that seems to give Miren any joy.
An imaginary friend waits a long time to be imagined by a child and given a special name, and finally does the unimaginable–he sets out on a quest to find his perfect match in the real world.
Thirteen-year old Clara is making new friends, finding her own way of dressing, and enjoying a closer relationship with her mother as she tries to end her ties to Elsa, an imaginary best friend she has had since she was five.
Unable to make the normal trumpet blast, little Ellison gets teased by the other elephants, until his imaginary friend Weasel helps him find his own unique voice.
In the first book of the Daisy Dreamer series, 7-year-old Daisy Dreamer learns that everything she’s ever imagined or drawn is all real! She meets her totally true imaginary friend, Posey, who invites Daisy to explore the extraordinary world filled with all the things she’s always daydreamed about.
After moving to a new neighborhood, eleven-year-old Bree’s long-forgotten imaginary playmate returns, to the dismay of her parents and brother, but the only other girl on the street is thirteen-year-old Cassie, whose behavior may lead to big trouble.
Hank Wolowitz and Inkling, his invisible bandapat friend, try to save the family ice-cream store’s business from a whoopie pie food truck parked outside.
When her mother disappears and a menacing stranger tries to claim her home, Brightwood Hall, for himself, Daisy must use her wits, courage, and help from her imaginary friends to survive.
Rudger, an imaginary playmate, must find his friend Amanda before he fades away to nothing, while eluding the only other person who can see him, evil Mr. Bunting, who hunts–and possibly even eats–imaginaries.
At age fourteen, Ted Merritt is eager to replace his imaginary friend, a bacon-loving pirate, with real friends but soon he is led from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, into a world of discarded “abstract companions” who are intent on wreaking vengeance on the human race.
Ruthie has a problem at school. It is the Snurtch. The Snurtch is a scribbly, grabby, rude monster who follows Ruthie around and gets her into all sorts of trouble. It seems Ruthie will never be rid of the Snurtch. But eventually, she realizes she’s not the only one… George has one too.
Phillip and Brock are best friends, although everyone else thinks Brock is imaginary, so when Phillip gets tired out at the Big Fair while Brock is still having fun, they are separated and it will take a very special twosome to bring them back together again.
A little boy uses his imagination to bring life into his lonely apartment by creating four lion cut-outs that he relates to as companions and protectors during his many adventures in his imaginary jungle.
Nine-year-old Lila, born with xeroderma pigmentosum, a skin disease that make her sensitive to sunlight, makes secret plans to feel the sun’s rays on her tenth birthday.
Lulu Atlantis is peeved when her mother brings home little brother Sam, and she turns to her imaginary friend, Harry the daddy long-legs spider, for comfort, companionship, help, and advice as she is getting used to the addition to the family.
After his mother finally convinces the principal of Greenfield Junior High to admit him, twelve-year-old Sam arrives for his first day of school, along with his imaginary friend Winston Churchill, who encourages him to persevere with his cerebral palsy.
Young Clara would rather play with her imaginary giant fish, Asha, than settle down to sleep.
Charlotte Huck Award
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Charlotte Huck Award® for Outstanding Fiction for Children was established in 2014 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of fiction for children. This award recognizes fiction that has the potential to transform children’s lives by inviting compassion, imagination, and wonder.
The award commemorates the work of educator Charlotte Huck, who led children’s-literature studies at The Ohio State University from the mid-1950s to 1986, championing the classroom use of storybooks to teach reading and language arts. She was the author of five editions of the textbook Children’s Literature in the Classroom
After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty is very afraid of climbing up again, but is determined not to let fear stop him from being close to the birds.
After a long, troubling string of foster homes, 11-year-old Flora and her brother, Julian, were finally adopted two years ago. They’re starting to feel comfortable with their mom, Emily, but now she is pregnant. The announcement raises distressing questions about real family and belonging, particularly because Flora and Julian know nothing about their biological parents, except that they were probably darker than Emily, who’s white, but lighter than Emily’s husband, who’s black.
The journey of three children, spanning different continents and decades, as they escape dangers in their homelands- Josef, a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany, Isabel, a Cuban girl in 1984, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015.
Eleven-year-old Fern helps to take care of her impoverished family by foraging for food in the forest, but when a fracking company rolls into town, she realizes that her peaceful woods and her family’s livelihood could be threatened.
The mayor of the noisy city of La Paz institutes new laws forbidding all singing, but a brave little rooster decides he must sing, despite the progressively severe punishments he receives for continuing to crow. The silenced populace, invigorated by the rooster’s bravery, ousts the tyrannical mayor and returns their city to its free and clamorous state.
A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family’s vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community.
Two strangers seek shelter in a storm, but are turned away by everyone in the forest. But when a family in the forest needs help, will the strangers refuse them kindness and generosity as they were?
Stef wishes her family would dissolve the family business, a taco truck. But when the business is threatened, she finds herself with a change of heart.
An old red oak tree tells how he and his crow friend, Bongo, help their human neighbors get along after a threat against an immigrant family is carved into the tree’s trunk.
All of us at CLCD, LLC. would like to wish you, your organization, and your family a Happy New Year. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your success this past year.
