"A True and Faithful Narrative" | Book Blog 8

Title: A True and Faithful Narrative

Author: Katherine Sturtevant

Illustrator: n/a

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Copyright: 2006

Pages: 256

                                         

     This story follows a sixteen year old girl named Meg who lives in Restoration London. Meg loves books and talking to the writers and poets that visit her fathers book store, she even enjoys writing her own stories even though writing was not something that women did during this time. When one of Megs friends gets sold into slavery she uses her words and learns the true power behind them to try and set him free. Will Megs words be enough to save her friend? Pick up a copy of A True and Faithful Narrative to find out. 

     There are no illustrations in this book.

     I would like the use this book in a sixth grade classroom. This story focuses on the importance of writing and the power of words. After reading, I would like to have students write a story of their own that they that has the power to save a friend of theirs that is in trouble.

"Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World" | Book Blog 7

Title: Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World 

Author: Katherine Hannigan

Illustrator: n/a

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Publisher:  Greenwillow/HarperCollins,

Copyright: 2004

Pages: 256

                                                 

     This story follows Ida B Applewood, a fourth grade girl with an almost perfect life. She is homeschooled and loves to spend her time on her family's orchard. Ida's life changes drastically when her mother is diagnosed with cancer, her family has to sell part of the orchard and she must now attend public school. Ida does not cope well with all the changes in her life, especially her mother's illness, and she finds herself in a very dark place. Luckily for Ida she has a family and a very patient teacher that love her and help her to find a way out of the dark place that she is in. In the end Ida learns how to live a happy life even though there are some bad things happening in her life as well.

     There are no illustrations in this book except for the cover art.

     I would like to use this book in a fourth grade classroom. Hannigan uses many types of figurative language, so before reading the story I would explain what a simile is and have the students listen for them while we are reading. After reading I would explore figurative language more by having the students explain what each simile from the story means. Another activity I would like to do with this book is to create a "New Student Welcome Plan". Ida had a hard time making friends and adjusting to her new school, as do most new students. After reading Ida B I would like to have students come up with ways to help new students feel welcome at their school. The next time that we get a new student I would let them put some of their New Student Welcome plans into action.

"Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist" | Book Blog 6

Title: Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist

Author: Jess Keating

Illustrator: Marta Alvarez Miguens

Genre: Non Fiction

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Copyright: 2017

Pages: 40

                                    

     This book tells the story of Eugenie Clark, who fell in love with sharks at a young age when she first saw them while visiting an aquarium. From that moment Eugenie knew that she wanted to spend her life studying and learning more about sharks,  but it was not long before she discovered something completely different that what she was hoping for. Eugenie found out that a lot of people thought of sharks as ugly monsters and that women were not smart enough or brave enough to become scientists, determined to prove them wrong Eugenie dove deeper into her studies and eventually dove deep into the ocean. What did she accomplish? What did she discover? Grab a copy of Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist to find out how Eugenie earned her title "Shark Lady".

     The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Some of the pictures show the way that Eugenie sees the world as a child and as a students learning about sharks. The illustrator captures the emotions of the people in the drawings very well and also gives some of animals emotion in their faces. 

     This book could be used in a third grade classroom. Before reading the book I would have students write down what they think about sharks, and then after reading the book I would ask them if their opinions have changed or not. I would make a fact vs opinion work sheet about sharks and have the students decide which statements they thought were were facts and which were just opinions. After that we would review facts about sharks on flash cards. Along with a lesson on sharks this book is also great for teaching that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it, no matter what other people think. 

     

"The Giver" | Book Blog 5

Title: The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry

Illustrator for the cover art: Cliff Nielsen

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Copyright: 1994

Pages: 240

                                                 

     This story follows a boy named Jonas who lives in a seemingly perfect world. In Jonas's wold there are no memories of war, or fear, no sickness, no pain, and ultimately no choice. In this world, when children turn 12 they are assigned a job for the rest of their lives, and Jonas is tasked with being the next Receiver of Memories. Once Jonas begins his training with The Giver he discovers all kinds of secrets about the world he lives in and the world before him that everyone else has forgotten. What will Jonas do with this new information he has been given? Pick up a copy of The Giver and join Jonas on his journey to find out.

     The only illustration in this book is the cover art done by Cliff Nielsen. I think that the cover art does a good job of foreshadowing the idea that there is something hidden before you even start to read the book.

     

     I would like to use this book with sixth grade students. The ending of the book is very unresolved, so after we have finished it I would ask questions like "Did you like the way the story ended?" "What do you think happened?" (The ending can be interoperated different ways.) "Why do you think Lois Lowry chose to end The Giver this way?". After students have had time to think on those questions I would give them a chance to rewrite a new ending for The Giver.

     

     

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" | Book Blog 4

Title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Author: JK Rowling 
Illustrator: Jim Kay
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Copyright: 1997
Number of pages: 246
                                          

                                           

     This story follows an orphan named Harry Potter, who on the night of his 11th birthday gets a surprise visit from a man he has never seen before. The news the strange man has to tell him will change his life forever. Join Harry on his exciting new adventure into a world of magic, filled with new friendships and challenges.
   
     I grew up in a home that loved Harry Potter, so this book is near and dear to my heart. It is a wonderful story that teaches about the importance of friendship and believing in yourself. I think that it would be great to use in middle school grades to spark discussion on friendship and what it should look like to be a true friend.
 
     Jim Kay does an amazing job of bringing the world of magic to life in the illustrated version of the book. He beautifully depicts the scenes that so many people imagined in their minds while reading the story. The illustrations are full of color and truly bring the words written on the pages to life.

"Tito Puente" | Book Talk 1

Below is the link for my book talk on Tito Puente by Monica Brown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZHtyC3o4-M