Week 10 - Promoting Literacy

  

Promoting Literacy

Using Books in the Classroom/Library

This week - I'd like to turn to planning how to focus on a book of literature in the classroom/library without killing the enthusiasm or interest in reading.

A well-known author once said to me that it is..., "Best to have the great discussion than the great inquisition." -- and I certainly agree. 
It is always best to keep any guide that you personally are going to use to one page:

• Helps the user focus on READING not using one book to teach a multitude of skills or to address a shotgun approach to the standards.

• Promotes and forces concise language - use an economy of words and make good use of each one.

• Write out each standard (do not just use the standard #, few will actually know what that # represents.

• Use a 12 point (Times New Roman) font to keep the readability of the guide, 1 inch margins all around.  Headlines can be larger but not smaller.

• Keep the guide to one page (not one word over).  This is to facilitate sharing.  One page is easy to share, and should be sufficient; two pages difficult to keep together and the final sentences get overlooked.-----
  
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I am forever perplexed by teachers/test developers who think they "know what an author was thinking" without ever asking the author.
I'd like you to meet Sara Holbrook whose work is used with the Texas standardized test.  Sara could not answer the questions about her own work.  It is worthwhile to read what she has to say:

       Greene, P. (2019, Apr 28). The Writer Who Couldn't Answer Standardized Test Questions About Her Own Work (Again)!  Forbes.com.  Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2019/04/28/the-writer-who-couldnt-answer-standardized-test-questions-about-her-own-work-again/#2d3c48a64e8c.  

One quote, in the article, summed up test takers who ask for readers to conclude what the author's intent was/is finds themselves in this situation.  "Anytime we ask questions about author intent, we have stepped off the pedagogical sidewalk and into muck" (Holbrook as quoted in Greene, para 5).

 When you create a guide for using the book to meet core standards, avoid the inquisition and lean more toward the discussion.

Promoting Literacy

 "Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside of them. And it's much cheaper to buy somebody a book that it is to buy them the whole world." ~ Neil Gaiman

Part of promoting literacy involves more than offering books in the classroom/library -- so when you give books as gifts (baby showers, wedding gifts, holidays, and just because...) you may want a bookplate -- this site http://www.myhomelibrary.org has bookplates "donated" to the site by authors and illustrators and is organized by author Ann Fine.There are tons of great book plates available, including one by Aliki (in the color plate section) that has a scene from the "Making a Book." Of course you can also use these bookplates for "school" books as well. Many of these are from "children's books" but there are many still that would be appropriate for YA Lit (esp. the paperback choices). And of course, those who promote literacy will be doing that for people of all ages. Just for fun -- hope you have a gift to give that one of these can go into.
And give the ultimate gift to children you know by reading to a child for 15 minutes a day. See this site http://www.readaloud.org/
And -- when giving a book to a child/parents include a copy of this reading brochure with the book - it will help get the message to parents about the importance of reading. Go to McBookwords > Resources > Read Aloud Brochure (PDF) http://www.mcbookwords.com/resources/

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End of Newsletter - week 10

Week 9 - Classics and Diversity

  

Classics and Diversity

Looking at "Classics"

When we think about classics that need to be reexamined - books such as Huckleberry Finn come to mind, along with To Kill a Mockingbird and others that pop up in news feeds and on blogs.  Until now I had not thought of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders.  But Debbie Reese's comments here does make one think.  Her comments exemplify the need to look to revisit what we have done in the past -- just because we have always done it that way does not make it the best in this day and age.

Reese, D. (2020, Oct 15) Anti-indigenous content in S.E. Hinton's THE OUTSIDERS.  American Indiansin Children's Literature (blog).  Retrieved from: http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.com/?fbclid=IwAR2qEYH73YZJJD4Rd0N1cK4c8ydJCoJgURdUJGBSSH-S6VMv1Eu4-IyxGxs.

Our Historical Past

 Much began to be written about George Washington and the slaves that he and his wife Martha owned. A New York Times article discussed one specific slave, Ona (or Oney) Judge in an article: 

Schuessler, Jennifer. (6 Feb 2017) In Search of the Slave Who Defied George Washington. (Web) Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/06/arts/george-washington-mount-vernon-slavery.html. 

Late in 2018, Carla Killough McClafferty's book Buried Lives: Slaves of George Washington's Mount Vernon, was released by Holiday House. And there are more books and articles in the works. Most of the interest seems to have come from a controversy that first cam about because of a much talked about controversy regarding a picture book of historical fiction. The book A Fine Dessert was mentioned as a Caldecott contender until the storm hit. Check out this discussion of the controversy at: http://bit.ly/GW-slaves2.  The McClafferty and Schuessler books/articles, referenced in the blog post have more utility for the older reader but as educators those types of resources provide background we can use to evaluate the writings for younger readers.

