Unleashing Readers

The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple

October 9, 2013October 9, 2013 by Kellee

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!

The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History
Author: Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple
Illustrator: Roger Roth
Published July 1st, 2002 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: The Mary Celeste was discovered adrift on the open sea by another ship in 1872 — with no sign of captain or crew. What happened? Did the crew mutiny? Were they attacked by pirates? Caught in a storm? No one ever found out.

Inside this book are the clues that were left behind and the theories of what people think happened aboard that ship. Become a detective, study the clues, and see if you can help solve this chilling mystery from history.

My Review: This is the final book in the Unsolved Mystery from History series and I think it may be my favorite yet. Like The Wolf Girls, I had not heard about the Mary Celeste before this book, but this mystery was just so enthralling! A crew that just disappears?!?! How?!?! After reading the book, I spent hours online reading about the Mary Celeste and it is so interesting. There are so many websites and opinions and theories—all which would be so much fun to share with students.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Like the other books in this series, I would love to see these books used in classrooms (history or language arts/reading). These books promote studying history, asking questions, inquiry, and vocabulary. Each book begins with an introduction about a young girl who enjoys unsolved mysteries from history and then the books are set up like her case notebook. Each page of the case notebook includes a narrative nonfiction section, an informational nonfiction section where facts about the story are explained even more in detail, and then there are vocabulary words from the two sections defined for the reader. Finally, in the back of the books the different theories about what could be the answer to the unsolved mystery are shared and briefly discussed. The set up of this book leads to infinite possibilities of being used in the classroom. Students could debate, write research papers, could do their very own case notebook about a different mystery, etc. Another option is to get all of the Unsolved Mystery from History books and have students get into lit circle groups and have each group read a different mystery then research and share. The other books in the series are about the Salem Witch Trials, the Wolf Girls, and Roanoke.

Discussion Questions: Which of the theories do you think happened?; Do you trust Captain Morehouse? Why or why not?; One theory mentions a kraken. Do you think sea monsters exist?; Study the weather of the Pacific during the time period the ship disappeared. Is weather an option for the crew’s disappearance?

We Flagged: Narrative Nonfiction “The last place the men looked was in the ship’s hold where her cargo- 1,700 barrels of raw alcohol- was well stowed. Not a single barrel had been opened. All in all, Deveau and Wright looked around the Mary Celeste for over half an hour. They found no sign of anyone on board, no signs of struggle.”

Informative Nonfiction “The cargo was alcohol stored in red oak barrels. Red oak is a porous wood that lets alcohol fumes escape. When the barrels were examined, some of the alcohol was found to be gone, but that was entirely due to evaporation. According to reports, the barrels were “in good order” and not “in any way injury.” Besides, the alcohol was was raw alcohol which was to be used for fortifying Italian wines. Anyone drinking it unprocessed would not become drunk, but would rather lapse into a coma or die. Only one hatch was found open, but there was no sign of smoke damage or an explosion in the unventilated hold.”

Vocabulary “Hold: the area inside the ship where cargo is stored; Cargo: the goods being transported by the ship” (p. 20-21)

Read This If You Loved: The other Unsolved Mystery from History books

Recommended For:

I’m so sad that I am done reviewing the Unsolved Mystery from History series, but I hope you have enjoyed learning about them as I enjoyed reading them.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Series

July 27, 2015October 8, 2013 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Best Series

Today’s topic is supposed to be the Top Ten Best/Worst Series Enders. We didn’t want to be too negative, so we decided to share our favorite series, instead.

Ricki

1. The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

This series helped me learn to love to read when I was a child. Sometimes, series get a bad reputation, but many kids learn to love to read through series books, so I couldn’t exclude this important collection from my top ten list. The kids in this series show incredible strength and are great role models for readers.

2. The Graceling Realm by Kristin Cashore

I am sorry I keep bringing this series up in my posts, but it is my all-time favorite series, so it must make this list. The world-building is incredible and the characterization is beautifully written. I don’t usually enjoy the series books that others rave about, but Cashore shows that authors can really do it right.

3. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

I love this series because it has such widespread appeal. These books were very enjoyable to read, and I loved sharing them with students because they hooked so many of my kids to reading. There are some great themes for teachers to discuss, and my students and I had a lot of fun viewing these books through the lens of 1984.

4. Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene

I am convinced that I am so good at predicting story twists because of this series. Nancy Drew taught me to look for clues in books and make solid predictions. I haven’t read one of these books in about two decades, but I am convinced they developed me as a reader.

5. The Berenstain Bears Series by Stan, Jan, and Mike Berenstain

I bet you weren’t expecting this one! Who doesn’t love the Berenstain Bears? They have been teaching kids moral lessons for decades, so they need to be on this list.

Kellee

I love so many series, so this one was very hard for me. I second Ricki’s Graceling Realm as it is brilliant and these are my favorites.

1. Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann M. Martin

This series, I believe, is why I am such an avid reader. I owned hundreds BSC books and loved them all. As an adult I’ve been collecting them to A) reread & B) for my children. I just love how each girl (and Logan) had a different personality and the books dealt with some really important situations. Such a great series!

2. Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness

Brilliant. I remember reading A Knife of Never Letting Go and knowing that the book was so important. Then when Monsters of Men won the Carnegie Medal, I knew that the masses had seen how amazing this series was.

3. Betsy books by Carolyn Haywood

My mom read these books when she was a little girl then she read them to me when I was a little girl and if I have a little girl, I will read them to her. Betsy was a great companion during my early childhood.

4. The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry

The Giver has been my favorite book since I read it in 1993. Though I was very satisfied with the ending and loved the ambiguity of deciding what happened to Jonas, when another book came out in 2000 then another in 2004 and finally the series finale in 2012, I had to read them all and I loved them. I think the way Lois Lowry writes is magical and the world of The Giver is brilliant, so I would read anything by her, set there.

5. Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz

This series was my first series that I began reading when I started teaching. During my literature degree, my love of reading faltered (lit degrees are tough! And make reading such a chore!), but when I decided to become a teacher, I started reading middle grade and young adult books. I remember reading Stormbreaker and knowing I had to read the whole series. I have not stopped book talking this series since then.

Honorary. Ramona series by Beverly Cleary, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Doctor Dolittle series by Hugh Lofting, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, Skinjacker trilogy by Neal Shusterman, (adult) Spellman Files series by Lisa Lutz

I had to mention all of these because they are so great as well. I had a hard time picking the top 5, so I wanted to list these other amazing series as well.

Which series do you love?

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 10/7/13

July 27, 2015October 7, 2013 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture to view the post**

Our Cheryl Rainfield “Be your own hero” wristband giveaway winners are:

LINDA B.
BERNICE H.

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week I was so excited to read Anubis Speaks! A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of Death by Vicky Alvear Scheter. I am blessed to have some amazing friends who know I love mythology and made my acquisition of this book possible before its release—I am a very lucky girl! I cannot wait to share this book with you all.

I’ll tell you what, many people talk about how when they are sick, they spend time reading books, but when I am sick, I just veg in front of the TV and sleep which really hurts my reading. This is the second time this school year (ALREADY!) that I’ve been sick and it is getting old; hopefully it is all uphill from here! [Also, being sick makes me miss audiobooks because I would have at least gotten some listening done, but carpooling is worth missing out on them. Kind of.]

Ricki: This week, I finished listening to Annexed by Sharon Dogar. It was a great book and very interesting, but I wish I had read it. It was quite depressing, and it made driving to and from school a sad experience (for two weeks). I learned a lot about Anne Frank from this different perspective (while it is considered a historical fiction, I know it is grounded in a lot of research).

