Module 15: And Tango Makes Three

Book Summary:

Roy and Silo aren’t like other penguins. Instead of finding a nice female penguin to create a penguin family, they are happy with each other’s company. The only problem is they are unable to lay their own egg to raise a penguin chick. When an egg needs help to survive, the zookeeper gives it to Roy and Silo to hatch and raise. They take great care of their egg, and soon they have their own chick to feed and teach penguin ways. That chick is named Tango, and together, they all make a family.

APA Reference of Book:

Richardson, J. & Cole, H. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York, NY: Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers.

Impressions:

This was a cute story about two animals who didn’t quite fit the expected mold. It is interesting that there are so many objections to this book as the story it tells really happened. I’m sure there was more to the real life story, but the way it was presented in this book is easy to read and for children to understand how things happened.

Tango’s story is short and straight-forward. Children will enjoy reading about how her egg was saved and hatched by two penguins who were unable to lay their own egg.

Professional Review:

Roy and Silo were "a little bit different" from the other male penguins: instead of noticing females, they noticed each other. Thus penguin chick Tango, hatched from a fertilized egg given to the pining, bewildered pair, came to be "the only penguin in the Central Park Zoo with two daddies." As told by Richardson and Parnell (a psychiatrist and playwright), this true story remains firmly within the bounds of the zoo's polar environment, as do Cole's expressive but still realistic watercolors (a far cry from his effete caricatures in Harvey Fierstein's The Sissy Duckling0 , 2002). Emphasizing the penguins' naturally ridiculous physiques while gently acknowledging their situation, Cole's pictures complement the perfectly cadenced text--showing, for example, the bewildered pair craning their necks toward a nest that was "nice, but a little empty." Indeed, intrusions from the zookeeper, who remarks that the nuzzling males "must be in love," strike the narrative's only false note. Further facts about the episode conclude, but it's naive to expect this will be read only as a zoo anecdote. However, those who share this with children will find themselves returning to it again and again--not for the entree it might offer to matters of human sexuality, but for the two irresistible birds at its center and for the celebration of patient, loving fathers who "knew just what to do."

Mattson, Jennifer (2005, May 15). And Tango makes three [Review of the book And Tango makes three by Justin Richardson and Henry Cole]. Booklist, 101(18), 1657. Retrieved from http://www.esebco.com/books/show/170731/searches/170731

Library Uses

Great for use when presenting the differences between different types of families. Also could be used for a brief introduction to penguins and how they interact and raise their young.

Module 14: Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reverso Poems

Book Summary:

A new form of poetry, reverse poems are read once forward and then again backward to create two separate poems using the exact same words. These particular reversos are based on well-known fairy tales. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and more all find themselves written with slightly new twists. Singer uses her unique voice to tell these tales in her own way. By changing only the punctuation and emphasis, the exact same words read in reverse order take on a completely new meaning.

APA Reference of Book:

Singer, M. (2010). Mirror, mirror. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

Impressions:

I’m not a big fan of poetry. I feel that I have to try too hard to understand what the author is trying to say to really enjoy it. However, I really find this type of poem entertaining. Writers who are able to pen these poems are really thinking about every word they use and the basic structure of their writing. Singer is a great poet for this. I was able to meet Singer this summer, and hearing her read her own poetry brought it to life for me.

Along with enjoying this poetry structure, I also liked the choice of subject for the book. I love fairy tales. Most people are extremely familiar with them. Being able to read a short insight into the fairy tale and see it from two different points of few made this book fun to read. I gave it to my daughter, and she also enjoyed reading the different poems about her favorite stories.

Professional Review:

*Starred Review* This ingenious book of reversos, or poems which have one meaning when read down the page and perhaps an altogether different meaning when read up the page, toys with and reinvents oh-so-familiar stories and characters, from Cinderella to the Ugly Duckling. The five opening lines of the Goldilocks reverso read: “Asleep in cub’s bed / Blonde / startled by / Bears, / the headline read.” Running down the page side-by-side with this poem is a second, which ends with: “Next day / the headline read: / Bears startled / by blonde / asleep in cub’s bed.” The 14 pairs of poems—easily distinguished by different fonts and background colors—allow changes only in punctuation, capitalization, and line breaks, as Singer explains in an author’s note about her invented poetic form. “It is a form that is both challenging and fun—rather like creating and solving a puzzle.” Singer also issues an invitation for readers to try to write their own reversos on any topic. Matching the cleverness of the text, Masse’s deep-hued paintings create split images that reflect the twisted meaning of the irreverently witty poems and brilliantly employ artistic elements of form and shape—Cinderella’s clock on one side morphs to the moon on the other. A must-purchase that will have readers marveling over a visual and verbal feast. Grades 2-5.

