Fantasy Lovers, Get Savvy!

Mississippi Beaumont and her crazy, zany family have a secret. Despite the fact that they seem like your typical American family on the surface, this secret makes them truly unique.The secret? They each possess a "savvy" - a special power revealed upon their thirteenth birthday which enables them to do the supernatural. Her grandpa can move mountains and her great aunt Jules could step back twenty minutes in time every time she sneezed. Olive, a second cousin, has the ability to melt ice with a glare. Momma is perfect and her older brothers Rocket and Fish can create electricity and hurricanes respectively. Mississippi, or Mibs, is awkward, gawky (as so many pre-teens are) and eagerly awaiting her thirteenth birthday to learn her savvy. But then two days before her special day, her father is in a car accident and rushed to the hospital. Mibs, on a mission to see her father, sneaks on to a bus that she believes is headed towards the hospital. It is soon apparent that the bus carrying Mibs, Rocket, Fish and two of the local pastor's children, is actually headed in the opposite direction of the hospital! Mibs and her companions find themselves on the ride of a lifetime that will teach them not just about their savvies but about the realities of growing up.

I loved this book for many reasons. The characters were so unique and endearing - its as if your best friends from when you were younger were infused with the abilities of your favorite superheroes. They were also extremely realistic and human - two qualities I don't normally associate with fantasy characters. There is a great interview with the author, Ingrid Law, on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Savvy-Ingrid-Law/dp/0142414336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290552911&sr=8-1)  in which she says that she sought to create a different sort of fantasy novel in Savvy. "I wanted to create a different kind of magic—one that called to mind the feel of a modern American tall-tale. I wanted to break away from the traditional tales about magic and find roots in the soil around me. What would magic look like if it sprang up in the small towns of America?" To me this perfectly encapsulates Savvy. The characters can be role models for readers because of their reality.

I originally picked up this book because nearly every student in my cooperating classroom is obsessed with this book. So much so that one of my students who is a struggling reader was practically begging my cooperating teacher to let her read the book, despite the fact that she had ruled it out as a "just right" book. To me, if any book can cause children to a) pick it up en masse or b) beg to read it, it HAS to be good. And I was not disappointed. While I would recommend this book for students ages 9-11, Stonehouse has this book featured in its Battle of the Books program and rightfully so in my opinion; It is a bit challenging and lengthy for most students. However, I feel that Savvy's message is great for all ages -  a celebration of idividuality and remaining true to yourself, is applicable and valuable to students of all ages.

Travel to the Past with The Watsons Go To Birmingham

To be perfectly honest, I was SO excited when I realized that this was the week to read historical fiction. I have always loved history, social studies and historical fiction - you name it I loved it if it had to do with the past. I was so overwhelmed with the possibilities of which book to choose - that is until I saw The Watsons Go to Birmingham in Dr. Johnson's class. I remember being so jealous of my best friend in 6th grade because her English class got to read this book while mine focused on a different text. This was finally my chance to read the book I'd wanted to read for the past ten years!

Let me tell you, Christopher Paul Curtis' book did not fail to disappoint. The Watsons Go to Birmingham was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, a story that perfectly portrayed an African American family caught unwittingly in the turbulent events of the Civil Rights Era, specifically the16th Street Baptist Church bombing of 1963. The precious voice of the book's nerdy 8-year old narrator, Kenny Watson, endearingly captures the innocence of his youth, his earnest desire to fit in with his older brother Byron and his friends, and his struggle to understand the senseless nature of the violent bombing that rocks his family's world. The story begins in Flint, Michigan where the Watsons are originally from. They are a family chock full of personalities. There's Dad, the mischevious patriarch, Momma, the heart of the family and a Southern transplant from Alabama, Byron, the older brother who fancies himself a rebel without a cause, Kenny, the quiet, studious narrator and Joey, the lovable little sister. It's never a dull moment around the Watson house - the first chapter opens with the entire family huddled together on their couch wearing every layer of clothing they own to keep warm and ends with Bryon's lips glued to the frozen side mirror of the family car after trying to kiss his own reflection.