I read The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp in preparation for my viewing of the movie. It was very good, and I found it to be quite similar to The Catcher in the Rye. I also read Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. This is a very, very good book. If you aren’t aware, it is about a boy who plans to shoot his ex-best-friend and then himself. I found it to be a very important text that should be available in all classrooms.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I have a to-read list and next up is Doll Bones by Holly Black. I am really looking forward to finally reading it! I also need to do some research because NCTE is getting really close and I need to work on my presentations. Next weekend, we are also going to go visit my grandfather and family who is visiting him. This will take away from my reading time, but I hope to have enough time to make a dent in my to-read list.

Ricki: My husband and I are listening to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks in the car together. We have listened to two (out of ten) CDs, but I am thinking we won’t be finished for a very long time. This is his first audiobook.

I just started Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron. I am hoping to finish it for a post this Thursday. I know–I am cutting it close! But it is great so far, so I think I can do it! I am reading a lot of neat articles about the purposes of educating teachers for my doctoral program. This is intended to prepare me to write a philosophy of teacher education. It is interesting because it is forcing me to examine what is most important to me, in regards to the education of teachers.

Guess who got the new Kindle Paperwhite for her birthday? I am a very lucky woman. I love my husband.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

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So, what are you reading?

Link up below, and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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1.	Michelle Glatt @ I Push Books	15.	The Book Monsters	29.	Maria @Once Upon A Story
2.	Myra @ GatheringBooks	16.	Andrea @ Mrs Payan Reads	30.	Elisabeth @ The Dirigible Plume
3.	Earl	17.	Natalie @Biblio Links	31.	Colby
4.	Debbie - Styling Librarian	18.	Deb Nance at Readerbuzz	32.	Amanda @ Maestra Amanda's Bookshelf
5.	Crystal @ Reading Through Life	19.	LisaILJ @ I'll Tumble for YA	33.	Angie aka Ms. O
6.	Julee Murphy @ Book Egg	20.	Beth Shaum	34.	Jennifer Reed
7.	Carrie Gelson @There's a Book for That	21.	Page (One Book At A Time)	35.	Mindi Rench
8.	Ms. Yingling	22.	Linda - TeacherDance	36.	Beth @ Seeking Six
9.	Maria Selke @Mselke01	23.	Mandy @ The Reading Diaries	37.	Cynthia Alaniz
10.	Melanie Swider	24.	Great Books for Kids and Teens	38.	Joanne Toft
11.	Gigi McAllister	25.	Cindy @ Paper Two Ways	39.	Maine Reading Association
12.	Tara @ A Teaching Life	26.	Jeanne @ True Tales & A Cherry On Top	40.	Felt Like Reading!
13.	Holly @ Reading, Teaching, Learning	27.	Lorna @ Not For Lunch
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Ol’ Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein

October 13, 2013October 6, 2013 by Kellee

Ol’ Mama Squirrel
Author and Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
Published March 21st, 2013 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Goodreads Summary: Caldecott Honor winner David Ezra Stein’s lively tale is a fantastic read-aloud, and feisty Mama Squirrel will have fierce mamas everywhere applauding!

Ol’ Mama Squirrel has raised lots of babies, and she knows just how to protect them. Whenever trouble comes nosing around, she springs into action with a determined “Chook, chook, chook!” and scares trouble away. Her bravery is put to the test, however, when a really big threat wanders into town and onto her tree. But no matter what, Mama’s not about to back down!

My Review: I loved Mama Squirrel. She does anything to save her babies. Anything. This book had me laughing and I know children everywhere will love it.

Teacher’s Tools For Navigation: First and foremost, this book needs to be read aloud. With voices. Kids will love it! This is primarily how this book should be used: as a read aloud. Though, it could lead to discussions about a couple of different things: cause and effect (very basic, would be a good introduction), protective vs. overprotective, team work, family, and (if with older kids and really want to push it) laws about protecting property like “Stand your Ground”.

Discussion Questions: Do you think Mama Squirrel goes to far sometimes? When?; What does Mama do that causes the intruders to leave? When this didn’t work, how did she get the bear to leave?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Scaredy Squirrel (series) by Melanie Watt, Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger, Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Recommended For:

Journey by Aaron Becker

October 5, 2013 by Kellee

Journey
Author and Illustrator: Aaron Becker
Published August 6th, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.

