Kristyn Malanowski-book review 2

Holder, Nancy, and Debbie Viguie. Witch. 2002. Ney York: Simon and 

               Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2002. Print. Wicked 1.

Witch is the first book in the Wicked series.  This series is about an intergenerational feud between two magical families.  The main character, Holly, is thrown into the world if witches and warlocks after her parents are killed in a terrible accident.  She is flown to live with her aunt, uncle, and cousins in Seattle.  Until the accident, Holly never even knew she had an aunt.  Eventually, Holly and her two cousins learn about their magical past and the intergenerational feud between her family, the Cahors (what is now Cathers), and a warlock family, the Deveraux.  Holly, Nicole, and Amanda must stick together and attempt to fulfill their shared destiny.  The first book is more of a lead in to the rest of the series.  The characters discover their past and learn about the other family who is trying to kill them. 

This book series has recently become my favorite of all time!  I recently picked up the special edition of Wicked, which contains both books one and two, and then I bought the other three books to the series within a week.  I am a fantasy freak and these books kept me on the edge of my seat.  I could not even put them down after I bought them.  Even though they are the stereotypical good versus evil, the way the story is told is just thrilling.  I was very depressed when I read the last book! I wanted there to be more to the series and was even a little disappointed in how it ended.  I love anything to do with witches and warlocks.  I loved how there are flashbacks to different centuries and how they allowed you to “see”, or get to know, different generations of Cahors witches.  Holly and Jer are possessed, in a way, by their ancestors, Jean and Isabeau, who have been traveling throughout time trying to kill each other.  Throughout each book, we are taken back in time and are told how the feud came about and why Isabeau and Jean are trying to destroy each other.  It is nice to have a book with a spin on it. 

The Wicked series is definitely for young adults.  Younger children would have a hard time following the books because of different time eras and how there a multiple leaps between the eras.  Sometimes you could be reading about one generation and a page later it could be one hundred years into the future or past.  The books also deal with a lot of violence and death.  It is possible that younger children, of the elementary age, could be given nightmares due to the descriptive deaths and violence.  I personally didn’t have a problem with the blood and guts, but I am also a college student and pretty much expected it. 

The storyline is based on two families, the Cahors and Deveraux, who are involved in an intergenerational feud.  We associate the Cahors (Cathers) with good and the Deveraux with evil.  We are convinced that the Deveraux are evil because they worship the Horned God, or the devil, and that the Cahors are good because they worship the Goddess.  In this book, we don’t really understand that both families started out evil.  Later on in the series, we learn that both families were evil to begin with and that they both wanted to destroy each other.  In the first book, we only get to see that the Deveraux want to kill the Cahors (Cathers) and thus they have to fight back to save their lives.  This book seems as if it is going to be the typical good versus evil story.  The further into the series you get, the more you learn about their family history and how they were equally bad to begin with.  We want the Cahors to be good because they are the ones being attacked, but you almost have to hate their ancestors as well because they were just as evil.  It is very confusing for a while, but all in all you have to side with the Cahors because they save the world from being destroyed and maintain the balance between good and evil.

I would associate this book with the love story of Romeo and Juliet.  Basically, you have these two feuding houses and a boy and a girl fall in love.  At first, their love is forced because their parents want to obtain the secret to the black fire.  The only way that the black fire can be conjured is by a Deveraux and a Cahors joining together.  The plan was for the two to marry and then there would be an invasion to destroy the opposing family members.  It just so happened that the mom put a curse on her daughter and if she didn’t kill her husband, they would travel through space and time and not move on until the deed was done.  The sad thing being that the couple actually fell in love and thus didn’t want to hurt each other. Therefore, you have two spirits traveling through time trying to kill each other so they can move on.  The spirits, Isabeau and Jean, eventually possess Holly and Jer who have also fallen into a forbidden love.  Neither couple wants to kill one another and yet is forced to try because of the feud.  You get the whole “we cannot trust him because he is a Deveraux” thing and Holly even references Romeo and Juliet because of the situation.  Don’t worry though, because in the end, the two lovers end up together.   Eventually you learn that the two families were forced into a feud long before Isabeau and Jer. These higher beings found that when a Deveraux and a Cahors joined together, there would be no power stronger than theirs.  Thus, there was a forced feud to keep the families from ever wanting to join powers.  I guess the moral would be to follow your heart no matter what others think...oh...and don't play with fire..because you will get burned!