That is, until, Bryon's troublemaking ways get to be too much for Momma and Dad to handle and the entire family ships down to Birmingham, Alabama, Momma's hometown, to spend sometime with their maternal grandmother. Their visit chillingly coincides with the horrible attack on the 16th Street Baptist Church in September of 1963. Before the bombing, Kenny nearly drowns in a swimming hole and has a vision of his sister Joetta (Joey) as an angel. Just a few weeks later, the family learns that the church where Joey is attending Sunday School has been bombed. Kenny runs down to find his missing sister and steps into the still smoking ruins of the church, but is unable to find Joey. He returns home to find Joey safe but is so disturbed by what he saw at the bombed out church, he sinks into a depression. Eventually he heals, thanks to the surprising help of his older brother.

Given the senstive nature of some of The Watsons content, I think it goes without saying that this was an extremely emotional book. However, I think it is important for children to read to understand the themes of love, loss and recovery. These are complex emotions that can be hard to work through if you are a child, so seeing a character who is very similar to themselves experience them and work through them could be an invaluable teaching experience. I would be sensitive to the age group and maturity level of your classroom but I think this could really work with upper elementary grades, specifically 5th and 6th graders. This book also won the Coretta Scott King Award and was a Newbury Honor Book, so it is widely known and recognized for its excellence. Scholastic has a great guide to the book featuring an interview with the author, comprehension questions, related activities and related reading (http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/pdfs/Watsons.pdf)

As a result of this popularity, there are plenty of lesson plans, study guides and reading comprehension questions available on the Internet.  I could also see some connections to modern day events, particularly if students have learned about the Civil Rights Era before and could connect it to civil rights issues of today. Teachers could also direct connections between the bombing of a church to modern events like September 11th or if students have experiences from the on-going war. Obviously these are not subjects to be handled lightly and require sensitivity but the book could be an interesting jumping off point to discuss connections between past and present. I would definitely recommend The Watsons Go to Birmingham as a touching and thought-provoking historical read!

Because of Winn-Dixie: A Small Read with a Big Heart

As my title suggests, Because of Winn Dixie is a tale that will certainly tug at your heartstrings! It tells the tale of India Opal Buloni, a ten year-old narrator with the same honest and endearing qualities of Scout Finch, who moves to Naomi, Florida one summer with her preacher father and learns more about life than she ever bargained for. Opal's mother, a free spirit with a dark past, abandoned the family when Opal was just 3. Opal and her father are close but her father remains emotionally distant when it comes to the past, hiding the pain of his lost love. When Opal and "the preacher" (as Opal calls her father) move to Naomi, life as they know it is turned upside down because of Winn Dixie, an ugly mutt of a dog with a tendency towards the mischievous who adopts Opal almost upon her arrival. Winn Dixie's astounding ability to make friends everywhere he goes, Opal encounters a town full of personalitie, including an ex-con who charms his pet store charges with his guitar to the neighborhood "witch" whose musings are profound, all of whom help Opal through this coming of age.

I absolutely loved Because of Winn Dixie. Opal reminded me SO much of Scout Finch, one of my favorite literary heroines, that I immediately warmed to her. Her naive yet wise voice spoke volumes and drew me in, so much so that I was nearly brought to tears over the course of the novel and I didn't want it to end! Each chapter sort of reads like its own short story - all have a clear message of their own but also weave together to build towards the larger plot. This is something that I believe really speaks to the story-telling skills of the author, Kate DiCamillo.Because of Winn Dixie was the first book published by the much-lauded author DiCamillo, the mind behind contemporary major children's books like The Tale of Desperaux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.

Avid movie-goers might also recognize the title because it was made into a movie in 2005 by the same name. One potential activity associated with the book could be to read the story and then watch the movie and compare and contrast what was the same in both versions and what was changed in the adaptation. This activity would give students practice at making double bubble maps and comparison. Scholastic.com also has some great activities that could be used for enrichment or extension, including a "Watch the Story Grow" section where students can read and compare the various drafts that Kate DiCamillo developed throughout the writing process and an interview with the author on how she develops a story. This could provide a lot of inspiration to children who don't like to write or who are bogged down by the at times lengthy nature of the writing process. You can check out all of the above activities at http://www.scholastic.com/winndixie/. The author's website also supposedly has a teacher's guide for Winn Dixie but since opening it made my computer freeze twice and nearly cost me this blog post, check it out at your own risk.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. Judging from my fifth grade class, it seems to be popular with a lot of girls but I think boys will definitely identify with a lot of the issues Opal deals with and the adventures that she and Winn Dixie embark upon together. If you are looking for a great realistic fiction read that will keep you wanting more, check out Because of Winn Dixie.

