What?! There's Another One!?

Younger siblings can be irritating at the very least; downright inconvenient when you've had the undivided attention of your parents for years.  What you believe to be the status quo shifts with their appearance on the scene; family dynamics are no longer predictable.  In his title, Another Brother, (Feiwel and Friends) author/illustrator Matthew Cordell presents his ridiculous, unconventional take on the whole ordeal.

Davy, a sheep, is his parent's precious little lamb; bringing a tear to his father's eye with his ballad singing, applause from his mother for his knitting efforts, and joy to both with his unparalleled skills in using hair clippers.  Petey, a new brother, doesn't react to Davy's abilities as do his parents.  Oh, no, not at all.  Before Davy adjusts to these shocking new developments they are multiplied by the addition of another eleven brothers.  Yes, twelve new brothers in all!

To make matters worse whatever Davy does, wherever he goes, and whatever he says they mimic; eating Toot Loops, walking like a monkey or burping.  Complaining to his parents meets with the typical "It's only a phase."  Ready to pull his "wool" out, Davy discovers a difference one morning.

Deviating from what has become typical is exhilarating, joyous and... so very singular.  Davy finds that he has adjusted to all those pesty beings in his space; without them he feels lost.  A new day brings an unexpected surprise to Davy and readers; the very best kind of surprise.

Matthew Cordell providing a narrative overflowing with absurd humor has readers firmly "stuffed in his back pocket" by the fourth page.  How many human boys excel at ballad singing, the knitting of socks or creating their own hairdos, let alone a sheep?  When Davy gets his first new brother Petey, his crying, upset stomach and "gas" problems add to Davy's reluctance toward acceptance.  It's the addition of eleven more brothers mirroring his every action, pushing Davy to the edge, that will give readers mass attacks of the giggles; maybe even a guffaw or two.

Using pen and ink with watercolor, Cordell, brings new definition to the visual representation of sheep. His book jacket front shows a frazzled Davy, head band in place around his signature "big head of hair", with his twelve siblings holding balloons spelling out the title; close inspection shows the individual antics of each.  On the back of the jacket are Mom and Dad; she floating in the air holding a balloon bouquet clothed in a skintight sweater on top with her bottom half fluffing out, he holding one gigantic multi-striped balloon, legs covered in too-tight trousers with red suspenders stretching over his rather large puffy chest.  The front book cover illustrates Davy crooning one of his ballads strumming a guitar, the melody rising in a swirl, his brothers on the back each playing a different instrument as colorful musical notes cover the page.

Warm golden endpapers with Davy pedaling frantically, lines of brothers in pursuit, are on the front and back; a shift in direction and in expression on the back endpapers.  Lots of creamy white surrounds the expressive sheep family as spots of bright bold primary colors, shades changing, accentuate. Cordell clearly breaks the mold if a point is to be made, illustrating all the new brothers in a spiral across a single page or the group of eights frames illustrating the impish imitators.

What really grabs the readers' attention is the detail; the breakfast table in the morning with each of the brothers doing everything but what they should be as Dad calmly sips his coffee and Mom looks on, eating her cereal or all the gang doing the monkey walk as Dad zooms by on his tractor, Mom scratching her head a red balloon disappearing in the distance.  As Davy crosses the monkey bars, the sheep train behind, each face reflects a varied look. Careful readers with see the single balloon floating in the night sky highlighted by the moon as Davy sleeps alone. 

Matthew Cordell delivers quirky delight on every page of Another Brother never missing a single bleat in the crazy cadence created by his text and pictures. Illustrations luring readers to multiple viewings place this title on my Mock Caldecott for 2013. 

The book trailer is a winner in and of itself.


Do yourself  a favor and read these two good interviews with Matthew Cordell; one at Kirkus Reviews and the other at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Presenting Personal Presentations

On two separate occasions, March 9, 2012 and February 14, 2012, Richard Byrne, educator, presenter and blogger at Free Technology for Teachers,  has posted about an application that can be used to enhance your slide presentations.  Hello Slide adds audio to a PowerPoint presentation giving it a new dimension.  The unique feature of this free online application is audio can be added by entering in the text to be spoken.