The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen

Summary: Neef, the Green Lady's Champion and her fairy godmother, Astris are back again, this time its Neef’s mission to return a magic mirror to the very determined Mermaid Queen.



Analysis: The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen is a fun option for a fourth or fifth grade class as an independent reader. It has mermaids, fairy godmothers, and a female protagonist that slays a dragon while on a quest for a magic mirror.

It would also appeal to those children that are interested in eco-friendly causes or the supernatural. I would use it to incorporate environmental science topics, or geography. I found that this book to be gender inclusive, and reinforces that females can be strong and capable.

If used as a pair book, I might pair it with one of the Harry Potter novels. I would like for the student to read both books then write a few paragraphs about the similarities and differences between them. This could be presented, on a voluntary basis, during a writing prompt circle.

As a follow up activity, I might have the whole class write a poem or draw a picture about one of the ideas the student highlighted in his or her book pair analysis.



Citation: Sherman, D. (2009). The Magic Mirror of the Mermaid Queen. New York: Viking Books.

D. Schumacher.139

Children's Literature for Math Class

Teachers can struggle to make math relatable and enjoyable for all students. Here are five books that will engage students in math-related concepts.

Franco, B. (2003). Mathematickles! New York: Margaret K. McElderberry Books.
Words + Math + Seasons = Mathematickles! Journey through the four seasons as words, illustrations, and mathematical equations combine to paint delightful images through unique poetry.

Not only are the poems found in the book original, but most of them are also correct in their use of mathematical signs and equations. For example: “Pumpkin – Seeds + Face = Jack-O’-Lantern.” This makes the book a great way for upper elementary teachers (grades 3-5) to extend their students’ conceptual understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The large colorful pictures and relatable concepts make the math concepts a little less intimidating for students. It’s also a fresh take on the changing seasons. Teachers could have students observe their environment (whether it be the classroom, the playground, or on a field trip) and then write math poems of their own.

Fromental, J. and Jolivet, J. (2006). 365 Penguins. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
On New Year’s Day, a family of four is puzzled when a penguin arrives anonymously on their doorstep. As they continue to receive a penguin each day, their problems are multiplied. But who is sending these birds? And why?

This humorous book will have students laughing as they learn basic math skills: addition, multiplication, and even geometry! Younger students (grades 1 and 2) will appreciate the story, but students in grades 3 and up will benefit the most from the math concepts included.  Teachers might have students write number sentences or equations during a read-aloud to review the concepts presented in the book. Students might also enjoy practicing addition or multiplication facts by drawing groups of penguins as pictured in the book. Finally, the story’s end introduces the issues of global warming and endangered species, which could then be used as the jumping off point for a science lesson.

Nagda, A. W. and Bickel, C. (2004). Polar bear math: Learning about fractions from Klondike and Snow. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
This book chronicles the life of Klondike and Snow, two polar bear cubs that were raised by keepers at the Denver Zoo. Each left-hand page details how fractions and other math concepts were used to raise the bear cubs.

This book is a creative way to introduce fractions and their real-world value to students in grades 3-5. Teachers of younger students may choose to omit the left-hand pages and only use the right-hand ones (which tell the cubs’ story) as a read-aloud. Alternating back and forth between the story and the math concepts might be confusing for students, especially if they have not read the book before. I would recommend that teachers planning on using the book to teach math concepts read only the story (right-hand pages) first to students, then incorporate the math concepts (left-hand pages) on subsequent re-readings. 

Pinczes, E. (1996). Arctic fives arrive. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

One day in the Arctic, five snowy owls light on the top of a hill. They are joined by groups of five – polar bears, musk oxen, walrus, ermine, and more – who arrive to view a magical sight.