Shel Silverstein's poems and drawings invite children to explore "Where the Sidewalk Ends"

In Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends, readers will find a collection of funny, entertaining and whimsical drawings and poems sure to delight both children and adults of all ages. The anthology begins with a poem, “An Invitation,” that I want to somehow incorporate into my classroom décor because it has such a great message that leaves a lasting impact on the reader:

If you are a dreamer, come in,

If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…

If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in!

Come in!

In this initial poem, Silverstein has captured the anticipation that book-lovers feel before diving into a good book and a feeling that I would like to impart onto all of my students. The rest of the anthology is filled with the types of poems that have become Silverstein’s trademark: always silly and zany, some written just for fun and some with a lasting take-away message.

I’ve found that the silly ones are the best to read aloud and often the most memorable for kids. One of my favorites from this book is called “Sick.” It tells the story of a girl, Peggy Ann McKay, who claims she cannot go to school because of a variety of symptoms that would stump even the most experienced medical professionals…That is, until she learns that its Saturday, upon which she is miraculously cured. I remember being so thrilled by this poem that I memorized the entire thing in third grade. To this day I can still recall a few sporadic stanzas!

Other poems in Silverstein’s anthology are meant to inspire and encourage, like the short but sweet “Listen to the Musn’ts”:

Listen to the MUSN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON’Ts
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS,
The IMPOSSIBLES, THE WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me -
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

These two excerpts are just examples of the diverse literature awaiting readers of Where the Sidewalk Ends and really capture Silverstein’s uncanny ability to create fantastical and time-tested works that appeal to both children and adults.

Upon researching Shel Silverstein further, I was not surprised to find that before he was a children’s author, he wrote for adults with works appearing on stage in New York City and published in Playboy Magazine. He also was an accomplished musician, writing song for Johnny Cash and Dr. Hook. He even won a Grammy in 1984 for Best Children’s Album with his recitation of Where the Sidewalk Ends. (http://www.shelsilverstein.com/play.asp) 

Since even his works for children contain a more serious edge to them, you can easily see the adult influence in them. Hence, readers should be aware that Silverstein’s poems and drawings border on the macabre and adults should be cautioned to use their better judgment when reading them to younger readers. A lot of the illustrations for the poems in Where the Sidewalk Ends are wacky and psychedelic, like a head with two faces or a person with their head on the backside of their body. Older readers who are mature enough to handle the zaniness will be fascinated by this element of his work. I remember being both horrified and intrigued by Silverstein’s poetry, particularly his description of Peggy Ann McKay’s horrible symptoms in “Sick” or the sandwich in “Recipe for a Hippopotamus Sandwich.”  

In sum, a classroom library is incomplete without at least one collection of poems from Shel Silverstein and I would recommend his first anthology, Where the Sidewalk Ends as a great place to start. In the modern world, where children are exposed to various forms of computer and video games upon entrance into the world, Silverstein’s collections remain a refuge where children are encouraged to live within their brains, to explore, to imagine and to create.

Experience African American history through Her Stories

In Newbury Award-winning author Virginia Hamilton’s Her Stories, readers will find a wonderful collection of folk and fairytales focusing on the oft-overlooked cultural tradition and experience of African American women. The book is divided into five sections (Her Animal Tales, Her Fairy Tales, Her Supernatural, Her Folkways and Legends, and Her True Tales) and each section contains four or five short stories, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and a short paragraph on the story’s historical context.  Hamilton does a great job at amassing tales which previously were passed down through the oral tradition only and manages to give each story a distinct and individual narrative voice. Not only will children love these tales for their plotline, the book also serves as a great historical piece on the journey of African American women from slavery to the present.

My favorite story in the collection was that of Annie Christmas. Anne Christmas is the female answer to John Henry and Paul Bunyan – a woman whose story became larger than life in southern Louisiana culture. Annie was supposedly “coal black and tree tall.” A keel-boat operator on the Mississippi, she was “the biggest woman in the state of Loo’siana, the strongest that ever lived in New Orleans-town.” In this version of Annie’s tale, she falls in love with a paddleboat captain after he demonstrates bravery in the face of danger during a rough storm on the Mississippi. The captain does not return her love and Annie wishes “big trouble” upon him. In the face of this rejection, she jumps overboard in her prettiest satin dress, never to be seen again. The captain and his crew mysteriously disappear as well. The captain is said to haunt that part of the Mississippi while Annie is said to occasionally appear from the mist of the river near New Orleans, singing a river-boat tune. I loved this story the most because of its strong heroine character and the high intensity and drama of the whole tale. I also loved the narrative voice Hamilton gave this story. This is by far her strongest writing technique, so much so that she reminded me a lot of Toni Morrison, except for a much younger audience.

