Library of Congress : Civil War Resources

I've been spending some time on the Library of Congress website the last few days.  There are so many wonderful resources there!  In the next few posts, I will highlight resources of interest, but there is far too much to cover in a few blog posts.  Head over to their website and check it out!


The Civil War resources at the Library of Congress cover the gamut from  Reconstruction, to Abraham Lincoln, to Slavery and Abolition. Photographs, official papers, personal accounts, and maps are available.  With such a wide range of multi-media materials, students in both middle and high school will be able to locate pertinent information.

Additionally, the Historic Papers section dates back to 1860 and students can view the actual newspaper pages. 

National Poetry Month

It's more than halfway over, but it is still National Poetry Month!


Quick Picks for Readings 

Elementary 

Lemonade : and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word by Bob Raczka

Both puzzles and poetry make up this fun book.  Raczka uses one word to create each poem, as the title points out.  The fun part is seeing how he gets an entrie poem out of only the letters in the word.  Sparse illustrations accompany the poems and don't distract from the poems themselves.





Middle School 

Brains for Lunch by K.A. Holt
Written entirely in haiku, this quick read will have the students simultaneously grossed out and having way too much fun.  Perfect for middle schoolers! Since the story is in haiku, the pacing is quick and make for a fast read. This is also a great pick for reluctant readers.






High School 

Street Love by Walter Dean Myers

This story of star-crossed lovers told in free verse is set against a background of street gangs and poverty in Harlem in which seventeen-year-old African American Damien takes bold steps to ensure that he and his new love will not be separated. Great to pair with a study of Romeo and Juliet  or to select passages to read aloud. 



Activity for Any Age Group

Newspaper Blackout Poems (via School Library Journal) - Give students a page or clipping from a newspaper and a black marker.  Students black out everything but their poem using the marker.  The results can be displayed in the library, the classroom, or in a hallway display to promote National Poetry Month.

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

 Clary Fray is a regular girl living in New York City.  She spends most of her time with her best friend Simon.  When Clary and Simon sneak into the club Pandemonium, they have no idea that their lives will change forever.  After meeting Jace, Clary discovers that she is part of an entire world she never knew existed.  Clary must learn to use her artistic abilities in a new and powerful way, try to make sense of memories that have been erased, discover who her father is, and come to terms with her new life.

A fast-paced story keeps each of the books entertaining and exciting.  There are many elements borrowed from other fantasy genre books, but none of the books feels derivative or like a cheap knock off of something else. The world of the Shadowhunters is interesting and new, but not so unusual that students would have a hard time relating to it.  The series will appeal to both male and female readers; lots of action, adventure, romance, and friendship. While the plot can be overblown and predictable at times, the characters are likable and the overall experience with the series pays off.

The Mortal Instruments Series begins with this trilogy.  The entire series is project to be six books, with the additional three picking up where City of Glass ended. 

Genre: Fantasy
Rating:4/5
Age group: Grades 9-12

City of Bones
New York : Simon and Schuster Audio 2007
City of Ashes
New York : Simon and Schuster Audio 2008

City of Glass 
New York : Simon and Schuster Audio 2009
All copies from Dekalb County Library