I’ve shared this book with kindergarten students, who loved the rhymes and silly story. The arrival of each subsequent groups of five led to moans, groans, and laughs among the children. It also provided a terrific opportunity for them to practice counting by fives, which is a skill that primary students must master. However, this book is not without its flaws. First, it is on the long side for young students, as many were squirming and wiggling around before the story was finished. Second, a re-reading of the book in preparation for this post showed a fairly significant discrepancy between the text and illustrations. While the text states that the animals end up on a hill (which isn’t quite accurate as the Arctic tundra is flat), the illustrations show the animals crowding on a very tall iceberg (again, not quite accurate). However, the book overall is still one I’d recommend and use for counting exercises with students in the primary grades if used with modifications as needed (such as building in time for movement such as acting like the animals in the story or only using part of the story).

Smith, D. (2002). If the world were a village: A book about the world’s people. Toronto: Kids Can Press.

Smith, D. (2009). If America were a village: A book about the people of the United States. Toronto: Kids Can Press.
These two books introduce students to economic, social, political, and environmental issues facing the world and country’s population by providing statistics about a village of 100 people.

It can be a challenge to help students (and adults!) understand the extent of issues such as food shortages, poverty, and lack of access to clean water. Part of the reason for this is the huge numbers involved in such statistics. By simplifying to a village of 100, world and national issues are much more accessible. The author provides excellent suggestions for teaching about America and/or developing a sense of “world-mindedness” by emphasizing geography, cultural heritage, and a sense of citizenship. In terms of math concepts, these books provide an excellent real-world context for teaching about rations and fractions, two concepts that upper elementary students often struggle with and question the utility of.

Dinosaur Books

            I choose dinosaurs as the theme of my five picture books. I like the topic because it can be integrated into many different lessons for early elementary students. From these picture books I could teach an art lesson, science lesson, writing lesson and obviously a reading lesson. The five picture books I would base these lessons on are When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, If you Give a T-Rex a Bone, The Magic School Bus in the Time of Dinosaurs, Can I Bring my Pterodactyl to School Ms. Johnson?, and How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?.

            The science lesson would definitely start with The Magic School Bus in the Time of Dinosaurs. This book goes on an adventure to the past where they are looking for a dinosaur but keep ending up in the wrong era so they see other dinosaurs they weren’t planning on. The pages are full of side notes with facts about dinosaurs, bubbles of conversations talk about what the different dinosaurs they see and what the dinosaurs eat. This book would get the children excited about the science lesson and they would learn many facts about dinosaurs without me just writing them out on a blackboard. The illustrations are very detailed with plants and dinosaurs that existed. The book also shows time lines of the different eras since the earth has existed, the pictures label all the different dinosaurs that are shown, it introduces definitions such as prey and meat eaters. This book would be a very easy way to teach about the environment, the life cycle, dinosaurs and history.

            Another science lesson that would be more focused on dinosaurs could be planned from If you Give a T-Rex a Bone. This would be more specific than The Magic School Bus in the Time of Dinosaurs because it doesn’t introduce as many topics but it is more specific about the life cycle. This goes through different dinosaurs and what would happen in you interfered with their world, then goes to the next dinosaur. This book talks more about which dinosaurs are carnivores and which dinosaurs are herbivores. It talks about how they hunt and what they use as weapons whether it be their claws, teeth, horns or spikes. The book also shows the dinosaurs in the habitat they lived in such as in the jungle, in water or on the beach. I could talk with the students about different animals habitat and what their own habitat is. This book could be used for a specific dinosaur unit, maybe before a trip to the museum.

            A reading lesson could be created from How do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Because it is a simpler book. The book has a different situation on every page about what kids do to avoid bedtime but in the end the dinosaur goes to bed easily. The words have a lot of repetition so it would be good for beginners because they could remember the words that are used. The pictures show what the page is talking about so the student could look at the pictures for clues as to what the word may be. This is also an easy book that they could take home to practice with their parents because it is the perfect bedtime story (i.e. the title).