In order to guide young readers toward accurate and respectful books on all types of topics we should be knowledgeable about the history/science and so forth ourselves.
McElmeel, S. (2016 Feb 16) George Washington and the slave connection. McBookwords (Blog). Retrieved from http://bit.ly/GW-slaves2

Windows, Mirrors, or Something Else

 Monica Edinger spent several years on the continent of Africa serving in the Peace Corps. She is an author and a long-teacher of 4th graders at the Dalton School in New York city. I value her insight on many things and her blog post regarding windows and mirrors intrigues me. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the topic. I think that even though the window (or mirror) part might not firmly open to view the culture per se, that providing a look into universal experiences set in a setting, country, state different from our own provides a glimpse of another way of life. 

Edinger, M. (2016 May 31) Educating Alice: Diversity window, mirror, or neither? (Blog) Retrieved from https://medinger.wordpress.com/2016/05/31/diversity-window-mirror-or-neither/ 

 I grew up on a farm and during my childhood any story that took place in a city certainly gave me a window into another world. It was like a foreign country to me. For other children those books would have been nothing out of the ordinary.

Books by Walter Dean Myers featured African American protagonists but over all the setting was urban.  Those books were likely sliding doors for African Americans living in the rural midwest.  Christopher Paul Curtis's books share stories centered on African Americans, and what I find very interesting is that, unlike many books which assume the characters are white, Curtis makes reference to the character's identity if he/she is white.  An interesting perspective.  While this article is somewhat dated I think the background to how the story of the Watson's go to Birmingham came about is fascinating and says much about how ideas begin with a germ, travel in one direction, and perhaps take a different turn.  I tell the backstory of Watson's go to Birmingham on pages 59-60 of Children's Authors and Illustrators Too Good to Miss: Biographical Sketches and Bibliographies (Libraries Unlimited).  It shows a brief peak into a book's evolution.

And if you skipped over last week's suggestion that you read about the development of  Lauren Oliver's making of The Spindlers, don't miss it this week. Begin with the trailer at https://youtu.be/x0ZavODe5PM. Each of the 8 segments are less than 5 minutes, with the exception of the last which reads part of the book (31 m)

Stories and information about other worlds and other cultures are mirrors for some readers and windows for others -- and sometimes something in-between.  Just think of this when many of us think of diversity we think of books about people other than white/Christian - but so other cultures diversity might include white/Christians.  However they won't have as far to go to find books that are windows for them -- on the other hand some of us must really search for books that portray cultures and races with an even hand.

Diversity

As you are sharing books and ideas be sure to include some of the great books that are diverse in nature. Here are some award lists, you might find helpful.

Check out these multicultural awards lists and see if you can get some clues about the books these awards honor and how you might use them in the classroom/library.

• Coretta Scott King Awards
  Given to an African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions to encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and the graphic arts, including biographical, historical and social history treatments by African American authors and illustrators.
• Pura Belpre Award
  Presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
• Americas Award for Children's & Young Adult Literature
  Given in recognition of U.S. works of fiction, poetry, folklore, or selected non-fiction (from picture books to works for young adults) published in the previous year in English or Spanish that authentically and engagingly portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States.
• Schneider Family Book Awards
  Honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
• Jane Addams Children's Book Awards
  Given annually to the children's books published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence.
• Stonewall Children's & Young Adult Award
  Honor books for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience.
• Amelia Bloomer Recommended Feminist Literature
  An annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18.
• Sydney Taylor Book Award
  Encourage the publication of outstanding books of Jewish content for children and teens, books that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience.
• American Indian Youth Services Literature Award
  Created as a way to identify and honor the very best writing and illustrations by and about American Indians: picture book, middle school, and young adult.
• The Middle East Book Award
  Recognizes books for children and young adults that contribute meaning-fully to an understanding of the Middle East. Books are judged on the authenticity of their portrayal of a Middle Eastern subject, as well as on their characterization, plot, and appeal for the intended audience.
• Mildred L. Batchelder Award
  Awarded to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

I challenge you to locate a book title (published within the last five years) for each of the categories below - and to post your list in the comments below.

A book with:
1) An African American chief protagonist in a fiction book that is not dealing with civil rights or slavery.

2) A non-fiction book about an African American that is not dealing with civil rights or slavery (and whose name is not a household name such as Martin Luther King, Jr. or Rosa Parks).

3) A Latino-American chief protagonist in a fiction book that is not dealing with migrant workers or crossing the border illegally.

4) A non-fiction book showcasing the contributions of a Latino-American.

5) A Native American chief protagonist in a contemporary fiction book that is dealing with teens in the present day.

6) A non-fiction book showcasing the contributions of Native Americans in the present day.

7) Any other book that you feel represents a piece of our American culture that is underrepresented in books for the YA audience.

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End of Week 9 newsletter 

Week 8: READ

  

READ

The single most important act a teacher or parent can give to our students  is a love of reading and to surround the learning community in a culture of literacy. The Literate Environment Standard (ILA) focuses on the need for candidates to synthesize their foundation knowledge about content, pedagogy, the effective use of physical space, instructional materials and technology, and the impact of the social environment to create an environment that fosters and supports students’ traditional print, digital, and online reading and writing achievement.