Austin, P. (2010, January 1). Mirror mirror: A book of reversible verse [Review of the book Mirror mirror: A book of reverse poems by Marilyn Singer]. Booklist, 106(9/10), 81. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Book-Reverso-Poems/dp/0525479015/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1449115906&sr=8-3&keywords=mirror+mirror

Library Uses:

This book is a great example of a unique style of poetry and would be excellent to add to a unit on poetry. Individual poems or sections of the poems could be used to create a bulletin board display for different forms of poetry. Perfect for celebrating Poetry Month in April.

Module 13: The Plain Janes

Book Summary:

Jane survived a horrific terrorist bombing only to have her parents decide to move the family out of the city into a smaller town for safety. Now Jane is the new girl in school, and she is determined to take this chance to reinvent herself. She cuts and dyes her hair to create a new physical image, but she also looks to make new friends with those who are different from her usual crowd.

On her search for her new friends, she finds three other girls, Jane, Jayne, and Polly Jane. Together they work to bring art and flair to the neighborhood. Their group, acting as P.L.A.I.N – People Loving Art in Neighborhoods, secretly create artistic expressions throughout their small town. Officials are outraged at what they perceive to be acts of vandalism, and measures are taken to stop the perpetrators. 

Will the PLAIN Janes be able to convince them of the value of their creations?

APA Reference of Book:

Castellucci, C. (2007). The plain Janes. New York, NY: DC Comics.

Impressions:

I’m not usually a big fan of graphic novels as I would rather get my stories through words rather than pictures, but the use of this format for this book worked perfectly. The different acts the group commit throughout the story are shown through images rather than descriptions, keeping the writing to a minimum for explanations. This is one of the few graphic novels that I have actually enjoyed reading and looking at the illustrations to get the complete story. I usually feel slowed down by illustrations, but this one worked for me as a reader.

I thought it was an interesting choice to use a terrorist bombing as the instigator for the family’s move. There could have been so many other reasons used, and this particular catalyst is becoming a real-life threat to more and more people around the world. This brought the danger to light without focusing on it overly much as a key part of the story.

Professional Review:

For the first book in a new series aimed at teenage girls, DC comics recruited novelist Castellucci (Boy Proof, 2004, and The Queen of Cool, 2005) to write this story about outsiders who come together, calling up themes from the author's popular YA novels. Relocated to suburbia after a brush with disaster in the big city (and fueled by an urge not to be terrified of the world as a result), Jane rallies a small group of outcasts into a team of "art terrorists, "shaking the town from its conservative complacency by putting bubbles in the city fountain and wrapping objects on the street as Christmas packages. Their activities end up rallying the local teenagers to their cause and working the adults into a dither. The book has its share of stereotypes--the science geek, the psychotically overprotective mother, the irrepressible gay teen--but this is thought-provoking stuff. The art, inspired by Dan Clowes' work, is absolutely engaging. Packaged like manga, this is a fresh, exciting use of the graphic-novel format.

Karp, J. (2007, March 15).The plain Janes [Review of the book The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci]. Booklist, 103(14), 56. Retrieved from http://www.esebco.com/books/show/51718/searches/51718

Library Uses:

This would be great for book talks focusing on terrorism and how to bring light into an otherwise dark and scary situation. Jane is able to move forward with her life and do great things, so this is a great example for teens who may go through similar situations or who may be scared by possibilities of danger.

Module 12: Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories about Growing up Scieszka

Book Summary: 

Jon Scieszka is probably best known for his humorous children’s picture books The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man: And Other Fairly Stupid Tales. In this tongue-in-cheek autobiography, readers get a glimpse of Jon’s life as a young boy and a few events that made him the man he is today. From crazy Halloween costumes to trading chores, this book has it all. His hilarious stories of growing up with five brothers and the zany things they thought up to do will have readers laughing out loud.