At the home page of Hello Slide users without registration have access to Featured Presentations and others uploaded and tagged under these headings:  Books, Business, Design, Education, Entertainment, Finance, How-to, News, Photography, Technology and Travel.  When a user has finished viewing a selected presentation, they can choose to like it, embed it using HTML code or by capturing a URL link, get details (date last modified, category tag, original language and the license) or click on the genius icon.  The genius icon provides additional links based upon the content of the slide show. 

To begin using the service, register by giving your email address and creating a password.  A confirmation email is sent immediately.  Once you are logged in, this application is fairly simple to use.

Your slide presentation needs to be converted to a PDF by saving it in that file extension.  Then upload it to the Hello Slide site.  Twenty different languages are available for the voice over.  Visibility choices are public (anyone can see the presentation) or private (only the user sees the presentation). 

When your set of slides has been uploaded you can add audio, play the finished product, edit audio, change the settings for the set of slides or view a revisions log.

To start click on the add audio to your presentation link.  On the left will be your individual slides.  Click on each one that you wish to have audio added.

Beneath the selected slide in the center is a large white box.  Type the text in the space provided.  Once the text is complete click on the play button at the bottom of the screen to hear your audio.  When your audio additions are complete click on the small save icon in the upper right hand corner. 

Once saved your presentation can be used according to your settings' selections.

Using this application could not be easier.  Audio for younger students unable to read yet is a plus.  If you have students whose command of a language other than English is better,  this is an option for creating an additional presentation substituting their strongest language.

This is an example (an older PowerPoint) of what can be done.

Singing Your Heart Out

Some days out of the blue what appears to be a miracle happens; a hummingbird landing on a banquet of cut flowers you are carrying, a small bunny hopping up to lick the ice cream in the Ben & Jerry's you set next to the lawn chair while dozing or opening your email to see that you have won an author Skype visit.  The joy of those moments sets your heart singing.  While wonderful, such joy is not fully complete unless shared.

In Kevin Henkes' new title, Penny and Her Song (Greenwillow Books, February 28, 2012) Penny arriving home from school has a new song.  Both her Mama and Papa think the song is beautiful and wonderful but the babies are sleeping. Going to her room she voices the melody to herself in the mirror and to her glass animals but it's not the same now, is it?

Sitting down to eat the tune again bursts forth from her lips but Mama and Papa remind her not at the table and after dinner.  Well worth the wait,  Penny sings her short rhyming musical poem.  Enjoying the praise of her parents and siblings, she repeats the song a smile on her face.

All share in the next singing and in the next, donning costumes as they move to their own rhythm.  Lovingly surprised the singing accomplishes the opposite of what Mama and Papa thought it might do.  Morning brings fulfillment of her parent's goodnight promise to Penny.

Within thirty-two pages and two chapters Kevin Henkes brings to his intended audience, employing an economy of words, the precise emotional impact.  Penny's song is simple, yes, but exactly what a joyous child is apt to voice over and over; enjoying the use of perhaps a newly learned word or the thrill of learning to count.  Her parents' requests are fair and firm; spoken with love.  Their responses are what anyone with joy to share longs to hear.

Henkes mirrors the lifting of hearts, that reawakening of spring, in his choice of colorful pastel hues; apricot endpapers, warm yellows, pinks, purples and blues.  Even the song's notes are shades of these same colors. The floral border on the jacket and cover are found again in the flower-filled meadow Penny crosses, on the wallpaper in her home and sprinkled on the fabric of her bedspread. 

Henkes' mice are memorable; this family in particular.  The opening illustration of Penny walking up the porch steps, door open with outstretched arms ready to greet her, shows readers this is a home filled with warmth.  Her parents have boundaries but Penny does not pout or get angry.  Knowing her joy will be validated at the right time, based upon the past, she goes about her business of being a little girl.  When the narrative reveals her faith in her parents to be well founded, readers can almost hear the music flowing from the pages.

Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes is filled with such joy readers will catch it quickly smiling and humming their own version of her song.  I've already made up my own tune to sing when I share this with my students.  Will you?

Xena's Mom's version of Penny's Song

Twitterville Talk #39

It's been an active week in the world of books and reading.  Here is my review of noteworthy tweets; enjoy and have a great weekend.

Fans of Ally Condie's series need wait no longer; 'Matched' trilogy by Ally Condie:  See the cover and title for the third and final book! Plus, Condie answers burning questions-EXCLUSIVE.

Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series discloses:  Wimpy Kid author:  even my son prefers Harry Potter.

In my humble opinion this is cause for celebration, Five hundred new fairytales discovered in Germany.

I have had the privilege to meet and speak with author Judy Blume twice so I am pleased about this announcement, 'Are You  There God? It's Me, Margaret' and other Judy Blume Favorites to Be Released as E-Books.  If this brings more readers to her books, then that is a good thing.

Now we are being told that the Pottermore website will be open to the general public in early April.
Pottermore finally vanquishes technical obstacles to open access.

Jon Klassen, author/illustrator of that darkly witty I Want My Hat Back, has another on the horizon, Klassen's Next 'Hat' Swims into View.

We could have twenty copies of The Hunger Games series on our shelves and it would not be enough.  They are going in and out like hotcakes.  This article poses an interesting take on the upcoming movie release, Gender Games 'The Hunger Games' must clear tricky marketing hurdles.
Thanks to The Children's Bookshelf of Publisher's Weekly for the above tweets.

R J Palacio, author of Wonder, adds her opinion on eBooks to the discussion, What E-Books Can't Do.

Additional titles to add to the growing lists of books with the upcoming anniversary of the Titanic sinking, Random House Kids.

Maria Popova at the blog Brain Pickings discovers the most unique items; A Booklover's Map of Literary Geography circa 1933.

Thanks to a tweet by The Children's Book Council for providing the link to the video below, Meet Penny, by Kevin Henkes.

Great interview, Five questions for Erin E. Stead, at The Horn Book.

Julie Danielson blogger and children's book lover extraordinaire at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast tweeted about the 26th Annual Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Book Awards Winners Announced.

Read at Kirkus Reviews, Seven Impossible Things:  Anticipated Children's Books for Spring.

Author of The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate, tweets about this post on author Kate Messner's blog, Why You're Never Too Old For A Read-Aloud.

The woman's a wonder.  Elizabeth Bird blogger at A Fuse #8 Production for School Library Journal reveals Librarian Preview:  Blue Apple Books (Spring 2012).   I might have to take out a second mortgage on my home.

Raina Telgemier, author/illustrator of Smile,  participated with Jeff Smith, author/illustrator of Bone and Kazu Kibuishi, author/illustrator of Amulet in a Scholastic Graphix webcast,Words Are Only Half the Story, on March 7, 2012 which can be viewed at this link.  There are also teaching guides for each of these titles at the Scholastic website.

Monica Edinger, teacher and blogger at educating alice posts about the 2012 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts.  I have read more than half of the titles with five more on my TBR pile.

Z Is For..What?!

As a reader or listener you can predict with regularity what the letters will represent in most alphabet books.  Children (students) know this responding almost robotically; A is for apple, B is for ball, and C is for cat.  Looking at the cover of Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham with pictures by Caldecott Medal and three time Caldecott Honor winner Paul O. Zelinsky (HarperCollins Children's Books), the zebra glaring at the mischievous moose, you know this is not going to be a typical alphabet tale.

Zebra appropriately attired in a referee cap and shirt, clipboard in hand, whistle in his mouth, directs a line of characters representative of the alphabet letters moving across the title page, verso and dedication page, having come through a backstage door.  Readers will note moose in line poking the needle into the lollipop much like a squirming, uncooperative child.  This production of an alphabet book begins well until...

A is for Apple
B is for Ball
C is for Cat
D is for Moose..Moose?No. Moose does not start with D. 
You are on the wrong page.