This standard recognizes that candidates must create a literate environment that meets the diverse needs of students and facilitates connections across content areas as well as with the world outside the school.

The Teacher Who Reads

Adapted from The Reading Mother by Strickland Gillilan

I had a teacher who read to me,
Tales of pirates who scoured the sea,
Swords clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.


I had a teacher who reads of high seas,
Tales that are sure to please;
Stories of now and long ago,
Adventures for every child to know.


I had a teacher who read me tales
Of lions and tigers and pirates that sail,
Tales of dinosaurs, dragons, and dogs,
Cinderella, pigs in wigs, and frogs on logs


I had a teacher who read me the things
That sparks the hope that a story brings,
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each teacher of children were such!



You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be--
I had a teacher who read to me.

adapted by Claire Patricia Hansen

How a Book is Made

Don't miss Lauren Oliver's 8 part series about the making of The Spindlers, go behind the scenes and follow the book publishing process from start to finish in a seven-video. Begin with the trailer at https://youtu.be/x0ZavODe5PM. Each of the segments are less than 5 minutes, with the exception of the last which reads part of the book (31 m).

The Importance of Reading Aloud -- a must read

Robb, L.  (2019 Nov/Dec) The importance of reading aloud. Newsletter.  2:4.  Retrieved from http://bit.ly/Readingaloud

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Promote Independent Reading

Teach Thought Staff. (2018 January 8). 25 Ways Schools Can Promote Independent Reading. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/literacy/25-ways-schools-can-promote-literacy-independent-reading/. 

Get some great ideas here - and adapt for your situation. Two things I will react to. 

1. Substitute writing for the word reading and you have many ways to promote daily writing as well. Don't think you have to correct their writing any more than you need to correct their daily reading but the daily writing will provide a resource for them to pull ideas and expand when you need to have a writing sample for their portfolio etc. 

I feel passionate about this topic.  Many promote the value of classroom libraries - and I totally support having rich libraries in the classroom but unless your school has unlimited funds it is not feasible to have the type of classroom library that supports curriculum, and teachers should not be spending their own money on books for children to read. 

My solution -- support and utilize your school library and in order to have some books readily available in your classroom, ask the librarian to cooperate with you and allow your classroom to have a traveling library for 30 days at a time.   This works extremely well in the elementary/middle school classrooms where the classes generally have longer blocks of time for a class period.

In the high school, if time to go to the library is not convenient, I would ask the librarian to booktalk a large selection of books and ask them to use a portable scanner to check-out the books to the students directly from the classroom.  Share what ideas you have to get books into the hands of readers.  High School teachers will want to devise a way to adapt this idea that works for them.

• Once a month on a set day, take your class to the library.
• Each child choose 5 books to check-out to the classroom (NOT TO THEIR ACCOUNT) these books are classroom books checked out to you/your room.
•  Ask for a master list of books that have been checked out and retain that for quality control.
• Take the books back to the classroom and allow the students to read them whenever in the classroom (no check out no taking home).
• Students can sort the books in bins by categories that they devise, even by color if they want - great practice in categorization. And books are readily available.
• If a student wants a particular book to continue reading (such as a novel) they simply place it back on a to continue reading shelf - with their bookmark in it. The specific student can access the book anytime there is individual or class reading time.
• At the end of the month the books are returned to the library - individual students can check out specific titles at that time in their own name.

This classroom library rotation does NOT substitute for regular visits to the library for research, browsing etc. time, or for checking out their own titles to take home. 

If you get the excuse that the library does not have enough books to rotate a library collection here are responses: 

1. We are wasting a lot of money on books for individual classrooms because we are duplicating titles. 
2. Our classroom can not sustain enough books that children will have a true choice of titles. 
3. If we don't have enough books - I'll help and provide support for asking the administration for a larger budget. 

And meanwhile, during the time the library is being beefed up with a more substantial collection - ask for a similar arrangement from the public library - many will issue institutional cards, Some areas such as in Iowa have area educational libraries which can provide rotating collections. These would need to be teacher selected or requested but it will suffice for a time. However, working for a well stocked and up-to-date central school library with professional staffing is paramount to promoting literacy and raising reading proficiency. 

The Dr. Seuss Controversy

Westernfeld, Adrienne. (2021, March 5). A Dr. Seuss Expert Cuts Through the Noise on the Cancel Culture Controversy. Esquire.  http://bit.ly/TSG-controversy  -- similar controversies plague many classics at the secondary level, e.g. Huckleberry Finn.  Think about the perspectives that might be involved.

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Reading Rockets has a great article that will provide some ideas if you are still searching.

Breiseth, L., Walker, R., Reading Rockets. (n.d.) All kinds of readers: A guide to creating inclusive literacy celebrations for kids with learning and attention issues.  Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/all-kinds-readers-guide-creating-inclusive-literacy-celebrations-kids-learning-and-attention

Many of these ideas will be geared toward elementary and middle school - be creative and figure out how you can take the idea and adapt it to a meaningful celebration in your specific situation. 