Further research on Hamilton really surprised and impressed me. I hadn’t previously heard of her before picking up Her Stories, but her life and its achievements were so impressive, I can’t believe I haven’t encountered her sooner. The descendant of slaves, Hamilton grew up on a farm in Ohio that her grandfather bought and owned after escaping from Virginia on the Underground Railroad. Hamilton studied at Ohio State University before moving to New York, where her literary career really began. Over the course of her career she wrote 41 books within a variety of genres, mostly focusing on the African American experience. Not only was her work groundbreaking, she also has the distinction of having won every possible award for children’s literature, according to her website (http://www.virginiahamilton.com/biography/). Regardless of the fact that I came upon Hamilton's works a bit late, I think I will definitely try to incorporate her works into a future classroom library to provide my students with a variety of American perspectives and experiences.

Reach for the Stars with Sheep Blast Off!

In Nancy Shaw's fun and clever Sheep Blast Off, a group of unassuming farm animals find themselves aboard a rocketship headed for space! It all begins innocently enough, when a spacecraft lands in the sheep's yard and they meander over to examine. After some tinkering, the bumbling sheep end up blasting off into the stratosphere and beyond! They encounter some technical difficulties including a scratch on the space shuttle and a near death experience after the autopilot fails but they are saved thanks to the help of some alien sheep friends. They return home, tired but exhilarated after their little space adventure.

Sheep Blast Off is by far the silliest book I've reviewed for this blog thus far but this doesn't mean that its value should be discounted. The book does utilize rather large vocabulary words for a picture book, including "stratosphere" and "weightlessness" so it would be great for younger readers as either a read aloud or a challenging practice for guided reading. The illustrations by Margot Apple are eyecatching and colorful, sure to hold children's interest and make them laugh out loud. My research into this author/illustrator pair found that they have published seven other sheep-related books together, so they would be a great way to introduce the concept of a book series to younger readers. Whether you read these books as a series or just Sheep Blast Off, they promise to be a fun and amusing read that will hold children's attention the whole way through.

When I Was Young in the Mountains: A "Wild and Wonderful" Read

Evoking the simple and gentle pleasures of country living, When I was Young in the Mountains by renown children's book author Cynthia Rylant invites readers to share in a piece of her Appalachian childhood, growing up with her grandparents and without indoor plumbing. "When I was young in the mountains, Grandfather came home in the evening covered with the black dust of a coal mine. Only his lips were clean and he used them to kiss the top of my head," begins Rylant's first book. She continues, describing how her grandmother would make homemade country food and walk her to the "johnny-house" when she ate too much okra. Much like Donald Crews in Bigmama's, Rylant highlights the quiet simplicity of a rural upbringing: summer days spent lazing in a swimming hole, attending church in the one room schoolhouse and sitting on the porchswing at night. The reader is left with a sense of quiet contentment and a wish that they could enjoy such a satisfyingly simple life.


Further research shows that Rylant was initially inspired to write this first book thanks to the works of Southern writer James Agee. She points to her West Virginian upbringing as particularly influential, saying, "The inspiration for this book came from memories of my childhood in Appalachia, when I lived with my grandparents and other relatives in a four room house in Cool Ridge, West Virginia. We children had to make do with each other and what we found in the mountains, and do you know, I was never bored!" But this inspiratio stems beyond a deep-seated nostalgia. In an interview with Scholastic.com, Rylant says, "I get a lot of personal gratification thinking of those people who don’t get any attention in the world and making them really valuable in my fiction — making them absolutely shine with their beauty”(http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3288).

I think that young readers will be soothed by this tale; Rylant repeats the phrase "When I was young in the mountains," about every other sentence and the result is a soothing sing-songiness that children will love. Not only do Rylant's words have an unassuming grace about them, illustrator Diane Goode's simplistic folk-inspired watercolors are the perfect compliment. In fact, they suited the text so perfectly, the book was nominated for a Caldecott and received a Caldecott Honor award in 1982. This book would serve as a great jumping off point for further class discussions about rural life or even a historical lesson on coal-mining. Teachers could also use this text to introduce the concept of biography and have students write their own mini-autobiographies in response. If you are looking for a simple, soothing read that also serves an educational purpose, When I Was Young in the Mountains is the perfect fit.