A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all.

My Review: This book is very hard to explain the magic of it. Lorna (@notforlunch) described it the best, I think: “a wonderful mashup of a David Wiesner book and Harold and the Purple Crayon.” I think this is perfect. It has the illustration beauty and magic of a wordless David Wiesner picture book and it is about creativity (and a crayon) like Harold. The beauty of the castle she visted also reminded me of Cathedral by David Macaulay. This book is just full of amazing! (You know it is good if it is a topic of #SharpSchu book club!)

Teacher’s Tools For Navigation: This was a bit hard for me. I can envision how this book would be used in the middle grades, but I was blanking on ideas for primary. I know this book needs to be shared, but how?

In my classroom, the first thing I would do is project the book and just have the students read it with me. No talking; just looking. Then we’d go back and discuss what is going on in the book, talk about some of the smaller parts of the illustrations, relive the journey. If I wanted to include a writing activity, we could add words to the book (although, I think this book’s illustrations stand alone). We could also discuss what we’d do if we had a magic crayon. I think this book would be a great addition to Dot Day and discussing creativity. Finally, I think a discussion of observing your surroundings would be appropriate as what the girl wanted the most was right in front of her at the beginning of the book.

Discussion Questions: What would you do with a magic crayon?; What was your favorite part of the journey?; Two parts remind me of Where the Wild Things Are, can you figure out which parts?; What do you think the girl’s name is?; Aaron Becker grew up in many different parts of the world including Japan. Can you find influences of Japan in this story? What about some of the other places he lived?

We Flagged:

Read This If You Loved: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson, Blackout by John Rocco, David Weisner wordless picture books, Cathedral by David Macaulay, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Henri Mouse by George Mendoza, Chalk by Bill Thomson, Art & Max by David Weisner, Weslandia by Paul Fleishman, Narnia (series) by C.S. Lewis

Recommended For:

I put “Read Aloud” although this book is wordless; however, I know it needs to be shared with students. How would you share this book with your students in a read aloud fashion?

Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist by Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich

October 4, 2013 by Kellee

Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tale Voices with a Twist
Authors: Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Illustrator: Matt Mahurin
Published March 1st, 2013 by Wordsong

Goodreads Summary: What were all those fairy-tale characters thinking? Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich answer this question in paired poems, with sometimes startling results. The Princess claims all those mattresses kept her awake–“not” a silly pea–while the poor pea complains that the princess snores. One Snow White begs the witch to settle by the bay and throw that mirror away. Another boldly tells the mirror she “won’t be guided by a glass that’s so one-sided.” Grumbles from the Forest is a bewitching brew of voices–grumbling, pleading, bragging, reminiscing, confiding–that bubbles with magic and wonder. The spectacular paintings that tie the poems together are full of surprise and intrigue. This stunning collection includes end notes that briefly describe the tales and their history and an introduction that invites readers to imagine their own poems from unusual perspectives.

My Review: Jane Yolen just doesn’t make bad books. Every time I read one of her books, I know I am reading a piece of great literature. This book is no different. Grumbles from the Forest takes 15 different fairy tales and then has a poem from two different perspectives for each fairy tale. Some are two different characters: Cinderella and her stepsisters, the frog and the princess, the wicked fairy and Sleeping Beauty, etc. including some characters who didn’t have a voice in the original fairy tale like the pea from The Princess and the Pea. Some are from one character, but two points of view: Snow White talking to the witch and with the magic mirror. I was fascinated with all of the poems they came up with!