Moose wants to be on stage (a page) in the worst way trying for E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L; not being content to wait for M.  When his impetuous anticipation of finally being in the spotlight is crushed, an eruption of monumental proportions follows with downright sadness close on its heels.  Zebra, as a true umpire, intercedes when he can; in the spirit of compromise making the show a success for all.

In her first picture book Kelly Bingham demonstrates that she certainly has the inside track on engaging and capturing the attention of her readers with humor.  Zebra's escalating frustration with Moose's attempts to be exactly where he is not to be are evident by his dialogue, followed by Moose's questioning, Now? Now? Now?  As the narrative follows the roller coaster back and forth emotions of the two characters, readers will be hooked.

True to form I checked the jacket and cover illustrations as soon as this book was in my hands.  Paul O. Zelinsky using mixed media throughout this title chose to have the jacket and cover differ.  On the front cover Zebra lays in blissful repose without the presence of Moose in "person" or in text.  The purple color on the cover curtains extends to both the front and back endpapers.  When the front endpapers are turned the story begins before the beginning, visually and textually, as it does after the ending, with the color purple being lifted from the bottom like a curtain.  I like that in a book.

Zelinsky has a hint of events to come picturing a tiny, teeny, mouse peeking from the v in the M in Moose across the title page.  His attention to detail enhances the laughter factor, endearing readers to the narrative; Ball whose hand is dragging along a toy bear, Moose hanging from the top of the letter H page, eyes ever hopeful, or peeking from the pouch of the Kangaroo questioningly. 

Moose's facial expressions, tantrum in full swing, are outrageously funny with large visuals bleeding off the pages until calmness sets in again; each letter's stage framed in a different color.  Zebra goes into full protection mode after Zelinsky portrays Moose's upset "Crayola" style.  I dare anyone to look at the page for T without laughing out loud.

This picture book debut, Z is for Moose, by Kelly Bingham enhanced by pictures from Paul O. Zelinsky will have belly laughs ringing from the rafters at storytime.  I can guarantee whether with a group or one-on-one a single reading will not suffice; be prepared to enjoy this repeatedly.

For more information about Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky please follow the links embedded in their names.  By following this link you can access several guides for this title developed for educators, parents and families and community coordinators by the people at RIF.  Enjoy the book trailer.

World Read Aloud Day 2012

On February 21, 2012 I arrived home from school pretty late but I decided to check my email before going for a walk; much to Xena's disgust.  Imagine my surprise, no, my absolute glee, at seeing this in my inbox:

Dear Margie,

Congratulations! You are the winner of The Camping Trip That Saved America Prize Package! Which includes:
... The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir and Our National Parks (Dial), autographed by Caldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein and author Barb Rosenstock;

11x14 framed poster image of President Theodore Roosevelt and naturalist John Muir, the book's main characters, atop Glacier Point in Yosemite, 1903;


a "grow your own" Giant Sequoia kit (boxed kit includes: seeds, starter pot, growing mixture and instructions);


15-minute Skype visit with author Barb Rosenstock.
 

Author Cynthia Leitich Smith at her blog, Cynsations, hosted a post about author Barb Rosenstock and her new title, The Camping Trip That Changed America:  Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and our National Parks illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein (Dial Books for Young Readers).  Within that post was the giveaway package which I was fortunate enough to win.  Just the day before I had posted a review of the book on this very blog.

Yesterday all our third and fourth grade students filled the library media center to enjoy the Skype visit with Barb Rosenstock on World Read Aloud Day.  It was our first author Skype visit; so successful it will most assuredly not be the last.  What a thrill it was for all of us, students, teachers, and our principal, to hear her read aloud.

After greeting us, she donned her hat and began reading.  Her exuberance was infectious; you could tell this book was very special to her.  During the question and answer period her answers were thoughtful and informative giving all in attendance the inside scoop about this title, writing in general and reading. 



Barb Rosenstock is greeting the students.




Hat on head we hit the trail with Rosenstock,






Question and answer:  How did Rosenstock get her idea for this book?



All these students are listening, learning and reading on World Read Aloud Day.



Students asked the best questions wanting to know about her writing.



An enthusiastic Rosenstock answers questions.