APA Reference of Book:

Scieszka, J. (2005). Knucklehead: Tall tales and mostly true stories about growing up Scieszka. New York, NY: Viking Publishing.

Impressions:

This book is a random gathering of thoughts from funny children's author Jon Scieszka. He is the second-oldest in a family of 6 boys, and he has a plethora of stories of his crazy childhood and the fun and zany times they had growing up. Each chapter is just a few pages of a fondly remembered story that happened sometime during Jon's childhood, and together they give a glimpse into the life that he had as a child.

A fun read for ages 10+. Boys especially will enjoy the crazy and sometimes gross stories in this book. This is also a great read for fans of all ages, young or old, as the inside look at Scieszka’s youth will provide great entertainment for all.

Professional Review:

Starred Review. Grade 3–6—Just try to keep kids away from this collection. Inspired book design makes the volume look like an old-school comic. The front cover features an elementary-aged Scieszka popping up out of a military tank, surrounded by explosions and bombers, while the back advertises a "Treasure Chest of Fun" and displays chapter titles and excerpts along with nostalgic graphics. Scieszka answers the oft-asked question, "Where do you get your ideas?" with a slew of childhood anecdotes and his family's escapades that have given him plenty of material from which to draw. Born in 1954, the second of six brothers, he writes about Catholic and military schools, buying gifts, chores, and hand-me-downs—all familiar experiences related with a specific Scieszka twist. His mother, a nurse, insisted that her sons use proper terms for anatomy ("rectum" rather than "butt") and bodily functions ("urinate" rather than "pee"), making way for several laugh-out-loud moments. Some stories are just amiably funny, such as wearing recycled Halloween costumes, while others help readers understand more about how the author developed his unique sense of humor. Although it includes the car trip story from Guys Write for Guys Read (Viking, 2005), Knucklehead is aimed at a younger audience. Family photographs and other period illustrations appear throughout. Entertaining and fast-moving, silly and sweet, this homage to family life is not to be missed.

Whitehurst, L. S. (2008, October). Knucklehead: Tall tales and mostly true stories about growing up Scieszka [Review of the book Knucklehead: Tall tales and mostly true stories about growing up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka]. School Library Journal, 54(10), 174. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Knucklehead-Almost-Stories-Growing-Scieszka.

Library Uses:

This book would great to use for a unit on authors for classroom studies. It could be part of a display highlighting authors, or as part of a display about Jon Scieszka himself and his works. It is also a great book to use to introduce autobiographical writing.

Module 11: The Tarantula Scientist

Book Summary:

Tarantulas are amazing creatures. The information about the Goliath birdeater tarantula found in French Guiana in South America is one example of the uniqueness found in the varieties of tarantulas around the world.

In this book, Sy Montgomery presents an array of interesting facts about different species of tarantulas. She spent time with world experts studying these arachnids and learning more about how they interact with the world around them. There is information about mating habits and feeding behaviors, along with details about body structure and information about how they shed the outer layer of their body, the exoskeleton.

Spiders are regularly seen as creepy, dirty creatures, and Montgomery brings a new light to a topic that both fascinates and alarms most people.

APA Reference of Book:

Montgomery, S. (2004). The tarantula scientist. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Impressions:

I was introduced to Sy Montgomery and her work a couple of years ago at a conference, and I was extremely impressed with her and her method of research. She strives to provide as accurate of information as possible, and it shows in her writing. She spends her time traveling around for research, and she meets the most interesting people and finds some of the most interesting subjects imaginable. I think she could make anything excting.

This book was no exception. I found myself both creeped out a little and at the same time awed and amazed at a creature that I knew very little about before reading this book. The tarantula is presented in such a fascinating way as to make it appealing to all who take the time to read this book. They are such unique creatures, and the information found here provides an open door to those who wish to learn more. Science comes alive when Montgomery writes for children.