Literacy and Technology

An article that shares some real-life examples of schools that have successfully integrated literacy and technology.
Take a look at this article - some ideas may resonate or you may reject all of them. Just read and see what you think.
Smith, T. (2018, January 8). Reading, writing, & thinking: Cross-curricular literacy initiatives. T&L Advisor Blog. Retrieved from https://www.techlearning.com/tl-advisor-blog/reading-writing-thinking-cross-curricular-literacy-initiatives
 Are there any ideas here that you just have to try? Will you have to adapt some of the ideas to appeal to your older students?  What do you think?  Any ideas of worth.

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In June at the annual 2018 ALA convention -The American Library Association voted unanimously to accept the ALSC Board's recommendation to expand the definition for and the name of The Laura Ingalls Wilder Award and going forward the award would be titled: Children's Literature Legacy Award.  Research the pros and cons of changing this name and why the award name was changed.

• Why the change was recommended?
• What was the rationale for making the change?
• What statement is being made with the name change? If any.
• Was the change appropriate? Why or why not?

This award is mentioned here not so much for the award itself as it seems to focus on giving the award to authors of books for the younger child.  However, the situation of renaming an award, a building, excluding an author from our shelves because of their prejudices, behavior, etc. is all a focus for discussion.  What do you think about this decision?  How does this relate to other situations that involve behavior, prejudices, etc.?

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End of Week 8 newsletter 

Week 7 - Picture Books - and Adult Titles - that YA Claim

  

Picture Books - and Adult Titles - that YA Claim

A Fun Picture Book to Generate More Interest in Sports Research

Don't miss this 2020 picture book that older primary and upper elementary readers (and even older) - check this book trailer at https://youtu.be/agE3jvHYNtU.  Slate, S. (2020). Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters.  Illustrated by Don Tate. Little-Brown.

And then read the backstory regarding the research for the book - research from both the author and the illustrator's perspective. 

Cbethm.  (2020, September 22).  Book Trailer Reveal: Swish! Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Don Tate (Illustrator) and Suzanne Slade (Author).  Nerdy Book Club.  Retrieved from https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2020/09/22/book-trailer-reveal-swish-the-slam-dunking-alley-ooping-high-flying-harlem-globetrotters-by-don-tate-illustrator-and-suzanne-slade-author/

Suzanne Slate talks about the writing of the book on WGNTV.  View it here -- https://wgntv.com/morning-news/author-suzanna-slade-of-swish-talks-about-her-new-harlem-globetrotters-book-for-kids
 
Don Tate is interviewed here: IRC shares the complete article from the Winter 2020 IRC Journal, Insights from Authors: A Conversation with Don Tate, by Constance A. Keremes, Guest Columnist.

Adult Books of Interest to Young Adults.
The most convenient place to start with taking a look at "adult" books that have interest for YA readers is to begin with the ALEX award lists that are chosen by the American Library Association each year. The Alex Awards annually recognize "ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18".

Check out the Alex Award lists on the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the ALA, website at http://www.ala.org/yalsa/alex-awards.  The current list of 10 and those from the past 4-5 years will provide you a good start toward reading and reacting to one book marketed to adults but which young adults find an interest.

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Picture Book Focus

Kathleen Krull 

Kathleen Krull is an author of unique talent. In 2017 HarperCollins released an introduction to the women of the White House, America's First Ladies. Krull has authored many informational books - several featuring women of history. Her recent series includes Coretta Scott King, Judy Blume, and other accomplished women. Her older titles included one featuring Wilma Rudolph and another featuring Caeser Chavez. Some are picture books that can get learners thinking about an era or a personal contribution to society -- leading to more study and reading about the topic. Check out Kathleen Krull's books and explore her writing process.

As much as I like the books that Kathleen Krull writes -- actually I love her books, I did find that America's First Ladies contains some misleading facts. With older students I think I might ask them to read the book and discover the historical statements that are in error. The errors are not earth shattering but are errors - the symptom of editorial missteps, for example:

• Louisa Adams is said to be the only First Lady to be foreign born - however, Melanie Trump was also foreign born so that would be two. 
• Later (page 184) Krull tells us that Richard Nixon selected Jerry Ford as his running mate. That is not so, Nixon selected Spiro Agnew. The pair was elected twice to the Presidency and Vice-Presidency. But later, in 1973, Agnew resigned because of criminal charges and at that time Jerry Ford became the President under the provisions of the 25th Amendment - a point that secondary students should understand. And later Ford became President when Nixon resigned. 

 Actually - this book would be a great opportunity to make readers aware of always being critical readers and to understand that writers (and editors) sometimes misinterpret facts and information.  Teaching critical reading is an important skill.  Also copyright date is very important.  I am guessing that Krull wrote the sentence about Louise Adams being the only foreign born first lady BEFORE Melanie Trump was FLOTUS.  Then by the time the book was to be published she was included but somehow the editors (and the author) failed to connect to the fact that including her would impact what had been said about other first ladies.  Books take a few years to be published so drafts of books come about long before its publication.