            Can I Bring my Pterodactyl to School, Ms. Johnson? And When Dinosaurs Came With Everything are both stories that involve the dinosaurs as characters, but don’t tell any facts. I choose these to include in my lesson plan because I don’t always want to have factual books because children will get bored of dinosaurs, I want them to have fun books too. Can I Bring my Pterodactyl to School? Is about a boy who wins a pterodactyl as a prize and lists all the ways the pterodactyl could help him and the class at school, even though in the end he realizes that he won a woolly mammoth instead. When Dinosaurs Came With Everything is about a town that gives away dinosaurs when you go to the dentist, buy a sandwich or even go to the movies. Both of these books could start children on an art project because it would stimulate their imagination. I could ask them to draw what they would with their dinosaur if they got one with the dentist or won a prize and could bring it to school. This would challenge their art skills along with demonstrating what they learned from the previous science lessons, if they remember the different kinds of dinosaurs and what they looked like. These books would be the wrap up to the dinosaur unit because they would have to build on everything they have learned from the other subjects and books to complete this project.

Danny Frank First Book Review

Adler, David, and Susanna Natti.  Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball. New York: Puffin Books, 1982. Print.

Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the Babe Ruth Baseball is a short chapter book, in the collection of nearly thirty Cam Jansen books, in the series written by David Adler. This story tells of Jennifer "Cam" Jansen, a young female detective with a photographic memory who decides to take up a case on a recently gone missing autographed Babe Ruth baseball. Using her detective techniques along with help from her sidekick Eric Shelton, she tracks down the thief who stole the baseball from a hobby show and returns the ball to its' rightful owner. 

Although this book is centered around the reading levels of six to nine year olds, I still find story to be very entertaining and have picked up on some of the underlying messages and techniques that I had not readily recognized as a child while reading this book. A common literary element known as a motif is represented by Cam's popular phrase "click"as she enables her photographic memory to remember very specific details about what see has seen.  Although it is not required for her to say the word "click" to remember things, it helps young readers identify when she is using her memory. Overall the word "click" is said eleven times by Cam, and is italicized in the text to help readers make note of its importance. Another aspect that I had not picked up on as a child is the important moral issues and good decision making strategies that are filled in the novel. Politeness is personified by Eric as he apologizes to two elderly women by saying, "I'm sorry, excuse me," as Cam and him take off  running between the two women after the baseball thief. Another seemingly comical issue although very serious that children learn at a young age is to look both ways before crossing the street. It is reiterated three times in the novel with one specific case where the thief takes off running across the street not even looking as he crossed, unlike Cam and Eric who the author points out look both ways before ever crossing.  I feel that this is an issue that six to nine year old kids can relate to and in order for them to be more like Cam and Eric they will want to look both ways if they are ever crossing the street.

 

I feel that the main reason I was so attracted to this series as a child was because it fell along the lines of a mystery novel, similar to my favorite juvenile series Goosebumps. I enjoy the sense of excitement while tracking the "bad" guy. In this Cam Jansen story readers are given clues to who could be the true baseball thief as Cam tries to solve to case. As she begins to make progress, so do the readers as if they too were detectives themselves solving the case. This story makes children begin to think ahead and try to figure out how the ending will conclude before reaching the last few pages.  I feel that as a young child this book helps the beginning stages of logic which are essential in making efficient decisions in one's future.

Another main reason, I feel why I liked this book particularly most out of the series is because of its reference to sports and especially baseball. Growing up I was typically the student who was successful in school but when the 3:10 bell rang, the rest of my day was spent being involved with sports rather then reading. Although it was not that I didn't enjoy reading, I just didn't find it particularly exciting, but that's because I didn't always find books to my interest. I remember after discovering these mystery novels, I began spending more time reading and with the sports references in this book it taught me about great baseball players of the past.  Along with referencing Babe Ruth in this story, other famous baseball players like Reggie Jackson, Satchel Paige, and Stan Musial are all mentioned. Although these names probably have no impact on the average nine year old, to some one who greatly enjoys baseball it gives them names of some of the sports' greatest players to play the game.

