Go beyond planes, trains, and automobiles! Check out this week’s fascinating “Perfect Picture Book.” Title: The Secret Subway Written by: Shana Corey Illustrated by: Red Nose Studio Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House, 2016, nonfiction Suitable for ages: 4-8 (I would say 5+) Lexile: AD810 Themes/topics: history, New York City, subways, invention Opening: Welcome to … More The Secret Subway
PPBF Special: For all the teachers who are in the midst of testing season, I’ve included a literature unit for this amazing book. Title: A Splash of Red, the Life and Art of Horace Pippin Written by: Jen Bryant Illustrated by: Melissa Sweet Random House/Knopf, 2015, biography Suitable for ages: 5-8 (easily Gr 1-5) Lexile: 610 … More A Splash of Red
As a person who loves the interplay of words, I’m not usually drawn to wordless books. But this one, featuring different points of view, is a wordless gem. … More The Other Side
Two great middle grade novels from Linda Sue Park. … More 2 Novels with 2 Voices
Here is Miranda Paul’s latest treasure – a great addition to any home or school library. It received multiple read requests from three-year-old Corinne, a bona fide testimonial.
… More Whose Hands Are These?
Every once in a while I like to bring in one of my old favorites. Here’s a tender cross-cultural holiday story.
IMG_0739Title: Tree of Cranes
Written and illustrated by: Allen Say
Houghton Mifflin, 1991
Suitable for ages: 4-8 years
Lexile: 470L
Themes/topics: Christmas, Japan, traditions … More Tree of Cranes
Title: Actual Size
Written and Illustrated by: Steve Jenkins
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Themes/topics: animals, nature, size
Opening: Did you ever look a giant squid in the eye? Have you shaken hands with a gorilla or been face to face with a tiger? All of the animals in this book are shown at actual size, so you can see how you measure up to creatures both large and small.
Brief synopsis: (from barnesandnoble.com) How big is a crocodile? What about a tiger, or the world’s largest spider? Can you imagine a tongue that is two feet long or an eye that’s bigger than your head?
Sometimes facts and figures don’t tell the whole story.
Sometimes you need to see things for yourself—at their actual size.
Links to resources:
Activity page with math and science ideas on Parent/Teacher Resource page. … More Actual Size
Title: Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and the Flying Cloud
Written by: Tracey Fern
Illustrated by: Emily Arnold McCully
Margaret Ferguson Books, Farrar Straus Giroux, 2014
Biography
Suitable for ages: 5-8, (independent 8-12)
Lexile: AD880 (AD=Adult Directed)
Themes/topics: history, women, courage
Opening: Ellen Prentiss had always felt the sea tug at her heart, strong as a full-moon tide. Her papa said that was because she was born with saltwater in her veins. While other girls spent their days stitching samplers and sweeping floors, Ellen spent her days at the shore in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She chased the waves. She raced the wind. She watched great sailing ships skim over wide endless water. And she dreamed of living her life at sea and catching her share of adventure.
Brief synopsis: (from my library catalog) Ellen Prentiss’s papa said she was born with saltwater in her veins, so he gave her sailing lessons and taught her how to navigate. As soon as she met a man who loved sailing like she did, she married him. When her husband was given command of a clipper ship custom-made to travel quickly, she knew that they would need every bit of its speed for their maiden voyage: out of New York City, down around the tip of Cape Horn, and into San Francisco, where the Gold Rush was well under way. In a time when few women even accompanied their husbands onboard, Ellen Prentiss navigated their ship to set the world record for speed along that route.
Links to resources:
Activity Page posted on Teacher/Parent Resource Page.
Several resources for further reading are listed in the Author’s Note.
Why I like this book: The illustrations set the scene beautifully, and the text flows with rich figurative language. The reader feels Ellen’s internal conflict when she must balance the drive to win and the safety of the crew. She is a risk-taker whose studies pay off in the battle with the roiling sea. There’s nothing like a hearty sea adventure, eh-matey? … More Dare the Wind
When war devastates her village, and she is forced to flee to a refugee camp, a young Sudanese girl finds the hope necessary to keep her dream alive. Written in “prose poems,” each poem is an essence. All background clutter is removed, scenes cut to the bone. The reader, spared much of the horror of war, is immersed in the experience of one girl and discovers the power of the human spirit. The simple illustrations enhance the story and feel as if the main character is drawing it for us as she shares her journey. The first person narrative flows in long ribbons and short spurts, rushing and halting, just as our thoughts and emotions do.
Andrea Davis Pinkney effectively and sensitively introduces young readers to important issues affecting children in many troubled regions of the world. As the Lexile HL indicates, the high interest content is accessible for struggling readers or those with limited English (ELLs). The issues are timely and relevant to readers beyond the middle grade age range listed. This is a truly beautiful book that goes straight to the heart.
For Teacher/Parent Resources, click here.
The Red Pencil
Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Little, Brown and Company, 2014
Lexile: HL620L
Age: 9-12 years
Summary: (from barnesandnoble.com)
“Amira, look at me,” Muma insists.
She collects both my hands in hers.
“The Janjaweed attack without warning.
If ever they come– run.”
Finally, Amira is twelve. Old enough to wear a toob, old enough for new responsibilities. And maybe old enough to go to school in Nyala– Amira’s one true dream.
But life in her peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when the Janjaweed arrive. The terrifying attackers ravage the town and unleash unspeakable horrors. After she loses nearly everything, Amira needs to dig deep within herself to find the strength to make the long journey– on foot– to safety at a refugee camp. Her days are tough at the camp, until the gift of a simple red pencil opens her mind– and all kinds of possibilities. … More The Red Pencil
One of the questions that often comes up among writers of children’s books concerns the use of higher level vocabulary.
Whether a child is a native English speaker or is learning English as a second language, he/she needs exposure to rich, varied and challenging language. Children acquire most words through their daily encounters, using context to understand meaning. But acquiring a new word is not automatic. They must be engaged and interested.
So for all the writers – YES! Use some fancy words. They’re fun!
Vocabulary learning is crucial to reading comprehension and success in school. The keys to expanding a child’s vocabulary are
multiple purposeful exposures,
explicit instruction,
interactive activities,
acquiring strategies and
opportunities to use new words.
I’ll leave you with some great VOCABULARY ACTIVITIES for the CLASSROOM on my Parent/Teacher Resource page, and two sources on vocabulary instruction – one focused on the research and the other modeling instruction during a read-aloud.
A Review of the Current Research on Vocabulary Instruction from the National Reading Technical Assistance Center, RMC Research Corporation, 2010
“Bridging the Vocabulary Gap: What the Research Tells Us about Vocabulary Instruction in Early Childhood” from Young Children, July (2010): 84-91. National Association for the Education of Young Children. … More Fancy Words – Building Children’s Vocabularies
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 