You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Very cool space book about traveling to Mars. Now I want to go look up how much of it is based on science and what is fiction!
July 27th, 2009
Book Look: You Are the First Kid on Mars by Patrick O’Brien
July 20th, 2009
Book Look: The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook
The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Out of the huge stack of books my boys collected at the ALA conference last week, this was the very first one that Mr. E (10) picked up and devoured. I know why. With science gadgets you wish were real, a secret club with a way cool hideout/lab in a hidden basement, and three underdog kids saving the world from an evil genius–all told in a graphic novel format by the creator of the Geisel-honor Stinky, no less–it basically screams “boy book!” But even better, it lived up to all Mr. E’s expectations because he wasn’t letting go of it until he got to the last page.
When I got my hands on it, I had to agree with him. Besides all the cool stuff mentioned above, there’s lots of humor and details in the illustrations and three main characters who, despite their outward differences, really let their mutual love for science shine through. (There are really not enough books out there where the science stars and math whizzes get to be the heroes.)
Can’t wait to put it on my library shelves and watch other kids snatch it up.
July 14th, 2009
Book Look: Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom
Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wight
We now have a couple of Frankie Pickle fans here in our house! Frankie doesn’t see the point in cleaning his room–it’ll just get messy again. So when his mom finally agrees with him, he’s delighted. Only…things get really deep and dirty and smelly fast. Of course, Frankie sees the light and straightens up in the end. Told through a mix of graphic (the dramatic adventures Frankie imagines) and regular text (what’s really happening), there’s enough visual and verbal humor sprinkled throughout it all to keep everyone chuckling. Perfect for my almost-ready-for-chapter-books boy reader (Colonel Mustard).
July 7th, 2009
Heading to ALA
Yes, I am! In fact, I’m presenting there. And signing books (Lerner booth, Sunday 12:15). Come see me! Here’s the scoop on the presentation:
Nonfiction Book Blast!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Convention Center Room W181
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
ALA Annual Conference, Chicago
wiki at http://nfbookblast.pbworks.com/
Track: Children & Young Adults; Literature & Collection Development
Despite the emphasis on fiction for leisure reading in schools, many reluctant readers are often more drawn to reading nonfiction. Expand your nonfiction repertoire as 17 authors booktalk their latest work.
Panelists include award-winning and acclaimed authors April Pulley Sayre (Vulture View), Kelly Halls (Albino Animals), and Carla McClafferty (Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium), as well as many additional prolific or brand new authors. Their booktalks, plus new ones crafted by audience members, will be yours to take back home to excite your students about reading nonfiction.
The Nonfiction Book Blast speakers (click on name for author website and title for book description) who will join moderator Sharon Mitchell, include:
Lisa Rondinelli Albert, Stephenie Meyer: Author of the Twilight Saga (Enslow Publishers, May 2009), So You Want to Be a Film or TV Actor (Enslow Publishers, 2008)
Mary Bowman-Kruhm, The Leakeys: A Biography (Prometheus Books, 2009)
Laura Crawford, In Arctic Waters (Sylvan Dell Publishing), The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving From A to Z (Pelican Publishing), Postcards From Chicago (Raven Tree Press)
Jeri Chase Ferris, With Open Hands: The Story of Biddy Mason (Lerner), Arctic Explorer: Matthew Henson (Lerner)
Kelly Milner Halls, Dinosaur Parade (Lark/Sterling Publishers, 2008), Saving the Baghdad Zoo (HarperCollins/Greenwillow, 2009), Tales of the Cryptids (Darby Creek Publishing, 2006)
Amy S. Hansen, Bugs and Bugsicles: Insects in the Winter (Boyds Mills Press, 2010), Touch the Earth (NASA and NFB, 2009)
Gwendolyn Hooks, Makers and Takers (Rourke Publishing, 2008)
Katherine L. House, Lighthouses for Kids: History, Science, and Lore with 21 Activities (Chicago Review Press, 2008)
Patricia K. Kummer, The Great Barrier Reef (Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2009), The Great Lakes (Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2009), North Korea and South Korea (two books) (Scholastic/Children’s Press, 2008)
Suzanne Lieurance, The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and Sweatshop Reform in American History (Enslow Publishers, Inc.)
JoAnn Early Macken, Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move (Holiday House, 2008)
Carla Killough McClafferty, In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008)
Wendie Old, The Halloween Book of Facts and Fun (Albert Whitman), The Groundhog Day Book of Facts and Fun (Albert Whitman)
April Pulley Sayre, Honk, Honk, Goose: Canada Geese Start a Family (Henry Holt, 2009)
Anastasia Suen, Wired (Charlesbridge, 2007), The U.S. Supreme Court (Picture Window Books)
Christine Taylor-Butler, SACRED MOUNTAIN: Everest (Lee and Low Books, 2009)
Rebecca Hogue Wojahn and Donald Wojahn, Follow That Food Chain (Lerner, 2009)
author/illustrator interviews, book look, events, follow that food chain, in the library, writing | 
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July 3rd, 2009
Of Boys and Books and Brains
Mr. E: [crunching breakfast] You know how boys aren’t smart at school?
Me: [slightly panicky and defensive] Huh? What do you mean? Boys are just as smart as girls.
Mr. E: Well, you know how boys in books are never “the smart ones?”
Me: Hmmm.
And this little conversation has got me thinking. He’s kind of right. You know, there’s Harry, who’s smart….but then there’s Hermione, who’s brilliant. Where are the smart boys? In recent books? So far I’m coming up with brave boys, boys willing to take a stand, resourceful boys, clever boys, but none who are just the plain, straight-A, good-at-school, “smart ones.”
I know they’re out there. Can you help me out with a list?
July 1st, 2009
If You Give Three Boys $100 in a Bookstore…
This is what they’ll walk out with. Or at least the three boys I took to the bookstore to spend a $120 gift card for my school library. They debated so seriously about what to get and were so excited to eventually see them on the shelves! In fact, we had so much fun and talked so much book smack, I’m thinking about how I can make this a regular outing–maybe a different group of kids every six weeks or so. (Of course, I take recommendations for purchases for the library, but, as we all know, there’s just something about holding that book in your hand, reading the flap copy, and feeling the glossy stiffness under your fingertips. I know I have some students who’ve never gotten to do that. And how powerful for them to take some ownership in their library.) There’s just that darn transportation legalese….hmmm.
Extra Bonus Challenge Question
Can you pick out the one book I–the only female–tossed into the mix?