Module 4: Slob

Slob by Ellen Potter

Book Summary

Owen Birnbaum is an overweight, genius teenage boy. He hasn’t always been overweight, but something in his past has triggered his extreme weight gain. School would be a breeze for a genius like him; except for all the bullying he receives from classmates and his gym teacher. Owen’s hurt from the bullying is fueling his desire to find out answers about his painful past. Answers that will hopefully help him get back to his normal self.

APA Reference of Book

Potter, E. (2009). Slob. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Impressions

I thought this was a very intriguing book. It shines a light on being a teenager, obesity, and bullying. At points it is hard to read about some of the things that happen to Owen. It helps us reflect on how we treat others and is another reminder to not judge people by how they look on the outside. Owen is easy to relate to and you root for him to have success with his Nemesis project. I think this gives a realistic outlook of what it is like to be an overweight teenage boy who is struggling to fit in.

Professional Review

“For me, SLOB is one of those tear jerker books because I know of a young person (very close to me) who suffers with weight issues. And this kid is constantly defending herself from kids who say, "I didn’t know you could run like that, since you’re so big." Needless to say, it hurts me when I read a book like this. However, Potter’s SLOB, fights the bully back with the brain not the fists. I added it to my son’s. Bravo, Ellen!”

Bowllan, A. (2009). Slob: A book for boys to read [Review of the book Slob by Ellen Potter]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/bowllansblog/2009/06/16/slob-a-book-for-boys-to-read/

Library Uses

A major theme in this book is bullying. I think a great activity to go along with this book would be to have a program about bullying. You could feature a selection of books, including Slob, that feature a character that deals with bullying. You could also have a public speaker come in. Then at the end you could have the option for people to sign a pledge to not be a bully or to always choose to stand up for others. You could also create kindness or compliment cards. You could give each person that attends some of these compliment cards and encourage them to write a compliment on them and give them to different people.

Module 4: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look

 

Book Summary

Alvin Ho is a young boy who is scared of many things, one of them being speaking at school. It’s hard to make friends at school when you never talk. Alvin Ho does have one person who wants to be his friend…a girl. That just won’t do. Then Alvin Ho has a great item for show-and-tell that he thinks will help him makes friends, but things go terribly wrong. Alvin Ho struggles with overcoming his fears and making friends, while also trying to be a gentleman.

APA Reference of Book

Look, L. (2008). Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scary things. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books.

Impressions

Alvin Ho is a hilarious young character. I loved how he was always trying to remember how to act like a gentleman, but usually fell a little bit short.

Professional Review

“Funny. Multiculturalism/diversity doesn’t stick out, it’s just there. Funny. Episodic chapters–each one a complete narrative arc–serve a young audience that’s still learning to read novels. Funny. Each chapter builds, realistically if only slightly, on the theme of overcoming fears. Funny. Funny. Funny. Funny. Funny. Funny.”

Lindsay, N. (2009). Anatomy of a mock Newbery [Review of the book Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scary things]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/heavymedal/2009/01/13/anatomy-of-a-mock-newbery-2/

Library Uses

Since this is a chapter book, you would not be able to sit down and read the entire book to a group of kids. So I would maybe feature it as “Book of the Month” and have a mini book club. There could be a program at the beginning of the month where the book is introduced. An excerpt could be read and a list of discussion questions could be given out. A display could be set up for that month where kids write or draw what they are “allergic” to. This could be a fun activity to show kids that they have something in common with each other. Then at the end of the month you could have a book club party where you discuss the book, talk about if they have ever overcome their fears, and celebrate reading a book together.

Dead End in Norvelt Book Trailer

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Images

Basics for baseball- Jinx! (flickr)

A typewriter- Takashi Hososhima (flickr)

Elderly people street sign- Ethan Prater (flickr)

Biplane airplane plane oldtimer planes propeller- Nightowl (Pixabay)

A wild question- Raymond Bryson (flickr)

Music                                                

Looking for a name- Ivan Seidel Gomes (Jamendo)

If I Stay Book Trailer

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Images                                                                        

A30 near Bodmin- Mark Hillary (flickr)                     

‪Ambulance Toronto March 2010-Michael Gil (Wikimedia Commons)

Holding Hands- Aimee Heart  (flickr)

Chinese student cello- Daguero (Wikimedia Commons)

