So Happy! by Kevin Henkes

Genre - Picture book

Rating - 5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades K-3

The Scoop - A bored boy, a wandering rabbit, and a magic seed cross paths one rainy day.

The Story - This is a fun and fanciful book that is multicultural and universal at the same time (if that makes sense!).  The story never mentions where the family lives or anything particular to their culture; however, the illustrations are very specific to Mexico or the Southwest.  The colors and the clothing definitely indicate a Hispanic culture.  The story contains things many children can identify with - being bored until something happens, getting lost like the rabbit, and the excitement of a "magic" seed finally growing.  The illustrations are engaging and have a Van Gogh style that children could easily relate to. 

Educational applications
Georgia Performance Standards 

S1L1
Grade: 1
Description: S1L1 Students will investigate the characteristics and basic needs of plants and animals.

To be used in conjunction with the class planting and monitoring the growth of a plant from seed to sprout.  The book can be used in two ways.  First, the book could be read to the class before the project begins.  At the point in the story before the rain begins, students are asked what the magic seed needs in order to grow.  If the book is used after the seed lesson has begun, students are asked what the seed's life cycle wold have been like if it weren't "magic." Students can also name the parts of a plant that are visible when it begins sprouting after the rain.   

 
So Happy! by Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Anita Lobel
New York : Greenwillow Books, c2005

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Clara & Senor Frog by Campbell Geeslin

Genre - Picture book

Rating - 4/5

Age group recommendation - Grades K-3

The Scoop - Clara is not excited by the magic tricks she sees everyday, but when she discovers the magic of art, she finds real magic.

The Story - The illustrations in this book are wonderful!  They remind me of another Mexican artist, Frieda Kahlo.  The style is a wonderful and colorful introduction to Mexican art.  The story is good as the illustrations.  It is very realistic, with the remarriage of Clara's mother, and at the same time, it is very fanciful and shows how art can be an outlet for creative thought.  This book is a fun way to show kids that they can be artists and create what they see in their heads.  There is a possibility that kids would find the illustrations creepy or a bit scary.  The surrealism could be too much for some younger kids to understand. 

Educational applications
Georgia Performance Standards

VAKMC.2 The student formulates personal responses.

The teacher introduces the concept of creating visual images and making connections with objects and personal experiences.  The media specialist reads the text.  At the end, the students are asked the following questions:

• What was the first thing/person Clara imagined differently from how it actually appears?
• Describe the objects/people that Senor Frog and Clara imagined differently.
• How would you imagine the shell/ice cream cone differently?

The media specialist presents several objects to the class - e.g. a pine cone, a brightly colored ball, a small animal figure (a rabbit), a piece of fruit.  Be sure to have enough objects for three-four students to closely look at one object.  Students then create an illustration of the object in an imaginative way. If the object reminds them of a person, the student incorporates something about the person into the drawing of the object.  If the object reminds them of an event, the student incorporates the event into the drawing of the object.  The teacher may choose the materials for the project.  Illustrations may be displayed in the media center. 

 
Clara & Senor Frog by Campbell Geeslin Illustrated by Ryan Sanchez
New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, c2007
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Vintage Ad Browser

Vintage Ad Browser is a great resources for, well, vintage ads!  From airlines to holidays to clothing to food and beverage, this site has it all! Some categories go as far back as the 1770s.

Vintage ads would be a great addition to a history project to add a day-in-the-life flavor to a historical topic or to add a primary source for the topic. With over 100,000 images, Vintage Ad Browser has something for every subject.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Jennifer Choldenko

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating - 4.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 5-8

The Scoop - Matthew "Moose" Flangan and his family relocate to an exotic location - the island prison of Alcatraz!  Moose must learn to juggle baseball, making new friends and caring for his autistic sister. 

The Story - I really enjoyed reading this book.  The story is fun and engaging, the characters are believable and likable (or despicable enough...Piper!), and the location and time period make it even more interesting.  Moose is a character that kids can identify with, particularly those who have special needs children in their families.  The book is also a serious, but not too heavy, look at autism and how it affects regular family life.  Since Natalie's behaviors are based on the author's experience with her sister, the interactions and reactions to Natalie ring true. 

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

MSFCS6-CF1
Grade: 6,7,8
Description: MSFCS6-CF1 Students will identify and discuss social and financial skills needed to develop personal independence and interpersonal relationships.

Activities 

With help from Scholastic's Teaching Extensions.  Students create a poster of Piper's money-making laundry plan (p. 75).  Students then break into small groups, come up with their own money-making idea, and create a poster to advertise the plan.  Each group presents their plan to the rest of the class.  The class discusses whether the plan is viable, if it will damage personal relationships (as Piper's did), and whether the plan would be long-term or short-term.
 