One final aspect of this book that I did enjoy is the illustrations provided by Susanna Natti. Although this is definitely not a picture book, about every three pages there is a small illustration visually describing what is going on in the scene. Because I find myself to be much more of a visual learner I found these illustrations to be especially useful to keep my attention. Using them as a reference to what the setting and characters in the story looked like helped me imagine the rest of the story in my head. I also find that sometimes a short break from words to look at a picture also helps me stay focused on the book because after awhile my attention span shortens and to look at a picture that relates to the book helps me to want to continue reading. Although the illustrations are done in black and white and there is not much detail to them, I still find the pictures very useful personally. To conclude, I feel that this opportunity has reenlightened my appreciation to one of my favorite series of books growing up, and reading it now again as an adult I can understand why I found these books to be useful and entertaining.

Paula Harting's book review!

1st Book Review


Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1960.
et al. Ninth Edition. Vol. I. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2007. 906-907. Print.
Scout Finch is a lively little girl growing up in the South during a time of tense relations between blacks and whites. Life changes drastically for Scout and her brother Jem when their father, a lawyer, defends a black man in court. Scout is growing up and learning about her world through the things that are taking place in her community and the people that she interacts with.
There are several aspects of this book that I really enjoy and would like to focus on. First is Scout’s non-traditional family. Scout herself is quite a tomboy and does not act in a manner that is considered appropriate for a young girl in her society. She seems to get away with it because she does not have a mother, and her father is often busy. Making his daughter into a proper lady is not at the top of his priorities. Jem and Scout call their father by his first name, Atticus, which at first seems shocking and disrespectful. However, it is apparent through the events of the story that though Atticus’s relationship with his children is not the same as in most other families, he is a loving father and his children have great respect and admiration for him.
Secondly, I really love the authenticity of the characters in this book. Scout always says what is on her mind and is more concerned with the truth than with what is appropriate or acceptable to say. Throughout the story, Jem is becoming a young man, looking out for his younger sister and, though he does not always relate to his father, looking up to him. This could make for an interesting discussion on the meaning of manhood in our society and how it compares to the view of manhood in To Kill a Mockingbird. When Atticus is chosen to defend a black man in court, he accepts the case even though he knows it will cause many in his community to reject him. Even when his personal safety is threatened, he does not back down. But he stands for what is right and just in a quiet and humble way.
This was one of the few books I enjoyed reading in high school and I hope that my students will love it too!

Elizabeth Seiler-First Book Review

Browne, Anthony. Into the Forest. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick, 2004. Print.

Into the Forest, written and illustrated by Anthony Browne

A young boy’s father goes missing the day before he is asked to take a cake to his grandma.  Disobeying his mother he takes the quick path through the woods, crossing paths with fairy-tale characters.

I originally picked up this book, because I have enjoyed other Anthony Browne books, especially those about Willy the Chimp.  As I can recall, I had not previously read this particular book.  Anthony Browne’s illustrations are extremely detailed, often with little “clues” or pictures that provide interest.  The cover is a mostly black and white illustration of a forest, with a young boy walking on a path in the woods.  If you look closely though, you notice that the boy’s shadow looks like a rabbit and there are little objects in the woods like a frog, an apple, and a castle.  These details are found throughout the book and could provide interest for both adults and children. 

The book starts out starts out with the sudden disappearance of the boy’s father, something that would make any young child scared.  The illustrations are stark, reflecting the apprehension of having a missing parent.  Children would have fun identifying the different fairy-tale characters the boy meets and look for other details about the characters in the illustrations.  The book could be slightly scary, but when the boy reaches his grandma’s house all is well.  This is reflected by the full-color, happy illustrations.

This book could tie in with any lesson about fairy tales, showing how they can be incorporated or made into spin-offs.  It can also be used to show a child that while things may seem scary, they will end up turning out fine.