And of course now Dr. Jill Biden would be included - perhaps this is an opportunity to ask students to do a little research and write their idea of what should be included in this book about her. I wonder if there has ever been a first lady that has been so highly educated.  I don't know.

Update: Kathleen Krull died from cancer on January 15, 2021.  Accordingly any update of her First Ladies title will not be forthcoming from her.  Perhaps using her book as a mentor text, secondary readers could write the chapter on Dr. Jill Biden.

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World War II - and the Holocaust

And if you teach the Holocaust, or any information about World War Ii - don't miss this 2021 book from Peter Sis - too important to miss - (A book for ages 6-9 but needs to be read by all who can read - children, teens, adults, and elders)

Peter Sis's book Nicky & Vera (Norton Young Readers, 2021) Check out this blog post with some other resources about Nicholas Winton:

McElmeel, Sharron. (2021, Jan. 31). Nicky Winton - A Hero Hidden in Plain Sight. McBookwords (Blog). http://bit.ly/WWII-hiddenhero

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Using Information Books

A few information books that might ignite some interest in older readers. The information in these books is sound and extremely interesting. Information books - more than any other genre are driven by the interest of the reader. Regularly we have used basic picture books to introduce rather sophisticated topics: black holes (Black Holes: A Kids Book About Space - What Is a Black Hole? by Jared Johnson [2013]), biology - genetics (Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe [2015 pb]), and so forth. If you haven't seen the Bardoe book -- don't miss it. It is one of my favorites to use with older readers.

Cheryl Bardoe's newest title is Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain.The book with illustrations by Barbara McClintock (Little, Brown, 2018) tells the story of an eighteenth century mathematician who persisted the prejudices against female scholars to solve the unsolvable to find the solution that eventually enabled structures such as the Eiffel Tower to be constructed in such a way that it would not topple.

Other titles to explore:

• Baker, J. (2016) Circle. Candlewick Press. -- The incredible migration journey of the bar-tailed godwits who fly from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to Australia and New Zealand and back again. Their paths have been followed for thousands of years ... over the Great Barrier Reef and city scapes in China. 
• Tougias, M. (2016). A Storm Too Soon. Henry Holt & Co. - Three passengers are left to struggle for survival when a forty-seven-foot sailboat disappears in the Gulf during a calamitour storm. 
• Fabiny, S. (2016). Where is the Amazon? Grosset & Dunlap. -- Explore the wonders and beauty of the Amazon - the humans who have lived there for thousands of years, and the flora and fauna of the region. 
• DK Publishing (2016).  Eat Your Greens Reds Yellows and Purples. DK Publishing. - A children's cookbook and guide to colorful and tasty food.
• Rockett, P. (2016) Francisco Goya. Rosen Publishing. (Inspiring Artists Series). 

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Biographical Titles / Historical Fiction

Stories such as Walking Home to Rosie Lee can initiate a dialogue about the impact of slavery and the Civil War on families over time. The impact did not just impact during the days of slavery but had many ramifications as time went on. Families had little or no ancestral history, sometimes no family members to interact with. Does this have an impact on today's families? Did the structure of the broken families carry over to the present day?Inventor's Secret highlights the need for including inventors that are not European white men. An interesting small press publisher making a mark with their books: Cinco Puntos Press - two favorites Saltypie andWalking Home to Rosie Lee, http://bit.ly/CPP15 #weneeddiversebooks
About the author/illustrator - if you haven't already read the webpage-- McElmeel, S. (2011) McBookwords - Walking Home to Rosie Lee. McBookwords. Retrieved from http://www.mcbookwords.com/books/walkinghome.htm

Suzanne Slade and illustrator Jennifer Black Reinhardt created a book that emerged in September 2015 -- The Inventor's Secret: What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford. (Charlesbridge, 2015).
Here's some interesting background about the book - http://bit.ly/Edison-Ford. 

Now the challenge -- we need to think about inclusion of diverse subjects. This book fits great into an inventor's focus but so often the only inventors included are those that came as European white men. In response to this news item share a collaborative read about inventors that features an inventor that is not white or not male. I'll be interested in what titles each of you come up with. For example:

• Do you know of Granville T. Woods (if there is not a book about him -- are there alternative ways to share information about him?) 
• Do you know who invented the potato chip? 
• Or, how about: Elijah McCoy,
  