Bringing literature into the lives of children is our number one purpose and we are honored to work alongside you to make this a reality. As we enter the new year, 2018 will bring exciting additions including an exciting new app, MoBoo. We will keep you up-to-date on this and other fun endeavors.
As always, we love keeping in touch with our clients. One way we do this is by sharing our bi-monthly newsletter, Read & Shine, with our clients. Also, don’t forget to like us on Facebook, where we share author/illustrator news and birthdays and special ideas for the library and classroom.
Sponsored by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) for superior achievement in horror literature. Named in honor of the author of the seminal horror novel Dracula, the Bram Stoker Awards® are presented for superior writing in eleven categories including traditional fiction of various lengths, poetry, screenwriting, graphic novels, young adult, and non-fiction.
Charity Jones is a 16-year-old engineering genius who’s much-bullied for being biracial and a skeptic at her conservative school in Oak County, California. Everything changes when Charity’s social worker mother brings home a sweet teen runaway named Aidan to foster for the holidays. Matched in every way, Charity and Aidan quickly fall in love. But it seems he’s not the only new arrival: Charity soon finds the brutally slain corpse of her worst bully and she gets hard, haunting evidence that the killer is stalking Oak County. As she and her Skeptics Club investigate this death and others, they find at every turn the mystery only grows darker and deadlier. One thing’s for certain: there’s a bloody battle coming this holiday season that will change their lives – and human history – forever.
It’s referred to as ‘The Outbreak,’ and it happened just over three months ago, casting the world (or at least this part of it) into a state of powerlessness and chaos. The Salton Academy has become a rare sanctuary for those few students who remained behind over fall break. As winter approaches, cracks are revealed in the academy’s foundations as it’s discovered someone is stealing food, another is taking advantage of a captive audience, and yet others have banded together and are thinking about mutiny, even murder. One thing’s for certain — a supply run must be made soon, or everyone will starve before winter’s end. Oh yes, and then there’s the matter of the headmaster’s son and his undead dog.
John “Smoke” Conlan uses his supernatural ability to travel outside the walls of a juvenile detention center to try to clear his name and help his fellow inmates find redemption.
Brutally murdered in the early 1970s, Molly can fade back to earth for a few fleeting moments as a teenage hitchhiker who can see the future. When Tatum, bullied at school and dumped by her best friend, picks up Molly and hears ‘You’re going to die. It will hurt and you’ll be alone. And no one will help you,’ Tatum and Molly must figure out how to help the others to save themselves.
A series of murders that are eerily like the dark stories Lana’s deceased brother used to tell start happening in her home town, threatening her newfound popularity.
With a chip in his head and hundreds more throughout his body, sixteen-year-old Carl Freeman was turned from an orphan with impulse control issues into a super-soldier. Forced into the mercenary Phoenix Force group, he begins to fear he’ll never escape. Sent to a volcanic island to fight for them, he’ll compete in a combat tournament that awards teens with survival for merciless brutality. But just when all looks lost, he spies a friendly face… and possibly a way out.
When a tough sixteen-year-old boxing champ sentenced to an isolated boot camp discovers it is a mercenary training facility turning “throwaway children” into scientifically enhanced killers, he risks everything to save his friends and stop a madman bent on global destruction.
This week we are sharing reviews of some spooky reads you might want to share with those who love scary stories, and a few not-as-scary Halloween reads.
This original horror story begins and ends with the tale of Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s determination to recreate life through scientific means. This account relates how he ventures into slaughter houses and dissecting places to find body parts that when put together presents a ghastly representative of human life. Now Frankenstein must penetrate deep into his soul to find his conscience as he discovers the truth about his creation and determine what gives life has the right to recede it. Each intricate detail and beautifully written prose bestows the pages with rich and satisfying sentences that builds suspense as bile emerges from their stomach. The author’s note at the beginning explains the origins of this story while the illustrations confirm the pictures drawn by the author’s words. The old English writing represents how some stories survive the test of time with vigor and how profits can still be made from reprints when scientific logic and imagination collide.
Everyone wishes they were someone else from time to time. William inadvertently finds a way to do this when he puts on a cursed mask. The only problem is that once the mask is on, it can’t be taken off and it fills the wearer with a rage so powerful that they destroy everything and everyone in their path. The only way to get the mask off is to destroy the wearer along with it. As his dying act, William attempts to hide the mask in a place where no one will ever find it to protect everyone in his beloved town. For many years, the mask lays undiscovered at the bottom of a locked trunk, and William’s spirit wards off potential intruders. Then, in a stroke of bad luck, Lu-Ann and her friends stumble across the chest and its contents. Will the group of friends survive this night of horrors, or will they share William’s fate? The short chapters and larger font will appeal to reluctant readers. There are some graphic references of blood and death that may not be appropriate for younger readers, but for older readers, this may add to the intrigue.