Julliard School-Manhattan-New York -Yair Haklai (Wikimedia Commons)

Music

After All is Said and Done- Wayne Robson (Jamendo)

The Twenty-One Balloons Book Trailer

 The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

Images

Golden gate bridge in San Francisco- Jon Sullivan (Public Domain Images)

Hot air balloon in flight Quebec 2005- Mtruch (Wikimedia Commons)

Seagulls in flight 1- Brocken Inaglory (Wikimedia Commons)

Island Hill- Fran Hogan (Public Domain Pictures)

Diamond Age- Steve Jurvetson (flickr)

DGJ_4712- Ingonish Beach- Dennis Jarvis (flickr)

Batur Volcano and Lake- Jessy Eykendorp (flickr)

SF from Marin Highlands3- Paul.h (Wikimedia Commons)

Music

Map Revelations-Gregoire Lourme (Jamendo)

Module 3: Dead End in Norvelt

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Book Summary:

Dead End in Norvelt is the story of a boy named Jack Gantos and his summer in his small town of Norvelt. After being grounded for the summer, Jack ends up helping out his elderly neighbor who has arthritis. She is the medical examiner and obituary writer for the town, so she needs Jack to drive her around and write for her. The pair spends plenty of time together after an unusual amount of older Norvelt residents begin to pass away. Jack has his fair share of adventure and mischief and gains an unlikely friend in the process. Jack also learns a lot about the great individuals that make up his town, and their history of overcoming struggle together.

APA Reference of Book:

Gantos, J. (2011). Dead end in Norvelt. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Impressions:

I loved Dead End in Norvelt! It has a quirky storyline and moments that cause you to laugh out loud. Jack is mischievous, yet still responsible enough to help out his elderly neighbor, Miss Volker. People of all ages will love the funny adventures Jack and Miss Volker share while writing the obituaries for the town newspaper. It has historical facts sprinkled throughout, which will delight history buffs and fans of non-fiction. The humor in this book kept catching me off guard and I found myself laughing and smiling throughout the entire book.

Professional Review:

“In the Preface, Mr. Gantos does not care to specify which elements of this story have their basis in truth and which have their basis in far-flung fiction. I suspect you’ll be able to parse the two in your own mind, even while you sit back and admire the man’s storytelling skills. By and large, the book is built for a stage production. You’ve a limited number of sets and a small manageable cast. Kids, however, will be most intrigued by the book if you hook them on the darker elements. The sheer gushing torrents of blood (this has got to be the most inadvertent blood-soaked book of the year), the deaths, and even the mystery, when told properly, should lure them in. It’s not an easy book, but it does make for a compelling story, in spite of the protagonist’s limited movements. I walked into this title looking for an explanation of what makes Jack Gantos tick. I never found my answer. Instead, I found a book I can read and enjoy and recommend ad nauseum. And as trades go, that one sounds like a good deal to me.”

Bird, E. (2011, April 30). Review of the day: Dead end in Norvelt by Jack Gantos [Review of the book Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2011/04/30/review-of-the-day-dead-end-in-norvelt-by-jack-gantos/#_

Library Uses:

A fun activity for the whole community would be to have a community photo contest. Since this book has a community theme to it, it would be fun to involve as many people as possible. People could submit a photo of their favorite landmark, place, and things from the town. All of the photos could be displayed and after a month a “winner” could be chosen. The photo could be featured in the library newsletter, website and even the town newspaper. This would involve everyone in the community, not just kids. Plus, it would be a great way to remind everyone what is so wonderful about the town they live in.

Module 3: The Twenty-One Balloons

The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

Book Summary:

This is a story about William Waterman Sherman, a recently retired teacher, who decides to go on an epic hot air balloon trip. He leaves with little fanfare in a single balloon, but returns with a thrilling story and twenty balloons. He tells his fascinating tale of accidentally landing on the Island of Krakatoa and the friends he made while there. He also reveals why his time on Krakatoa was cut short and how he ended up stranded with twenty balloons.

APA Reference of Book:

du Bois, W.P. (1947/1986). The twenty-one balloons. New York, NY: Puffin Books.

Impressions:

This book started off really slow for me. I was intrigued with how William Waterman Sherman ended his journey with twenty balloons. The people that he met on Krakatoa were fascinating and it was fun to hear about their new invented way of life. However, I would not say this is one of my favorites. I also think children would struggle with staying interested. It still is a good book that will be appreciated by anyone with an adventurous spirit.