  1. Elijah McCoy,
  2. Benjamin Banneker, 
  3. Garrett Morgan, 
  4. and Chester Greenwood (earmuffs), 
  5. Earl Dickson (band-aids®), 
  6. Clarence Crane (life savers®), 
  7. William Russell  (guess what he invented?), 
  8. Igor Sikorsky (helicopter), 
  9. Catherine Greene (ideas provided Eli Whitney with refinements making his cotton gin a success), 
  10. Margaret Knight (safety mechanism on loom & the paper bag- and 26 patents), 
  11. Sarah Breedlove Walker (hair products), 
  12. Bette Graham (white-out), 
  13. Ann Moore (SNUGLI - a baby carrier, and later a carrier for oxygen tanks), 
  14. Stephanie Kwolek (strong fiber - Kevlar), 
  15. Gertrude B. Elion (drugs for leukemia and popular organ rejection drugs), 
  16. Mary Anderson (windshield wipers), 
  17. Josephine Cochrane (dishwasher), 
  18. Marion Donovan (disposable diaper), 
  19. Melitta Benz (automatic drip coffee maker), 
  20. & George Washington Carver (over 300 different products, many using peanuts [but not peanut butter]). 

These inventors generally do not have books about them. How can information be shared -- or can you find books/articles about any of these inventors? Can you find articles? Picture books? Full biographies? Or chapters within collective biographies? Share what you find.
Here's a start --

Renaud, Anne. (2017) Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament. Illustrated by Felicita Sala. Kids Can Press. 
Taylor, Gaylia. (2011) George Crum and the Saratoga Chips. Illustrated by Frank Morrison. Lee & Low. 
Stowell, Penelope. (2005). The Greatest Potatoes. Illustrated by Sharon Watts. Jump at the Sun. 
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A more contemporary inventor of note was featured by Chris Barton (author) and Don Tate (illustrator).  The inventor is Lonnie Johnson the inventor of the super-soaker.  Lonnie Johnson not only invented the super-soaker but also holds over 120 additional patents.
Barton, Chris. (2016).  Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions. Illustrated by Don Tate.  Charlesbridge.


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• Stone, Tanya Lee. (2018) Who Says Women Can’t Be Computer Programmers? The Story of Ada Lovelace. Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. Henry Holt and Co..
• Grady, Cynthia. (2018). Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind. Illustrated by Amiko Hirao. Charlesbridge Press

I was particularly enamored with the Grady title as it seemed to perfect lead-in for one of my favorite WWII books

• Oppenheim, Joanne. (2006) Dear Miss Breed: True Stories of the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II and a Librarian Who Made a Difference. Scholastic Nonfiction. $22.99. (0-439-56992-3). A public librarian Miss Breed made sure that the Japanese-American children who were interred in concentration camps were sent books during their incarceration during World War II. (non-fiction) Books to children (online)

Check out others from the Nerdy Book site at Check out others from the Nerdy Book site at https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2018/03/02/31-new-picture-book-biographies-to-celebrate-womens-history-month-by-kate-hannigan/ and

Writer's Rumpus list at https://writersrumpus.com/2018/05/11/picture-book-biographies/

My two old favorites:

Markel, Michelle. Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children's Books. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. Chronicle Books, 2017.

A second book that I love is one that would fit nicely in a classroom's STEM focus. This book introduces Grace Hopper - the woman who revolutionized computer coding, to readers.

Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code. Illustrations by Katy Wu. Sterling Children's Books, 2017.
Wallmark, Laurie.

• List 2-3 reasons why you feel this book was published (what were its significant attributes)
• Who might be interested in this book – as a reader?
• Positive elements from your personal perspective.
• Negative elements from your perspective.
• How could this book fit into your curriculum.

End of week 7 newsletter 

Week 6 - More Authors, Books, Connections

  

More Authors, Books, Connections

Booktalks

"A book report presents the content and structure of a book as objectively as possible, without comparison. It provides not only a summary of content but also an analysis of structure. The purpose of the report is to give enough information about a book to help decide whether it will be of use or interest to the reader.


This week we will focus on book talks.  This information will help get you started.  Booktalks are often scripted -- but they are not meant to be the new term for book reports. Book talks are generally more vibrant and engaging than reading a book report -- and shared orally not as a written paper.
Booktalks are short, informal presentations designed to inspire others to read the same book.
Booktalks are often confused with book reports or a book review -- a good book talk is neither.

"A book review is a descriptive and critical or evaluative account of a book. Like the book report, it provides a summary of content and an analysis of structure, yet you will also assess the value of a book and recommend (or not recommend) the book to other readers.

"Reports and reviews are concerned mainly with the one book presented, relying upon only a few standard reference works for brief and relevant comments on the author and on any special circumstances about the writing of the book. Book reports and book reviews are not research papers. The research paper is based on material from as many sources as are needed to back up its topic."
Resources • Resources

• Savvy Book Writer. (2016 Apr 30) What's an Elevator Pitch for your book? You Never Get a Second Chance... for a first good impression! Retrieved from https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/whats-an-elevator-pitch-for-your-book. Choose a favorite book and develop an elevator pitch for that book. Try it out and see how it works. Share your narrative about the script -- and how successful you were in presenting the script.