Coraline and her family have moved to a new flat and life continues as normal. Mom and Dad are always busy and she is always bored. When her father offhandedly suggests that she count the doors and windows in their new home to keep her busy, Coraline finds one mysterious door that is locked. Intrigued, Coraline finds the key, opens the door, and finds herself in a very different world. Here, her parents are at the ready to entertain her and keep her happy. This “Other Mother” even cooks everything she likes. At first, she thinks this is wonderful, but when she realizes that this Other Mother does not want her to return home, Coraline becomes determined to resist. Coraline makes one trip back home only to find that her real parents have disappeared. Knowing that the Other Mother is behind all this, Coraline returns to find out what has become of her real parents. With the help of a black cat, Coraline manages not only to resist the Other Mother but finds other children who have fallen under her spell. Ultimately, Coraline frees the children and makes sure that the Other Mother can harm no one else. Coraline ends up returning home to her real Mom and Dad and appreciates them in a way she never did before. This story provides a good edge-of-your-seat read without being terribly frightening. For those children who like to be scared, Gaiman’s novel is a well-written alternative to Goosebumps.
Ryan has returned to his house in Skeleton Creek from an accident that left him with a broken leg. Ryan is writing a journal of what has happened to him, including strange occurrences and his friendship with Sarah. He fears his small town is haunted. He and his friend Sarah had been researching the history of their town and discovered a connection with the New York Gold and Silver Company. The town s librarian believes the abandoned dredge where Ryan has his accident was left by the company. Sarah wants to record her experience on video and sends e-mails to Ryan with passwords. Ryan and Sarah end up back at the dredge trying to solve the mystery. The ending leaves middle school or early high school readers in suspense until the mystery s next installment.
2009, Scholastic Press, $14.99. Ages 12 to 15.
Reviewer: Elizabeth Fronk (Children’s Literature)
A retelling of the Washington Irving classic. This is an excellent rendition of the famous ghost story about the hapless schoolteacher and the headless horseman. Washington Irving’s lengthy descriptions and erudite vocabulary have been condensed to a comfortable reading level for upper elementary or middle school readers. The realistic and colorful illustrations really suit the mood of the tale.
1995 (orig. 1986), Dell, $11.95 and $5.99. Ages 9 up.
Reviewer: Elizabeth Bagg (Children’s Literature)
Twelve little monsters reside in an ancient castle with Miss Devel who watches over them. After briefly describing the fiendish habits of the young monsters, the reader meets Frankenstein, one of the twelve small monsters, and learns about his creepy behaviors, like scaring rocks and tormenting Miss Devel. One evening, there is a medical emergency at the castle, and Miss Devel calls the doctor for help. Frankenstein has lost his head so he is rushed in a hearse to the laboratory for surgical repairs. Frankenstein’s little monster friends visit him and are envious of the results of Frankenstein’s operation. They then find reasons for making their own surgical visits. In this parody, Walton and Hale twist and retell Bemelmans’s classic story, Madeline, by using Frankenstein as their main character. The illustration on the book’s cover may look oddly familiar to Madeline and readers may notice the word play with the author’s name, Ludworst Bemonster, which is used as the pen name for the book. Those readers who like a bit of a monster-twist to a familiar story may find this parody hilarious.
2012, Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan, Ages 4 to 9, $12.99.
Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children’s Literature).
Halloween is tomorrow and young Hailey has no idea what she will wear. As she moves through the costume store, trying on various outfits, Hailey tells the readers all about her favorite holiday. She dresses as a dinosaur and a monster as she explains Halloween’s origin among the Celts as a celebration called Samhain. As Hailey dons a ghost sheet, she reveals the adoption of “All Hallow’s Eve” as a church holiday. Pirate Hailey speaks of the Europeans who brought the holiday to North America on big ships. Keeping her final costume selection a secret until the end, Hailey and her parents carve a jack-o’-lantern in anticipation of the big day. Though this title from the “Cloverleaf Books – Fall and Winter Holidays” is classified as juvenile nonfiction, it has plenty of entertainment value for young readers. Children will enjoy the colorful and entertaining illustrations which accompany Hailey’s browsing adventure. With a parent’s help, youngsters may even want to try out the included recipe for “Make It Yourself: Face Paint”! Educational side notes provide information that could be useful in curriculum support, such as the origin of many of our present-day Halloween traditions. The glossary, index, and list of additional resources make this an excellent book for those just learning how to perform research. Hailey’s story concludes with her big costume reveal as she goes trick-or-treating with her friends, and her Halloween spirit will surely be contagious!
Halloween Forest By: Marion Jane Bauer
Illustrated by John Shelley
Have you ever dreamed of having a fantastic, spooky Halloween adventure? This entertaining story opens with the line, “Have you ever thrown your trick-or-treat sack on your back on all Hallow’s Eve and taken your leave of town?” After dashing out of town, the reader finds a forest filled with bones–bare bones of trees, bat bones, cat bones, and rat bones, which stare down. The reader also sees dog bones, hog bones, frog bones, and even fog bones. The bones are every child’s worst nightmare, but the reader does not sigh, cry, or dash away in dismay. No, the reader does not worry about rattling bones. Instead, she cries, “Poo!” and “Booh!” in response. The reader wiggles and squiggles her bones before yelling out, “Trick or treat! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat!” At the end of this delicious story, the reader collects a bag of wonderful candy. Young readers will love being a character in this interactive tale by Newbery Honor writer, Marion Bauer; they will also enjoy the finely crafted illustrations by John Shelley.