Professional Review:

School Library Journal: Grade 5-10-Superb color photos abound in this spectacular series addition. Readers follow the career of Sam Marshall, tarantula scientist extraordinaire, from his "Spider Lab" at Hiram College in Ohio to the rain forests of French Guiana as he hunts for, finds, and studies the creatures he loves so well. The conversational text contains as much spider lore as scientific investigation and provides a cheerful look at a dedicated scientist. (The fact that he did not do well in school may encourage those late bloomers who have not yet found their passion in life or believe it to be far beyond their academic grasp.) Informative, yes, but even more important, this is a vivid look at an enthusiastic scientist energetically and happily at work, both in the field and in the lab, questioning, examining, testing, and making connections. A treat, even for arachnophobes.

Booklist: Gr. 4-7. Montgomery and Bishop, who worked together on Snake Scientist (1999), team up once again to deliver another fascinating slice of the natural world. This time they venture to the French Guiana rain forest, where they follow arachnologist Sam Marshall on his quest for his favorite quarry: tarantulas. Enthusiasm for the subject and respect for both Marshall and his eight-legged subjects come through on every page of the clear, informative, and even occasionally humorous text. Bishop's full-color photos, which concentrate on detail, not scale, are amazing--Marshall coaxing an elusive tarantula into the open or bringing readers literally face-to-face with a hairy spider. The section on students' research seems tacked on, but it adds an interesting sidelight to the book, which is longer and richer in both text and illustrations than others in the Scientists in the Field series. Readers will come away armed with facts about spiders in general and tarantulas in particular, but even more important, they'll have a clear understanding of how the answers derived from research become the roots of new, intriguing questions.

Manning, P. (2005, October).  The Tarantula Scientist [Review of the book The tarantula scientist by Sy Montgomery]. School Library Journal, 51(10), 64. Retrieved 11/7/15 from http://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Scientist-Scientists-Field/dp/061891577X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446926657&sr=8-1&keywords=tarantula+scientist

Zvirin, S. (2004, March 15). The tarantula scientist [Review of the book The tarantula scientist by Sy Montgomery]. Booklist, 100(14), 1304. Retrieved 11/7/15 from http://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Scientist-Scientists-Field/dp/061891577X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446926657&sr=8-1&keywords=tarantula+scientist

Library Uses:

This is a great book for a lecture or segment on spiders. The photos make great visual references, and the little tidbits of information would make great quote blocks. This would also be great for a display (preferably behind glass) that included specimens and other tactile objects to view.

Module 10: Here Lies the Librarian

Book Summary:

It’s the early 20th century, and cars are just beginning to replace horses as the preferred mode of transportation. Life is changing across the country as roads are paved, making way for these new-fangled automobiles.

Eleanor, known to her small town as Peewee, and her brother Jake have lived alone in their small farmhouse since their parents passing. Peewee prefers working with Jake repairing cars to wearing dresses and attending tea parties, and she aims to stick around when she gets older and help her brother run a car repair shop. She would much rather wear overalls than dresses, much to the dismay of her older brother.

Then Peewee meets four strongly independent young women, students at a nearby college who are pursuing their library degrees. Soon she is learning that it is possible to be her own person while still being a girl. When her brother is injured driving in a car race, does she have what it takes to finish the race and prove to them all that a girl is just as capable?

APA Reference of Book:

Peck, R. (2006). Here lies the librarian. New York, NY: Dial Books Publishing.

Impressions:

Here Lies the Librarian is a quick historical fiction read. I really enjoyed Peewee’s thoughts and comments on life as she grew into a strong young woman. She surprised herself in how much she actually wanted to be ladylike when she was shown that she could be both a woman and an independent thinker. Her interactions with the four young ladies who came to run the library showed her that educating oneself did not make a person stuck up and stuffy, but rather knowledgeable about life. It better prepares a person to make the best life for themselves that they can.

As a librarian, I also enjoyed reading about the library itself and how it was run. I’m not very familiar with this particular decade, and the new inventions and changes that were taking place in this field were coming in leaps and bounds. I really enjoyed the presentation of the new library to the people who lived in this small town and the impact it had on the community.