• An excellent resource which includes tips for booktalks includes;

• Ripp, P. (2018 July 23) Being a Teacher, books, literacy, reading: How to easily do a book talk. Retrieved from https://pernillesripp.com/2018/07/23/how-to-easily-do-a-book-talk/

Concordia library summarizes reviews and reports as:

Source:  Concordia University (n.d.) How to write a book review and a book report. Retrieved from http://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/book-report.php.

A book talk is neither of these -- a book talk seeks to provide much of this same information as a review; but within the context of a book advertisement. Provide the title and author orally at both the beginning and end of the book talk and then find a unique manner in which to advertise the book -- part summary, mostly enticement into the book.

A book talk might  highlight a specific book, or focus on a collection of a number of books that share a common theme such as mysteries, or books set during WWII, and so forth.  In the case of a "collective booktalk" make sure the books are connected to the general theme and deal with the uniqueness of each title.  Each book in a collective booktalk will connect to one another but the focus on each book will be much shorter than if the booktalk is to focus on only one title. Do be mindful of the transitions that make a connection to other books.

 If I am giving a book talk to a class, it might consist of several "talks" (the collective booktalk) with one sentence references to other books by the same author, books in the same genre, and so forth.

Our emphasis at this time in focusing on booktalks will only be concerned with those that  feature one book -- and that book talk may eventually come to be included in a lengthier book talk session intended to entice a number of students to "be a reader."

If you decide to share the booktalk as a video - a YOUTUBE video: Be mindful of copyright - since you will be uploading to YouTube, that is a public forum and available to the public at large -- images must be copyright free or original with you (or those you have written permission to reproduce).
 There are clip-art sources that provide images for re-publication if "not for profit." And some staging of photographs would be appropriate. Merely crediting the source of an image does not make it legal to reproduce and republish images.

When uploading your booktalk to YouTube you must check public or unlisted in order for others to have access to your video. With the unlisted option others who want to see the video will have to have the exact URL. Checking public will allow anyone to see the video and will be able to search for it. If you check private, only you will be able to access the YouTube video.

To share the YouTube video provide the URL for the video.  Obtain the shortest and most accurate URL for the video by clicking on the "share" button below your uploaded video.  When you click the button the correct URL will show and give you the correct URL to share with colleagues.  The correct URL will NOT have watch? in the URL.

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NEW TITLE - for those of you who have compiled a bibliography or are interested in the topic of refugees, or the Holocaust - DO NOT miss putting this book on your list.
Bird, Elizabeth. (2020, July 3) Chance: Escape from the Holocaust -- An excerpt for the latest book by Uri Shulevitz.  Retrieved from
http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2020/07/03/chance-escape-from-the-holocaust-an-excerpt-of-the-latest-book-by-uri-shulevitz 

Shulevitz, Uri.  (2020). Chance: Escape from the Holocaust. Macmillan.

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Connecting a classic (The Incredible Journey) to a more current title (Pax):

One of Sara Pennypacker's most acclaimed book is Pax.  One of the first titles you might want to investigate is destined to rival the classic, The Incredible Journey.
Pax by Sara Pennypacker is about a boy and his fox. Pax and Peter have been together since Peter rescued Pax as a kit. But then... Peter must go to his grandfather's home, 300 miles away. Peter must find a way to be reunited with Pax... and Pax, meanwhile, has set out to find his boy. Pennypacker, S. (2015) Pax. Illustrations by Jon Klassen. New York: Balzer + Bray.
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Novel List 

"Go to your public library's website, look for Online Databases, and see if NoveList is listed there. If it is, you're in for a real treat with a resource that will amaze you.
Q. What is "Desperate Librarians"?
A. It's an annotated resource list of children's books, written by Judy Freeman for Novelist,  with lots of meaty ideas for quick and dirty lessons you can use in your library or classroom.
Q. What is NoveList?
A. From the NoveList site: "NoveList® K-8, a fiction database of over 50,000 titles, is aimed at helping younger readers find the books they want to read - whether in a school setting or in public library children's' rooms. Full-text reviews from sources like School Library Journal and Booklist are available for many titles. NoveList K-8 has all of the searching features contained in NoveList and allows users to search by author, title, series, theme or topic. With the "Describe a Plot, Topic, or Unit" search, you can use natural language to search the product's full-text reviews for titles of interest."

This resource can be accessed through many public libraries and some states (such as Wisconsin) have a state-wide subscription and because of that subscription educational institutions (and their patrons) have access to the Novelist site.
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Booktalking 

One of the most effective methods to get young adults to read -- is to put the right book into the hands of the right reader. Booktalks are a great way to do that. Brush up on techniques to share a set list of books with a classroom of potential readers (great opportunity to involve your school or public librarian) or develop "elevator pitches" for books you think some of your readers might like. An "elevator talk" gets it's name from the length of time one has if the person is taking an elevator from first floor to the fifth floor. Be concise, purposeful, and highlight the grab the attention elements of the book. Many authors and illustrators use this technique and there are good sites that summarize the technique.
And if you want to make a book trailer - this is an excellent example:
Street, T. (2013, Mar 17) Dancing home: A book trailer.  (video).  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/A3jMQfGjZE8  -- this video is a good example of using original or graphics with permission, copyright free music, and has credit pages with citations for all graphics, components used.