2012, Holiday House, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95.
Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D (Children’s Literature).
We meet our monster hero on the first double page, astounded as it is surrounded by the repeated statement in may type faces: “Monsters aren’t real!” Contemplating itself in a mirror, it wonders, “Then what am I?” It knows it has all the necessary monster requisites, so it sets out to prove that monsters are real. Writing it everywhere, even confronting people, it finds that nobody is even paying attention. Trying to frighten a youngster watching TV, it ends up joining him on the floor. Just when it is about to give up, another monster turns up to prove its point. Off they go together, hand in hand. “Monsters are real. Really.” The hero is more cute than scary, with large eyes, antlers, claws, and a blobby body. The mainly double-page settings are basic, like walls for graffiti, or the dock on which a fisherman is untroubled by the huge octopus the monster drags along to show him. Many scenes are wordless fun.
2012 (orig. 2011), Kane Miller/EDC Publishing, Ages 4 to 8, $14.99.
Reviewer: Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children’s Literature).
The class is going on a trip to the pumpkin patch. There are nineteen students and one teacher, so the book starts the counting at twenty. The class and teacher sit two by two in ten rows and, as they journey, there are items to count. At thirteen they arrive at the pumpkin patch and meet Farmer Mixenmatch. Along the fence is a row of thirteen pumpkins representing as many varieties. There is a petting zoo which provides an opportunity to count the animals. Next, the kids and the reader learn how a pumpkin grows and watch bees make honey. What is a pumpkin patch without a maze and this one has ten scarecrows. Finally, it is time to pick pumpkins and in the course of that activity, everyone sees pumpkins of many shapes and colors. The numbers that accompany this trip and countdown are featured in the corner of each page and are printed on the more common orange pumpkin. The endpapers are filled with pumpkin facts. A good selection for any fall or Halloween lesson.
2012, Albert Whitman, Ages 4 to 7, $16.99.
Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature).
Pumpkin Fever By: Charnan Simon
Illustrated by Jan Bryan-Hunt
Erin’s family goes to the pumpkin field and chooses two round pumpkins. Dad and Erin carve one pumpkin while Mom uses her pumpkin in a different way. Most of the double-page pictures have less than ten words of text. The simple, colorful illustrations tell a large part of the story. This “Rookie Reader” deals with counting, numbers, and shapes. Beginning readers will get practice reading the math and shape words one, two, circle, rectangle, round, square, and triangle. The best use for this book might be as a read-aloud book to introduce these math concepts to young children. The blurb at the end of the story introduces the author and illustrator and this is followed by several activities to reinforce the lesson in counting and recognizing shapes–a rebus poem, maze, counting and grouping, as well as matching shapes. There is list of the fifty-nine words that make up the story. It will make a nice, not scary, Halloween story. Part of the “Rookie Ready to Learn-Seasons and Weather” series.
2011 (orig. 2007), Children’s Press/Scholastic, $22.00. Ages 2 to 6.
Reviewer: Betty Key and Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature).
The tiniest bunny in a large, busy burrow, Pip is afraid of a near-endless list of things. When he hides in the warm, green grass, he is lulled into a nap that lasts until the smell of cooking wafts across the field. Raaaarrrr! Raaarrrr! The terrifying noise causes the little guy to turn and run into a forest full of creatures and shadows to add to his list of scary things, and the noise stays right with him. He stumbles into a twisty dark shape that does not budge when the terrible noise rumbles again. Standing still before the shape, Pip finally has time to realize that the noise is only his tummy, rumbling for dinner. In a slightly forced conversion, Pip decides that he must be “The Scariest Thing of All” and, if he is not afraid of himself, then nothing else should scare him either. Scampering back through the woods, he confronts one former fear after another, leaving the wigglers and gobblers and trolls of the forest frightened and shaking in his wake. The text will make for a fun parent/child read-aloud and Gliori’s watercolor and ink creations will provide delightful discoveries as the little ones explore the book on their own.
I might be Shelley 364 days of the year but one day a year it seems I always become Velma Dinkley, of Scooby-Doo fame. You see, when you work in libraries there is always a fascination with Halloween and costumes, and at the last two libraries I have worked for, I have become the designated Velma Dinkley. At the public library, I was accompanied by Daphne on Halloween and at the university I was accompanied by Shaggy for a ‘Who Done It’ event. I even had a different Shaggy (my real husband) at a Halloween party a few years back. Jinkies!
But what fuels our fascination with being someone else for a day? I think it’s that escape from our own reality. A time to say I can be someone else for a moment and fully embrace this new character who is somewhat different from myself. That is how we ‘sell’ books to students and patrons, isn’t it? A book allows a person to be someone else, peek into someone else’s life, or embark on a faraway adventure. Above all else, we can escape from our everyday worries and commitments when we indulge in a few hours of reading.
Halloween really is a special day in libraries. Librarians and staff usually see kids and some adults dressed up as their favorite characters, animals, or even fruit (yes, I saw a college student dressed as a banana last Halloween). We also get to make creepy displays and have storytimes about our favorite characters, such as Clifford, Franklin, Max, and Froggy, getting ready for trick-or-treating. Some libraries even get the privilege of showing scary movies or holding best costume events.
