Module 15: And Tango Makes Three

Summary:

This true story tells about Roy and Silo, two male penguins living in the Central Park Zoo. They do everything together and don't seem interested in the other female penguins. They do everything that the other penguin couples do - until one day they notice that everyone else is hatching eggs. Roy and Silo desperately want to hatch their own egg and, with the help of a caring zookeeper, they end up getting their wish!

Reference:

Richardson, J. (2005). And Tango makes three. New York: NY: Simon & Shuster.

Impressions:

This book is frequently challenged due to the subject matter but it remains a high quality piece of children's literature. One thing that many (adult) readers should know is that this is, in fact, a TRUE story. Richardson takes it and provides a heartwarming book that is told in a way that children can understand. 

Professional Review:

In this true, straightforwardly (so to speak) delivered tale, two male chinstrap penguins at New York City’s Central Park Zoo bond, build a nest and—thanks to a helping hand from an observant zookeeper—hatch and raise a penguin chick. Seeing that the penguins dubbed Roy and Silo “did everything together. They bowed to each other. And walked together. They sang to each other. And swam together,” their keeper, Mr. Gramzay, thinks, “They must be in love.” And so, when Roy and Silo copy the other penguin couples and build a nest of stones, it’s Gramzay who brings a neighboring couple’s second egg for them to tend, then names the resulting hatchling “Tango.” Cole gives the proud parents and their surrogate offspring small smiles, but otherwise depicts figures and setting with tidy, appealing accuracy. Unlike Harvey Fierstein’s groundbreaking The Sissy Duckling (2002), also illustrated by Cole, this doesn’t carry its agenda on its shoulder; readers may find its theme of acceptance even more convincing for being delivered in such a matter of fact, non-preachy way.

[Review of the book And Tango makes three]. (June 2005). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/justin-richardson/and-tango-makes-three/

Library Uses: 

This book would make a great addition to a display with books about all types of families. This story really is talking about what a family is at its core and I think that's an important theme for kids to understand. I think including this book in the selection could give students the opportunity to see that there are many types of families that may look different from their own.

Book Trailer: Tua and the Elephant

Book Trailer: James and Giant Peach

Book Trailer: The One and Only Ivan

Module 14: Fold Me a Poem

Summary:

The story follows a boy as he creates many origami animals. Each page is full of colorful illustrations and poetry about the animals the boy is creating. This book is a tribute to two arts that children can learn and enjoy creating on their own.

Reference:

George, K. (2005). Fold me a poem. New York, NY: Harcourt.

Impressions:

The pages are filled with many types of poetry which will expose kids to a wide variety of poetry and will allow them to explore their creativity once they try writing poems of their own. This book is sure to spark interest in the art of origami and also provides resources at the end to allow children to learn more about it.

Professional Review:

This unusual poetry volume is a dazzling celebration of imagination. George's (Hummingbird Nest ) haiku-like poems and Stringer's (Mud ) colorful origami animals combine to tell the story of a child who needs only squares of paper to create a world of play. The unnamed child's contemplative face and short hair allows both boys and girls to identify with the main character, as he or she sprinkles snowflakes made from paper punch holes over origami penguins, creates a barrier between rabbits and foxes with wooden blocks, forms a shadow figure hippo with a flashlight and fashions a bookmark from a giraffe. Stringer's illustrations help connect the poems visually, and the pages burst with colors and patterns. On one spread, the poem "Peacocks" features a close-up of the child's hands folding the birds' tails while, across the gutter, the finished peacocks strut in a garden of origami tulips to illustrate a poem called "Spring." Each turn of the page brings a clever new perspective or insight—even humor. A "Disappointed Moth," pictured with brown polka-dotted wings, asks, "Why didn't you/ save any butterfly colors/ for me ?" The book includes a list of how-to origami books, but unfortunately lacks a set of instructions for making the animals. Nonetheless, this poetry collection creatively models low-cost child's play that requires only a little know-how and a bit of ingenuity.