Professional Review:

“Sacre bleu!  A Newbery Award winner in the flesh!  One that I am pleased to report does very well indeed in the library these days.  Kids like checking it out and, I dare say, there may even be a couple that enjoy reading it too.  And why not?  This book has it all.  Crazy inventions.  Diamonds.  A huge explosion.  The works!”

Bird, E. (2012, May 22). Top 100 children’s novels #64: The twenty-one balloons by William Pene du Bois. [Review of the book The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/05/22/top-100-childrens-novels-64-the-twenty-one-balloons-by-william-pene-du-bois/

Library Uses:

A fun activity to go along with this book would be to have kids draw all the things they would bring with them if they took a long hot air balloon trip. This could be on a paper with a hot air balloon image on it. Kids could “design” their balloon and then fill it up with all the things they want to take with them. Then all of the finished balloons could be hung up as a library bulletin board display, saying “We are off on an adventure!”. An extra activity that could be done is having a balloon send-off. A bunch of balloons could be filled with helium, taken outside and released all at one time. Kids could even leave a fun note inside.

Module 2: Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World)

"Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World)" by Mac Barnett

Book Summary: A girl creates a robot as her science project. The only bad thing is that it is now destroying the city. She attempts to stop the robot by yelling at it and holding up a sign. These plans do not work because she did not give it ears to hear her and she did not teach her robot how to read. So the only reasonable thing for her to do is to create something else to take down the robot. Her new creation, a giant frog, does defeat the robot. What is stopping the frog from taking over the city as well?

APA Reference of Book:

Barnett, M. (2010). Oh no! (Or how my science project destroyed the world). New York, NY: Disney-Hyperion.

Impressions: Mac Barnett does such a great job of writing just enough and allowing the illustrations to speak for themselves. I love how the girl realizes all the mistakes in her design as she is trying to stop it from destroying the world. “I should have given it ears”, she says after she yells at it to stop. Holds up sign. “I should have taught it how to read.” This is the kind of humor that kids will love, and it will encourage them to read the story again and again. 

Professional Review:

“When a girl’s science fair robot begins tearing the city apart, she tries to stop the rampage by creating an equally powerful giant toad, who defeats the robot but then causes a different kind of trouble. Large, action-packed spreads and comic panels capture the chaotic humor of inventions gone wrong.”

Engelfried, S. (2013). Inventions: What’s the Big Idea?-Focus On [Review of Oh no! Or how my science project destroyed the world by Mac Barnett]. School Library Journal, 12. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2013/12/collection-development/focus-on-collection-development/inventions-whats-the-big-idea-focus-on/

Library Uses:

A good activity after reading this book would be to have kids make their own robots. You can provide small boxes or sturdy paper that they can fold into cubes. For all the buttons and gizmos on the robot, you can provide buttons, stickers, uncooked macaroni, random odds and ends, etc. Or if supplies are an issue, you can just provide a lot of paper and markers for them to draw designs on their robot.

For a classroom, this would be a great story to read before a science fair or on the first day of school.

Module 2: Amos & Boris

"Amos & Boris" by William Steig

Book Summary:  

Amos, a mouse, sets out on an ocean voyage. While on his voyage, trouble befalls him and he ends up stranded in the ocean. Luckily, a whale named Boris comes to his rescue. Boris lets Amos ride on his back till he gets close to the coast. They part ways as friends thinking that they will never see each other again. However, one day when a nasty storm sweeps Boris onto the shore, only Amos and his friends can help him. This story shows that no matter how different you are, you can still be friends.

APA Reference of Book:

Steig, W. (1971). Amos & Boris. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Impressions:

I loved this book! The language William Steig used was so descriptive and beautiful. People may think that some of the words are too difficult for kids, but I think this is the type of language kids need to be exposed to. If you just break down the sentences and start a dialogue with them about what they think it means, then they would understand it. I love the theme of how friendship knows no limits and that friends are always there for each other. I also think it is great for kids to see that even small creatures can do big things. 