Whether you realize it or not, your students and patrons will remember these special moments you spend with them over the next few weeks in anticipation of and celebrating Halloween. I still remember my school librarian showing us Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart. It was an old black and white filmstrip that after watching, I did not sleep for days. I can still see the image of the chair and the floor. There was no way I would ever read Poe’s bookafter that. Even now, though I still can’t watch scary movies, I can still be Velma. Happy Halloween everyone!
Do your students know about Peggy Whitson? If not, here are a few notable things she has accomplished: the world’s oldest female in space at age 57; the first woman to command the space station twice; and on September 2nd, she became the American who has spent the longest time in space- 665 days- and more time in space than any woman worldwide.
While watching a recent morning news show, I saw a brief mention of Peggy’s latest accomplishment and it stirred something in me. I thought about all the woman who have made accomplishments in flight and space, yet their names aren’t always recognizable. I thought about Mae Jamison, whose juvenile biography I reviewed earlier this year and was fascinated by her many contributions to the space program, much of which I knew nothing about. I thought about the book Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman, a book about a woman I had never heard of, but whose determination led her to achieving her dream of flying at a time when others thought she could not and should not. And then, I thought about Amelia Earhart, whose name makes me turn the television a little louder when there is a story on the latest speculations on her fate. Most of our students know about Amelia, but they don’t know about all the other fascinating females who, in a time when women had lesser opportunities, chose to think outside of the box, buck the system, and do what they could humanly do to achieve their dream of escaping earth by air.
The Dream Big Dreamers- that is what I call this elite group of ladies. But Dream Big Dreamers don’t just belong in a specific month; they and their stories need to be interwoven into our daily lessons. Peggy Whitson’s return from the International Space Station could have been interwoven into a science lesson. That one lesson could have triggered a yearning for a female student to learn more about space and thus begin a new love for science. Sometimes it only takes that one story to set curiosity into flight.
Can you tell I’m big into people’s stories? Yes, I am a biography junky. You know why? It’s the fascination aspect. I am so fascinated how sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, but I am also fascinated by one’s ability to take a dream and turn it into reality. I think your students could be fascinated by this too. So, as you plan next week’s lessons, whose story can be incorporated into one of your lessons?
Award of the Week- SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science
The award program, now in its 12th year, seeks to encourage the writing and publishing of high-quality science books that engage readers across all age groups and leave readers with a richer understanding of all corners of science.
In the newest addition to the ever-popular and authoritative nonfiction Scientists in the Field series, the team behind The Frog Scientist take you on a research trip to New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean to follow crows in aviaries and in the wild while answering many thought-provoking questions like: “Can a crow outsmart a scientist?” Remarkably engaging narrative nonfiction coupled with beautiful photographs, this is a trip you won’t regret booking.
Ricky Zamora brings his love of map-making and his boundless curiosity to the arid landscapes east of the Cascades Mountains. He arrives during a wild thunderstorm, and watches his family and their neighbors scramble to deal with a wildfire sparked by lightning. Joined by his friend Ellie, he sees how plants, animals, and people adjust to life with wildfires
An introduction to the life of the mid-twentieth-century aviation and auto racing pioneer describes her fascination with vehicles during childhood and the daring achievements that earned her the title, “First Lady of Firsts.
Sally Ride was more than the first woman in space–she was a real-life explorer and adventurer whose life story is a true inspiration for all those who dream big. Most people know Sally Ride as the first American female astronaut to travel in space. But in her lifetime she was also a nationally ranked tennis player, a physicist who enjoyed reading Shakespeare, a university professor, the founder of a company that helped inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in science and math, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. From Sally Ride’s youth to her many groundbreaking achievements in space and beyond, Sue Macy’s riveting biography tells the story of not only a pioneering astronaut, but a leader and explorer.
What does it take to be an astronaut? Excellence at flying, courage, intelligence, resistance to stress, top physical shape, any checklist would include these. But when America created NASA in 1958, there was another unspoken rule: you had to be a man. Here is the tale of thirteen women who proved that they were not only as tough as the toughest man but also brave enough to challenge the government. They were blocked by prejudice, jealousy, and the scrawled note of one of the most powerful men in Washington. But even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they did not lose, for their example empowered young women to take their place in the sky, piloting jets and commanding space capsules. Almost Astronauts is the story of thirteen true pioneers of the space age.
The first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison has broken barriers in science and medicine to become one of the most admired women worldwide. This fascinating book describes how Jemison refused to let anyone stand in the way of her dreams. She became a doctor and worked in the Peace Corps until NASA invited her to join the astronaut program. Today, she is an important advocate for science in education–especially for girls and women. Jemison also continues to push scientific research to improve life in developing countries.
Kathy Sullivan wasn’t interested in the same things as most girls, nor was she interested in the types of jobs that a girl was expected to have as an adult. Instead, she was interested in maps and flying. Told in alternating pages about her childhood dreams and accomplishing those dreams as an adult
Profiles the life and achievements of Ellen Ochoa, discussing her education, her inspirations, and her work for NASA and as an astronaut. Includes a time line, a glossary, and a list of resources.