Professional Review:

Stubborn, fearless, and loyal, 14-year-old Peewee (Eleanor) McGrath, who dresses like a boy, lives with her brother, Jake, in Indiana, "way out in the weeds." Together, they run a struggling garage, where Jake is building a racecar. It's 1914, and the electric self-starter has made automobiles more accessible to women. One day, four female drivers, library students all, arrive in a Stoddard-Dayton in need of repair; later, they return to reopen the town library. With these young women as role models, Peewee comes to realize that being female and being independent aren't mutually exclusive. Peck's one-liners, colorful physical comedy, and country dialect, prominent in most of his recent novels, are great as usual. And his characters, if not fully developed, are wonderfully quirky. Yet even with some exciting scenes of old-time dirt-track racing, the pace lags, and the story is choppy. Young fans of Danica Patrick, today's "Queen of the Road," may want to read this, but it will probably be librarians who'll have the most fun. Peck recounts an incident in an endnote in which one of the characters appears at the Indianapolis 500 with Janet Guthrie; unfortunately, there's not enough explanation to know whether or not it's all true.

Zvirin, S. (2006, March). Here lies the librarian [Review of the book Here lies the librarian by Richard Peck]. Booklist, 102(13), 91. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Here-Lies-Librarian-Richard-Peck/dp/0142409081/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446923800&sr=8-1&keywords=here+lies+the+librarian

Library Uses:

This would be a great book for a tween or younger teen book club read. Discussions can be about historical setting, family relationships, and gender roles. This book could also be part of a larger display/discussion about gender roles and the changes that have occurred in the last century. 

Module 9: Cam Jansen and the Ghostly Mystery

Book Summary:

Jennifer “Cam” Jansen is excited to see the Triceratops Pops concert, but before she can buy her ticket, a person in a ghost costume runs through the building, scaring people as they go. The ghost runs up to an old man, yells “Boo!” and runs away. The old man grabs his chest and falls to the floor, and the crowd is left to help with the medical emergency. While the people in line are distracted by the scene, the ghost runs by the ticket office, grabbing the money box as they go, stealing all of the ticket money. 

A crime has been committed, but no one knows who did it because they were covered up in the ghost costume. Now Cam and her friend Eric are on the case. She will need her photographic memory to save the day, and she thinks back over all the details she could remember about the scene of the crime. Little flashes of memory come back to her, and learning that the old man who fell at the ticket booth was actually an accomplice to the crime provides more clues. Will Cam and Eric solve the mystery?

APA Reference of Book:

Adler, D. A. (1996). Cam Jansen and the ghostly mystery. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Impressions:

Cam is a great sleuth. She thinks logically about things she knows and utilizes her photographic memory to remember important details of the mystery at hand. She’s realistic and fun, and readers can relate to her and her friend. Her Aunt Molly is incredibly quirky, which provides more for readers to think about when they are trying to follow what she is trying to say.

One important thing to note about Cam and her mystery solving adventures is that she is extremely conscientious about staying safe. She does what she can, following her clues and finding evidence, but when it is time to let the authorities do their job, Cam and Eric are responsible and call for the police. The adults in this story are great in the way that they treat Cam and Eric as a valuable asset rather than deeming them not worth the time it would take to listen to their suggestions. I think this an important thing to teach young readers. Other mystery books have the amateur detectives rushing into dangerous situations with no thought for the possible consequences, and it is good for readers to see a positive role model for how to deal with something that may become a danger to the young investigators.

Professional Review:

Gr. 2-4. Cam Jansen, the girl with the photographic memory, returns in her sixteenth mystery. Here, she and her pal Eric are waiting in line to buy tickets for a rock concert. The ticket booth gets robbed by someone dressed as a ghost, but it doesn't take Cam long to figure out the connection between the ghostly robber and the distraction of a man who has a "heart attack" in line. A very quick read, this should give new readers a push into beginning chapter books and offer reluctant readers a mystery that isn't babyish.

Cooper, I. (1997, January). Books for middle readers: Fiction [Review of the book Cam Jansen and the ghostly mystery]. Booklist, 93(9/10), 855. Retrieved from http://www.buffalolib.org/vufind/Record/890154/Reviews

Library Uses:

This would be a great group read for second and third graders. There is a lot to discuss about the way Cam uses clues to solve the mystery. This could also be used as part of an additional materials list for those learning about different types of memory.