Two fourth graders read a message to a school in Maine.

We here at Charlevoix Elementary School loved being a part of World Read Aloud Day; a way to show that we believe in the power of words, books, reading and writing.

Literacy Lure-Comics

Making the 2010 Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning by the AASL, American Association of School Librarians, under the Media Sharing heading, Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, 2.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use and assess, 3.3.4 Create products that apply to authentic, real-world context and 4.1.8 Use creative and artistic formats to express personal learning, is a web 2.0 application titled Professor Garfield which I initially found through the TOON Books Website.

Upon following the link users will immediately be able to view a video explaining the site, its value to promoting literacy.  From that screen click the button TOONS BOOKS WEBSITE.  (Two other button options are:  BENNY & PENNY BLOG and TOON BOOKS BLOG.)  The next page is full of options and opportunities.

From the About tab is an article explaining, even further than the introductory video, the methods and purpose of TOON Books. Here is a small excerpt:

TOON Books are the first high-quality comics designed for children ages four and up. Each book in the collection is just right for reading to the youngest child but perhaps more remarkable: this is the first collection ever designed to offer newly-emerging readers comics they can read themselves. Each TOON book has been vetted by educators to ensure that the language and the narratives will nurture young minds. Our books feature original stories and characters created by veteran children’s book authors, renowned cartoonists and new talents, all applying their extraordinary skills to fascinate young children with clearly told tales that will welcome them to the magic of reading.

From the first publication date in early 2008 up to 2012, these books have garnered the highest praise.  Of the seventeen titles, two of which are new, eight have found their way to our shelves; that is when they are not checked out.  They have been written and illustrated by some of the best in the field. Our goal through grant writing is to have at least three of each by the year end.

The TOON Books at the home page are divided into three groups:  Level One, Grades K-1, First Comics for Brand-New Readers, Level Two, Grades 1-2, Easy-To-Read Comics for Emerging Readers and Level Three, Grades 2-3, Chapter-Book Comics for Advanced Beginners.  For each of the levels beneath all the book covers on display (clicking on a cover gives more in depth information about the title) lexile, guided reading and reading recovery values are shown with specifics listed about content in the comics.

By selecting the button in the center of the home page header, TOON IN THE CLASSROOM, users can access the following:  Free Teachers' Resources, Free TOON Online Readers, Free CarTOON Maker, Readers Theater, Reading lists and More Free Classroom Tools.

Included in the Free Teachers' Resources are PDF files for each of the titles.

Eleven of the titles are part of the Free TOON Online Reader section.  Each reader shows the book in its entirety with the user clicking to turn the pages.  For each of them there is an option for the author/illustrator to read the words aloud.  As the words are read the text is circled. 

The Free CarTOON Make allows users to make a three-panel comic strip or design their own comic from the TOON Book characters.

Nine of the titles are part of the option of designing a comic from one of the TOON Book characters.  Users can add characters, speech bubbles, text, and backgrounds.  The objects can be flipped or sized.  Anything added can be deleted.  To erase the screen simply click Start Over.  A completed TOON can be emailed, saved to your computer or printed.

As you can see by the top of the screen on the second image inset (the first is my goofy cartoon from the TOON Book, Luke on the Loose) the Professor Garfield application has numerous other choices Comics Lab, Reading Ring, Art-Bot, Music Bot, Transport, G-Cubed, Comics Lab Extreme, Sparktop.org, KB Kids, Sleep Center and Brain Busters.  Anyone (believe me I should know) could spend hours here learning and expanding their creativity.

Currently the Readers Theater hosts Luke on the Loose.  Readings lists and More Free Classroom Tools provide loads of extras; guides, lessons and strategies. 

Underneath the TOON IN THE CLASSROOM button is FUN FOR KIDS!  Links to accessing the Cartoon Maker, Kids' Cartoon Gallery, Popsicle Puppets and Cartoon Lessons is here as well as a connection to the TOON Book Reader (in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese.)

Students can not only enjoy reading the TOON Book titles but expand their experience at this site using top-notch applications.  My students love using this site; who wouldn't?