Share how you can contribute to the environment of literacy.

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Check out the NERDY BOOK CLUB blog for lists of Nerdy Award books. The club has pegged several categories that are right on target IMHO-- don't miss their lists.

Nerdy Book Club... Retrieved from https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/nerdy-book-awards/2015-nerdy-book-awards/.

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Visions of Education (American Indians in Children's Literature with Debbie Reese. 
Kurtka, Dan and Milton, Michael. (2017) Episode 67: American Indians in Children's Literature with Debbie Reese. Visions of Education (Podcast). Retrieved from https://visionsofed.com/2017/09/13/episode-67-american-indians-in-childrens-literature-with-debbie-reese/ This pod cast on Visions of Education is worth the 35:56 minutes it will be to listen to the entire pod cast and I do think it will be worth it. Check out what Debbie Reese has to say - a great section of this (you do have to wade through some initial banter from the podcasters but at 4:23 in the podcast a discussion of indigenous cultures). And at 6:00 the podcasters introduce Debbie Reese - the guru on the topic of American Indians in Children's Literature -- very interesting information. At 18:00 focuses on the terms and instruction of information about Native Americans. Tribal specificity, and what's right in what has been written, and what needs to be changed. A lot of understanding.

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Graphic Novels

In the past decade graphic novels have come to the mainstream publishing industry. First popularized in Japan, the format (NOT a genre) became very popular. Publishers who wanted to remain relevant to a great segment of readers eventually got on board. Today there are reading lists generated by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) that will provide some excellent titles to share with K to 8th grade readers.

The Breadwinner: A graphic novel

Based on the original book by Deborah Ellis and adapted from the feature film directed by Nora Twomey, Groundwood Books (ages 10 to 14) Adapted from the Oscar-nominated animated feature, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel tells the powerful story of a girl in Afghanistan who must disguise herself as a boy to support her family after her father is unjustly taken to prison.  The official trailer can be found at https://youtu.be/ZKxzlNE9_7Y

Several authors of traditional novels have reissued graphic novel versions of their popular novels -- check Rick Riordan, and Cynthia Leitich Smith, for example. But there are others. Graphic Novels

Much of the "objection" to graphic novels seems to be partially due to cultural differences. For example, the Japanese culture tends to view females in a much more sexual manner. Thus, the way the Japanese Manga writings portray females seem to be offensive -- and thus, push away this very valuable form. But graphic novels are now much more than Japanese Manga. The format has developed. A few years ago AMERICAN publishers got on board with the format and began to publish books that seem more acceptable to the general population. Scholastic was among the first. More publishers (since 2010) have begun to bring out titles specifically for the less able readers. Robert Burleigh has some great graphic biographies (still called graphic novels -- a format not a genre).

 This is a comment from a colleague of mine -- a former naysayer when it came to graphic novels --
"David Small's Stitches (2010) -- Wow! It was a book I read cover to cover and couldn't go to bed until I finished it. (I had started about 10:00 one night -- just browsing through an advanced reading copy (ARC) -- but had to read it all in that one sitting) I have since used
it to show teachers the value and seriousness of literature in the graphic novel format. My K-5 students, of course, are gobbling up tons of graphic novels. The girls especially like Baby Mouse and Fashion Kitty. The boys are still enjoying Bone, Saradine, and the Captain Underpants series!!"

 Several websites (including the ALA site) includes lists of more recent Graphic Novels.
Small's story is especially poignant for readers who grew up reading the picture books he illustrated and the books he has created with his wife, Sarah Small.  Small was one of the first to put a personal aghast story into a graphic format for YA readers -- but he won't be the last, I am sure.

In 2018, Jarrett J. Krosoczka who is best known for his humorous books for intermediate readers wrote an account of his growing up years.  His more than 50 books include the very popular Lunch Lady graphic novel series, and the Platypus Police squad novel series.  He is also the host of The Book Report with JJK on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live, a weekly segment celebrating books, authors, and reading.  -- But this story, Hey, Kiddo! (Graphix, 2018) is for a young adult audience.  Krosocka does not hold back on the struggles he has had in life and how those struggles have impacted his life.  
Not every family has the mother, father idyllic picture at the family dinner table.  In fact Krosocka's family was anything but that picture.  In this National Book Award finalist, Krosoczka tells of his complicated childhood - not knowing his father - even his name, his complicated relationship with his mother - a drug-addict, and his growing up with two very loud, loving, and opinionated grandparents who took on raising Jarrett long after they thought they were done with children. By the time he became a teenager, he was quite good at making his non-normal life as normal as possible, dealing with his mother's absence (and sometimes presence) and tracking down his father.  This book is a must for all ya readers - survive you can.

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End of Week 6 - newsletter