Spotlighting pioneer women who reached for the stars.
When I was younger and before I went to college to become a librarian, I was always confused by Banned Book Week. I never understood why all these “banned” books were put on display in my public or school library. I mean if they are banned doesn’t that mean they are not allowed, and don’t we live in a democracy?
Books celebrated during Banned Book Week are not banned universally but may have been challenged and removed from a library collection somewhere for some reason. Below is a link to some of my favorite books, banned, challenged, or not and I wanted to share them with you and your patrons/students. Curiously, 8 out of 10 of these books are also award winners as noted by CLCD. Read these and enjoy your freedom to make your own judge.
Stories you’ll never forget–just try–from literature’s favorite transgressive author. Representing work that spans several years, Make Something Up is a compilation of 21 stories and one novella (some previously published, some not) that will disturb and delight. The absurdity of both life and death are on full display; in “Zombies,” the best and brightest of a high school prep school become tragically addicted to the latest drug craze: electric shocks from cardiac defibrillators. In “Knock, Knock,” a son hopes to tell one last off-color joke to a father in his final moments, while in “Tunnel of Love,” a massage therapist runs the curious practice of providing ‘relief’ to dying clients. And in “Excursion,” fans will be thrilled to find to see a side of Tyler Durden never seen before in a precusor story to Fight Club.
Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle school production of Moon over Mississippi as various relationships start and end, and others never quite get going. Ages 10-14
From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl’s brain in a boy’s body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn’t feel like herself in boys’ clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Ages 4-8
Knowing herself to be a girl despite her outwardly male appearance, George is denied a female role in the class play before teaming up with a friend to reveal her true self. Ages 8-12
A chorus of men who died of AIDS observes and yearns to help a cross-section of today’s gay teens who navigate new love, long-term relationships, coming out, self-acceptance, and more in a society that has changed in many ways. Ages 13 and up
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits–smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. Ages 14 and up
Sixteen-year-old Miles’ first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash. Ages 14 and up
Suzie’s just a regular gal with an irregular gift: when she has sex, she stops time. One day she meets Jon and it turns out he has the same ability. And sooner or later they get around to using their gifts to do what we’d ALL do: rob a couple banks. A bawdy and brazen sex comedy for comics begins here.
Rose and her parents have been going to Awago Beach since she was a little girl. It’s her summer getaway, her refuge. Her friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had, completing her summer family. But this summer is different. Rose’s mom and dad won’t stop fighting, and Rose and Windy have gotten tangled up in a tragedy-in-the-making in the small town of Awago Beach. It’s a summer of secrets and heartache, and it’s a good thing Rose and Windy have each other. Ages 14 and up
In a past position as a high school librarian, I entered my office one day to find an art history book on my desk opened to a photograph of a nude statue. Confused, I simply put the book back on its appropriate shelf only to have it reappear on my desk later in the week. This happened 2-3 times before a teacher finally confronted me and shared her feelings that she felt the book was inappropriate for a high school collection. I calmly explained the reason for the book being in the collection and of course the book stayed in our collection. Fortunately, she understood and did not take the matter any further.
However, billions of people live in this world and there are as many personal beliefs and there are bound to be conflicts. For instance, one patron at the Toronto Public Library believed and voiced his concern that Dr. Seuss’ classic “Hop on Pop” “encourages children to use violence against their fathers.” The book was fortunately retained. Another classic by Dr. Seuss was more understandably challenged. “If I Ran a Zoo” was challenged yet retained at a Vancouver library for the line about helpers “who all wear their eyes at a slant” which was accompanied by racial stereotypical illustrations of Asians. The library did decide not to use the story during storytimes or promote it in any other way other than a historical portrayal of how culture has changed.
September 24-30 is Banned Books Week and book lovers around the country will be celebrating the freedom to read. Since its inception in 1982, many libraries and bookstores have made this event a regular part of their annual programming. From a simple book display to an elaborate event, celebrating Banned Books Week is a great way for librarians to promote reading and remind patrons not to take this freedom for granted. For those who are short on time or creativity, the ALA website offers a host of resources to make it easier, including display ideas, activity ideas, and free downloadable images and book lists.
When I was younger and before I went to college to become a librarian, I was always confused by Banned Book Week. I never understood why all these “banned” books were put on display in my public or school library. I mean if they are banned doesn’t that mean they are not allowed, and don’t we live in a democracy?
Books celebrated during Banned Book Week are not banned universally but may have been challenged and removed from a library collection somewhere for some reason. Below is a link to some of my favorite books, banned, challenged, or not and I wanted to share them with you and your patrons/students. Curiously, 8 out of 10 of these books are also award winners as noted by CLCD. Read these and enjoy your freedom to make your own judgements.