Professional Review:

“Deftly proportioned and disarmingly matter-of-fact, the story of a friendship between Amos, an adventurous mouse who goes to sea "full of wonder, full of enterprise, and full of love for life," and Boris, the accommodating whale who rescues Amos from drowning and carries him home on his back. The friends part then, but years later when Boris is washed ashore by hurricane Yetta, Amos has a chance to reciprocate: he fetches two goodhearted elephants to push the whale back out to sea. Amos' feat is perhaps less satisfying than that of Aesop's mouse who gnaws the lion's ropes without any help from his oversized friends, but there is no question that Steig's affectionately witty pictures and perfectly complementary narration make this a durable picture book friendship.”

Amos & Boris [Review of the book Amos & Boris by William Steig]. (1971, October 1).  Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/william-steig/amos-boris/

Library Uses: For the library, you could read this for story time, but also have a short activity following. The activity will be that students make friendship bracelets for a close friend. This could be with string and beads, or it could be a paper bracelet that they can personalize and decorate for their friend. On the paper friendship bracelet they could always write one thing they love about their friend.

Module 1: Bats at the Library

"Bats at the Library" by Brian Lies

Book Summary:

One evening, a group of bats are positively bored until they find out that a window was left open at the library. Knowing how fun libraries are, these bats decide to spend their whole night there. They read, play games, make copies of themselves on the photocopier, and play in the water fountain. However, the highlight of the night is when everyone gathers for storytime and experience together what it is like to get pulled into a really good story.

APA Reference:

Lies, B. (2008). Bats at the Library. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

Impressions:

I absolutely loved this story! As a lover of libraries, it makes total sense to me why bats would love them, too! Seeing them become the characters in the stories they are reading was hilarious. I could not stop looking at bat versions of Alice in Wonderland, Pippi Longstocking, Make Way for Ducklings, and Little Red Riding Hood. This is a fun reminder to kids and adults how exciting and fun a trip to the library can be.

Professional Review: 

An open library window is an invitation for a colony of bats in this sequel to Bats at the Beach (2006). Once inside, older bats look for favorite books, while younger ones explore and play. Storytime settles everyone down and transports them into the tales, filled with bat characters playing new roles. The bat homage to classic children’s books includes titles like Goodnight Sun, while images such as Little Red Riding Bat will amuse children who are familiar with the originals. The rhymed narrative serves primarily as the vehicle for the appealing acrylic illustrations that teem with bats so charming they will even win over chiroptophobes.

—Linda Perkins

Perkins, L. (2008). Bats at the Library. Booklist, 105(4), 46. Accessed through the UNT Library Database.

Library Uses:

One activity that could be done is a bat scavenger hunt. You could hide little paper bats all over the library. Then you could create clues guiding the children to where to all the bats are. This activity would be a fun activity to show children the different places in the library that they don’t normally get to see.

Module 1: Interrupting Chicken

"Interrupting Chicken" by David Ezra Stein

Book Summary:

A little red chicken wants her Papa to read a bedtime story. However, the little red chicken cannot help but add her valuable input to help the characters. After multiple attempts to read through a story, Papa decides to let the little red chicken come up with a bedtime story for him. Papa ends up interrupting little red chicken in his own way.

APA Reference of the Book:

Stein, D.E. (2010). Interrupting chicken. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

Impressions:

I really enjoyed reading “Interrupting Chicken” because of the delightful way David Ezra Stein shows how little red chicken interrupts the story. Little red chicken just wanted to share with the storybook characters her knowledge so that they can avoid trouble further along in the story.  I think many parents can relate to how sometimes reading a bedtime story to a child can do the opposite of calming them down. I think parents and children will enjoy reading this together, especially if their bedtime ritual includes a story.

Professional Review:

“This book is a delightful story of a little chicken that keeps interrupting her bedtime story. Papa becomes a bit frustrated as he prompts little chicken to not interrupt. Soon one bedtime story leads to another which leads to another one being finished by little chicken. Papa has little chicken tell a story but due to his being tired falls asleep so little chicken joins him. While the story itself is a short narrative about interrupting, the colorful illustrations and humorous tone make this book an enjoyable independent read or as a read-aloud. Recommended.” –Jo Monahan, Librarian, University of North Texas Libraries, Denton, Texas

Monahan, J. (2010). Interrupting Chicken [Review of the book Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein]. Library Media Connection, 29(3), 73. Accessed through UNT Library Database.

Library Uses: A storybook writing station could be set up in the children’s section of the library. Paper and writing/drawing utensils would be provided. Children could write/draw a story to read to their parents at bedtime.