Teacher’s Tools For Navigation: This book was built for being used in the classroom. First, each fairy tale section could start its own discussion about what the poem is saying vs. the original fairy tale. Second, the poetry itself stands alone. Look for figurative language and other poetic elements and there is even a haiku and cinquain. Third, we are always trying to get students to see things from different points of view and this is a perfect way. The introduction of the book even invites readers to: “Why not try writing a fairy-tale poem yourself? Pick a character or an object—maybe the bridge in Three Billy Goats Gruff, or Beauty’s father or the chair that Goldilocks broke. Imagine. Enchant. Write a poem that rewrites the tale. Make a little magic.”

Discussion Questions: Why do you think the authors chose to write from ____’s point of view? Do you agree with the point of view they gave the character/object? What would you have had them say instead? Who/what would you have written about instead?

We Flagged: Thumbelina

“Thumbelina: A Cinquain”
Being
small has its down-
side, but what, pray tell, is
the choice of a little missy
at birth?

“Little Big: A Haiku”
I am just a bit
Of a proper young lady,
Still I got my prince.

(p. 34-35)

Read This If You Loved: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl, and other fractured fairy tales; Stories told from different points of view like The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Who Stole Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp

Recommended For:

Black Ants and Buddhists by Mary Cowhey

April 22, 2023October 3, 2013 by Ricki

Black Ants and Buddhists
Author: Mary Cowhey
Published: January 1st, 2006 by Stenhouse Publishers

Summary: What would a classroom look like if understanding and respecting differences in race, culture, beliefs, and opinions were at its heart? Welcome to Mary Cowhey’s Peace Class in Northampton, MA, where first and second graders view the entire curriculum through the framework of understanding the world, and trying to do their part to make it a better place.

Woven through the book is Mary’s unflinching and humorous account of her own roots in a struggling large Irish Catholic family and her early career as a community activist. Mary’s teaching is infused with lessons of her heroes: Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King, and others. Her students learn to make connections between their lives, the books they read, the community leaders they meet, and the larger world.

If you were inspired to become a teacher because you wanted to change the world, and instead find yourself limited by teach-to-the-test pressures, this is the book that will make you think hard about how you spend your time with students. It offers no easy answers, just a wealth of insight into the challenges of helping students think critically about the world, and starting points for conversations about diversity and controversy in your classroom, as well as in the larger community.

Review and Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: Mary Cowhey’s book is a phenomenal resource for teachers. It is directed for elementary school educators, but I learned a lot, and I am a high school educator. Her main focus is to promote social justice, action, and independence in the classroom. Cowhey integrates stories from her personal life (she grew up without much money and as an adult, was a single mother on welfare) into her lessons to show how she helps her students feel comfortable and safe when sharing their own experiences. She teaches them that regardless of their social or economic standing, they have the ability to be successful.

Each chapter addresses important issues that teachers face, such as how to: set routines, differentiate, respond to tragedy, teach history so kids care, build trust with families, and go against the grain. When her students were dissatisfied with something, she had them write letters. They became young advocates. Cowhey has an extremely responsive classroom, where she takes the students’ interests and teaches different aspects of history, literature, and life each year. Some may find her ideas to be a bit liberal, but they are certainly adaptable for more conservative classrooms. Her students learn in the field, walking to see the mayor to demand a change in their town or visiting a sanitation company when a student wondered, “Where do the poops go?”

What I loved most about Cowhey’s book is that it showed me how to make my students more in-tune with their surroundings. I would love to have my own child in her classroom, as I know he or she would learn a lot about self-advocacy.

Discussion Questions: How do I teach my students to value social justice?; How do I create a culturally responsive and socially responsive classroom?; How do I make class meaningful for my students?; How do I create a safe and comfortable place for my students?; What do I do when students are distracted while I am trying to teach a concept?

We Flagged: “How we respond to tragedy, as teachers, as parents, as humans, not only provides comfort and security, but also can provide hope and power for children in a world that is often unfair, and sometimes unspeakably violent” (181).

Read This If You Loved: Reading, Writing, and Rising Up: Teaching about Social Justice and the Power of the Written Word by Linda Christensen, Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire, Teachers as Cultural Workers by Paulo Freire

What is your favorite book for professional development? Have you read this one? What did you think? Please share your thoughts!