Gerald McGrew dreams up his own zoo and how he would stock it. Not with old-fashioned animals, but with exciting new ones–a lion with 10 feet, an elephant-cat, and a family of Joats with squirrel-like coats and voices like goats. Ages 4-8
At New York City’s Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches. Based on a true story. Ages 4-7
One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin “Q” Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q’s neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears. Ages 14-18
When he is given the medical diagnosis of one year to live, Ben Wolf decides to fulfill his greatest fantasies, ponders his life’s purpose and legacy, and converses through dreams with a spiritual guide known as “Hey-Soos.” Ages 14-18
In the early 1990s, when gay teenager Cameron Post rebels against her conservative Montana ranch town and her family decides she needs to change her ways, she is sent to a gay conversion therapy center. Ages 14-18
Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits–smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. Ages 13-18
While playing baseball in the summer of 1953, Owen Meany hits a foul ball that kills his best friend’s mother, and he becomes convinced that he is an instrument of God. Ages 14 and up
Budding cartoonist Junior leaves his troubled school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white farm town school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Ages 14-18
Each year the National Book Foundation recognizes outstanding literary work by a US citizen through four awards for Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature. The awards are touted as awards by writers to writers as the panel of judges is comprised of authors. Below are this year’s finalists. The winner will be announced at ceremony in New York City on November 15, 2017.
Clayton can’t wait be just like his grandfather and join his band of Bluesmen but when Cool Papa Byrd dies Clayton is forbidden from doing the one thing that seems right, playing the blues. With his grandfather’s hat and a harmonica Clayton runs from home in hopes of joining the Bluesmen on the road. Ages 8-12
On each perfect day on the perfect island, nine children go to sleep in their cabins with full stomachs and joyful hearts knowing that one day each year a boat will appear to take away the eldest child and leave a new young child. Jinny’s best friend has been taken away leaving her the eldest with the responsibility to teach young Ess everything she needs to know about the island. Ages 8-12
From 1965 through the present, an Indian American family adjusts to life in New York City, alternately fending off and welcoming challenges to their own traditions. Ages 14 and up
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. Ages 14 and up
On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie — a good life. But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s West Side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own. Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream? Ages 14 and up
After Grace puts up her own baby for adoption she heads out in search of her biological family which includes a loudmouthed younger sister and a stoic older brother. Long-buried secrets and family problems make Grace question where exactly she belongs. Ages 14 and up
Working in the maguey fields of the Southwest, Sarah Jac and James are in love but forced to start over on a ranch that is possibly cursed where the delicate balance in their relationship begins to give way. Ages 14 and up
As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn’s fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know. Ages 13 and up
Julia was meant to move out her parents’ house and go away to college, not what you would expect from a perfect Mexican daughter. But her sister Olga was willing to play that perfect role. But Julia is left behind to hold her family together after a tragic accident leaves Olga dead. Now Julia is broken and unable to meet her mother’s high standards, but Julia realizes that Olga may not have been the perfect daughter either. Ages 14 and up
I was recently hired as the Junior and Senior High School Librarian in my hometown, at the school I attended back in the day. I have spent this week at a variety of new teacher orientation events and comments, along with questions, made me think about the stereotypes surrounding librarians.
Let’s face it, even as librarians we have, or have had in the past, a certain image that comes to mind when thinking “librarian.” For me, it has always been similar to the Nancy Pearl action figure, see here. Aside from the shushing librarian, there are two main tropes, the Scary Librarian and the Hot Librarian. Though I can be quiet at times, I don’t require others to be quiet; I live with 2 children under 3 at this point, be real. So, I am not a shushing librarian. I won’t “freak out if you talk in the library, fail to return a book on time, or God forbid, spill something on it.” I will not shush you or start screaming and kick you out of the library and for those reasons, along with the fact that I am just 5’3” and a tad over 100 pounds, I am certainly not a Scary Librarian.
So what’s left, Hot Librarian? Ok, let’s break that down. I do have glasses, but if I take those off to hold them suggestively in my mouth, I can’t see past the tip of my nose. I may wear a skirt but more often you’ll catch me in khakis and a cardigan (without the top button busting off). My hair is hardly long enough to pinch let alone put in a bun, so there will be no letting my hair down, so I am not the Hot Librarian and I am not the Scary Librarian. What am I?
I am a teacher. Like my colleagues, I paid for, took, and passed our state’s teacher certification tests. I am here to help educate our students.
I have a Master’s degree. I spent 4 years in undergrad and 1 year in graduate school working towards my degree.
I am available to help students and staff navigate and evaluate the enormous amounts of information bombarding us daily and, if they so desire, I can help find them a great book to read.
I am friendly and likely to be shushed by a someone much more worried about a quiet library than myself.
I want you to check out the books. Read them while you eat breakfast or are on the bus to your soccer game. A book is meant to be used.
I am energetic and not likely to be found behind a desk.
Like everyone else, I cannot be categorized so don’t try. I work as a librarian but that does not define me nor does it mean to the same thing it might have when the quiet or scary librarian stereotype was defined. Oh, and no, there is no card catalog.
He is young. He is hot. He is also evil. He is ……. the librarian. Cynthia’s best friend, Annie, falls head over heels for the new high-school librarian, but after meeting Mr. Gabriel, Cyn realizes something isn’t quite right. Maybe it’s the creepy look in the librarian’s eyes… or the blood and horns and bat-like wings that appear when he thinks no one is looking. He’s a demon… and now Cyn has to save her best friend from the clutches of the evil librarian, who also seems to be slowly sucking the life force out of the entire student body! Ages 12-18
Miss Lotta Scales is a dragon who believes her job is to protect the school’s library books from the children, but when she finally realizes that books are meant to be read, the dragon turns into Miss Lotty, librarian and storyteller. Ages 3-8
The Arab American Book Awards are presented by the Arab American National Museum and honor books written by and about Arab Americans. To be eligible, the book must be written, edited, or illustrated by an Arab American or offer an accurate and engaging portrayal of the Arab American experience avoiding any stereotypes. The annual award honors works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and children’s or young adult books. Below is this year’s winner along with 2 honorable mention books.