Hoban, Russell, and Lillian Hoban. Bread and Jam for Frances.  New York: HarperCollins, 1993. Print.

Bread and Jam for Frances, written by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban

Frances is a picky eater who only likes bread and jam.  After having to eat bread and jam for every meal, Frances realizes that variety is the spice of life.

I remember enjoying the Frances books as a young child, so I thought I would revisit them.  I found the story funny and charming and the full-color illustrations of the badger family are a beautiful complement.  I really liked the many songs Frances makes up throughout the book.  She can also be somewhat sassy, although never in a rude way.  I also found the descriptions of the enormous and detailed lunches very appetizing:  “a thermos bottle with cream of tomato soup…and a lobster-salad sandwich on thin slices of white bread…celery, carrot sticks, and black olives, and a little cardboard shaker of salt for the celery.  And two plums and a tiny basket of cherries.  And vanilla pudding with chocolate sprinkles and a spoon to eat it with” (Hoban and Hoban 31).

This story would be great for any child who is a picky eater, hopefully showing them that eating the same food at every meal becomes boring.  Children could think of foods that they did not used to like, but enjoy now.  In the spirit of Frances kids could make up songs about their favorite foods.  It could also accompany a lesson on different foods that people eat around the world. 

 Hoban, Russell, and Lillian Hoban. A Birthday for Frances. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.

A Birthday for Frances, written by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban

It is Frances’ little sister’s birthday tomorrow, but Frances is not sure whether se will give her a present or not.

This is another book about Frances and her family.  I enjoyed this book, just like Bread and Jam for Frances.  Again, Frances’ spunky attitude and songs and the illustrations were delightful, and the dialogue was amusing.  Many children would relate to the jealousy Frances feels because it is her sister’s birthday.  This story shows that even when you feel jealous because it is someone else’s special day, you can feel better if you do the right thing.  For this reason it is a great book to lead a discussion on feelings and sibling rivalry. This book could also accompany a lesson on birthday celebrations.  

Barrett, Judi, and Ron Barrett. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. New York: Atheneum, 1978. Print.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, written by Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett

A grandfather tells his children a bedtime story about the town of Chewandswallow, a place where the weather brings the food, snowing mashed potatoes and raining soup.  When the weather takes a turn for the worse, the people must make a decision.

This is another story that I loved as a child.  It has recently been made into a digitally animated movie, although I have not seen it.  The book starts out slowly, introducing the children and their grandfather.  I really became interested when Grandpa began telling the bedtime story.  The idea of the weather bringing in the food is fun and interesting.  The illustrations are detailed, showing people collecting food while on the go, roofless restaurants, and the unusual sanitation department.  When the weather gets worse and the food gets bigger the illustrations become even better with giant pancakes and donuts.

This book would be another fun accompaniment to a lesson on food.  It is imaginative and different.  Although I have not seen the movie it might be interesting to have children compare the book and movie. 

Potter, Beatrix. "The Tale of Tom Kitten." Beatrix Potter, the Complete Tales. Ed. Frederick Warne. London, Eng.: Penguin, 1997. 147-58. Print.

The Tale of Tom Kitten, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter

Three kittens get into mischief before their mother’s tea party.

Although I remember Peter Rabbit and some of the other Beatrix Potter books well from childhood, I do not remember reading The Tale of Tom Kitten.  I read this as part of a treasury of all of Beatrix Potter’s tales, so it was a much larger volume than the smaller books she is known for although the illustrations and words are still printed in their smaller size.  I enjoyed this story about the mischievous kittens and as always, I loved the illustrations which really seemed to capture the characters’ personalities. 

Overall it is a very sweet, short book that I feel young children would enjoy.  It is important to note that the mother cat smacks the kittens for being naughty, which some parents might find inappropriate in a children’s story.  This story includes many great vocabulary words, such as affronted, repose, and tucker, which could lead to discussions on vocabulary of the past and vocabulary in different countries such as England.  The beautiful watercolor illustrations could also easily accompany an art lesson, in which students could paint common animals like kittens and ducks.