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Jennifer Choldenko  
New York : G.P. Putnam's sons, c2004  

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson

Genre - Fiction

Rating - 4/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 5-8

The Scoop - Frannie's sixth grade year presents many challenges for her...her best friend's religious views; how to treat the new boy who looks white but says he's not; her brother's deafness and how it affects his, and her, world; her mother's health and the prospect of a new baby.

The Story - This is a great book for middle school students, probably more for girls than boys since it is told from Frannie's point of view. The book deals with many issues like the mother's miscarriages, inter-racial adoption and missing father figures in ways that are easy for this age group to understand and identify with.  I am not sure how engaging this book would be for students.  I felt that there was so much going on in the story that it was hard to really get into the story and be really engaged.  I don't think this book measures up to many of Woodson's other books. 

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

ELA5W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres.

After reading the book, students choose a topic from the book to write about: integration, racially mixed families, the hearing impaired, religion.  Students may choose to write either a personal response to the book or a persuasive essay about one of the topics.  Students should draw from their owns experiences, thoughts and reactions to complete the essay. 


Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, c2007

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating - 4.5/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 4-8

The Scoop - Penny lives for baseball, her Italian grandmother's cooking, and getting into trouble with her cousin Frankie.  Her Italian heritage is the cause of great joy in her life and the cause of great mystery.

The Story - I like this book because it's a different look at wartime discrimination than is usually discussed.  It seems that Japanese internment is mentioned more frequently than what happened to many Italians.  It was also refreshing to read a book about issues from the 50s that kids still face today...their parents won't let them do anything, step-parents, conflict between different sides of the family, generally getting into trouble, and being kept in the dark about important things.  There are also modern parallels to some of the issues specific to the 50s - fear of polio/aids, suspicion of Italians/Muslims.  I think kids reading this book would find plenty of ways to identify with the characters.  The eccentric characters, like Uncle Dominic, keep the book interesting and a little off beat.  

 

There are also many ways to use this book in lessons.  The story is jam-packed with interesting issues without feeling like there is too much going on (as in Feathers).  The overall story is cohesive and flows so well that the reader almost doesn't notice that there is so much to learn from the text. 

Educational applications

Georgia Performance Standards 

ELA6C1
Grade: 6
Description: ELA6C1 The student demonstrates understanding and control of the rules of the English language, realizing that usage involves the appropriate application of conventions and grammar in both written and spoken formats.

MSCD7-4
Grade: 6,7,8
Description: MSCD7-4 Students will recognize the impact of societal issues on their ability to function effectively in a diverse and changing world.

Activities 

From BookNotes Educators Guide.  The classroom teacher discusses how the story is based on the author's family and their experiences.  Students bring in a family picture or item that has special significance.  Students use the media center to research what was happening in the world at the time the photo was taken or when the item was acquired or made.  Students then write the story of the picture or item using a combination of family history and world history. Students should note how world events affected their families.

Penny from Heaven by Jennifer L. Holm New York : Random House Children's Books, c2006
Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon Sciezska

Genre - Historical fiction

Rating - 3/5

Age group recommendation - Grades 3-6

The Scoop - The Time Warp Trio searches for the inventor of The Book and meets up with Leonardo in the fifteenth century. Can the Trio, with Leonardo's help, invent a way to get back home?

The Story - This is the first Time Warp Trio book I have read in its entirety.  I was a bit disappointed.  I was looking forward to reading one of Sciezska's longer works, but the story just didn't really hold up.  It felt rushed and seemed to have gaps.  According to some of the reviews I read, this is a common opinion of this book.  However, a few reviews mentioned the other books in the series being stronger, so I may have selected the weakest of the bunch.  I would still recommend it for someone who is interested in Da Vinci as his character in the book is fun and I think that historical figures often seem stodgy.  This book gives Da Vinci humanity and a good sense of humor - two things kids will appreciate.

Educational applications - Idea from timewarptrio.com. 

Georgia Performance Standards 
ELA4R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a warranted and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts.
ELA4R3 The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it correctly in reading and writing.
ELA4W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent focus throughout, and signals a satisfying closure.
ELA4W2 The student demonstrates competence in a variety of genres:
 

To prepare for this lesson, the teacher introduces the concept of persuasive writing.  In particular, discussing the elements of a good billboard or advertisement: image, title,tagline, etc. If possible, bring in some samples to share with students.  In this activity, students create an advertisement in honor of one of Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions or innovations.  Students research Leonardo da Vinci’s many inventions and innovations. The media specialist creates a list on the board.  Students are divided into teams of two or three to create an ad featuring one of Da Vinci's inventions from the list.  Students decide which are the most important features or functions and what should be promoted in the ad.  Each team presents - or sells-  their ad to the class.

Da Wild, Da Crazy, Da Vinci by Jon Sciezska Illustrated by Adam McCauley 
 New York, N.Y. : Viking, 2004

Copy from Atlanta Fulton County Library