Balcony on the Moon follows IbtisamBarakat through her childhood and adolescence in Palestine from 1972-1981 and chronicles her desire to be a writer. Ages 12-18
A young Lebanese boy must learn to cope with loss and hope for a peaceful future after losing one of his beloved cats because of The July War. Based on the month-long conflict between Lebanon and Israel during the summer of 2006. Ages 7-12
For some of you this list is a week or two late. Here in upstate New York we start school right after Labor Day. For the first time in 9 years I will be joining the throngs of teachers and students headed back to the hallways this fall. Here are some of my favorites.
A cautious mouse named Tiny gives advice to his best friend, an exuberant hippopotamus named Penelope, on such things as what to wear and what to take for show-and-tell on the first day of school. Ages 4-8
A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to be anxious about when she faces the first day of nursery school. Ages 3-7
Emily Beekman is so nervous about starting school that she makes her mother promise to stay with her forever, but after Emily makes friends and settles in, she and her teacher must convince Mrs. Beekman to break her promise and stay home. Ages 5-8
A bad case of nerves has Seymour worried about his first day of school, but he grows more confident after a visit from his well-meaning Fairy Slugmother, who reassures him that she will watch over him. Ages 4-6
Ten days before the start of kindergarten, a preschooler cannot tie her shoes by herself and fears the worst. Ages 3-6
Heather Kindschy is a beacon in the world of education. Former Georgia Media Specialist of the Year, Metro Atlanta Media Specialist of the Year, and Media Specialist of the Year in the Cobb County School District, Kindschy keeps her eye on the latest trends and pedagogy in education and libraries. So, it was no surprise to anyone that this forward-thinking educator would be chosen to participate in this summer’s Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Summer Teacher Institute, held from July 10-14. The week focused on pedagogy that will build students’ critical thinking skills, keeping the students engaged, all while using primary resources from the Library of Congress collection. Kindschy decided to focus her primary source activity on WWI as it is a 5th grade standard and plans to apply what she learned from the Library of Congress educators into a lesson with her students at Mount Bethel Elementary School in Marietta, GA this fall.
CLCD was honored to get a chance to speak with Kindschy about her interest in the Institute and learn how she plans to apply her experience to educational plans this fall.
Heather, what made you want to apply for the Institute?
My county level supervisor, Holly Frilot, sent out an email to all media specialists telling us how great her experience was last summer, and after browsing the link she sent, http://www.LOC.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/teacherinstitute/, I knew that the professional development would be an incredible experience. I also wanted to revive some social studies lessons that had become tired for me and classroom teachers to teach. In the upper elementary grades, there are an incredible number of standards to cover, so I think that history becomes a chore to teach and learn. I knew that primary source activities would breathe new life into these lessons.
Tell us a little about your time at the Institute.
The institute was a week long and ran from 9-5 each day. Our days were jam-packed with primary source activities that we could take back and use with our students. We were engaged and immersed in the digital primary sources the Library of Congress has to offer. In the end, we walked away with a primary source activity based on our standards to use with our students sometime in the first quarter back at school. In addition to the Institute trainers, we also met and interacted with LC librarians and staff, and each other. We even had the opportunity to meet THE Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, who is a fierce advocate of teachers and school librarians.
Your week of studies consisted of using the Library of Congress’s resources. What resource did you find the most fascinating?
The week was spent exploring many aspects of the Library of Congress’ digital primary source collection such as content, navigation, primary source sets, and classroom materials. We looked at resources from many different time periods. Our first activity on day 1 was to look at primary sources displayed around the room. After we explored some of the primary sources on the tables, we were asked to choose one that spoke to us. I chose the first one I had walked up to. It was a naval dispatch from the ranking naval officer in Pearl Harbor. It simply said, “AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL.” I remember immediately getting chills imagining the receiver of that message. Primary sources really can make history come alive! Link to the source from the LC This Day in History: https://www.LC.gov/item/today-in-history/december-07
How do you plan to implement what you learned at the Institute in the upcoming academic year?
I have already put the bug in 5th grade teachers’ ears about the primary source activity I developed for them, and I plan to sit in on early grade-level planning meetings showing them primary source activities that I enjoyed. We can unpack Social Studies standards together and find meaningful ways to integrate primary sources into their lessons. I will also meet with 4th and 5th grade teachers to discuss how primary sources can enhance existing lessons and unit plans.
What was your biggest take-away from your week at the Library of Congress?
Primary sources are vital in teaching students the inquiry method of learning. Elementary students especially are still naturally curious about the world around them, and using primary sources in conjunction with their social studies textbooks will increase engagement and understanding of history. It will encourage our students to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of our past.