[Review of the book Fold me a poem]. (April 2005). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved from: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-15-202501-4

Library Uses: 

After reading this book aloud, it can be placed in the library's Makerspace along with other poetry and origami books. Students may then choose to create their own poetry or origami pieces in the Makerspace.

Module 13: Giants Beware

Summary:

Claudette has one goal in life: to become a giant slayer! There's only one problem, her village has been safe from giants since Pierre the XXXII ran off the only giant. Claudette doesn't feel justice was served and believes the giant needs to be slayed!

Reference:

Aguirre, J. (2012). Giants beware! New York: NY: First Second.

Impressions:

Clever and funny. This charming graphic novel offers humor and excitement for readers who love adventure. Claudette keeps interesting company to say the least. Her brother, Gaston, a budding pastry chef who has no qualms about being a scaredy cat and her best friend, Marie, who really just wants to be a princess one day. This unlikely trio provide the right about of laughs and lessons to keep readers engaged.

Professional Review:

Comedy and fairy tale sensibilities balance perfectly in this exciting debut by writer Aguirre and illustrator Rosado. Delightfully spunky Claudette is set on becoming a monster slayer like her father (who is missing limbs due to his earlier adventures). When she hears the story of a giant on the loose, she is determined to leave her home—accompanied by her cowardly brother, Gaston, and best friend Marie—in order to set things right. Driven by Claudette’s courage, Marie, who wants nothing more than to become a princess, shows proper heroic wits, and Gaston reveals inner strength and determination. When Claudette discovers that not all stories are as they seem, she and her friends must fool the adults who have come to bring them home to protect an innocent monster. The rich world and engaging characters are a surefire hit—and the glorious full-color illustrations, which pack a novel’s worth of expression onto cartoon faces, should bring readers back for multiple reads of this many-layered story. One can only hope that Aguirre and Rosado have more adventures planned. 

[Review of the book Giants beware!]. (April 2012). Publisher's Weekly. Retrieved from: http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59643-582-7

Library Uses: 

Students can create comic strips using the characters from the story. They can create a new adventure for Claudette, Marie, and Gaston. This will be a great lesson in speech bubbles and the directionality of graphic novels and how they are read.

Module 12: Nelson Madela

Summary:

This biography tells the story of Nelson Mandela's heroic struggles. The story takes us through Mandela's life as a young boy and how he fought to create change - even at the expense of being imprisoned.  

Reference:

Nelson, K. (2013). Nelson Mandela. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Impressions:

This book is a beautiful tribute to South Africa's revolutionary leader. While Mandela's story is an important one to be told, Kadir Nelson's illustrations take this book to another level. The paintings practically glow and jump off the pages. There is absolutely no question as to why this book won the Coretta Scott King illustrator award. 

Professional Review:

Starting with the full-page cover portrait, this glowing picture-book biography offers a celebratory introduction to Nelson Mandela’s life for young readers. Clear free verse and handsome, unframed paintings follow the iconic leader from his tribal childhood and his work as a young city lawyer through his political leadership against the brutality of apartheid, his long imprisonment, and then the triumph of his election as president of his country. The story doesn’t mention conflicts both political (the splits in the anti-apartheid movement) and personal (the bitter rift with his daughters), as well as the continuing inequality South Africans face. Still, words and images bring close the cruel apartheid segregation in daily life, including one double-page spread of Cape Town’s glorious beaches with the sign that reads White Area. Then there is the view of prisoners on Robben Island hammering rocks into dust. In contrast, the final pages show today’s nonsegregated beaches and people of all races standing together free at last. A long final note fills in more. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With an internationally beloved leader as its subject and a multi-award-winning artist as its creator, this title is sure to be on every library’s must-purchase list.

[Review of the book Nelson Mandela]. (September 2012). Booklist. Retrieved from: https://www.booklistonline.com/Nelson-Mandela-Kadir-Nelson/pid=5648303

Library Uses: 

This is a great selection when introducing students to the concept of a biography written in narrative form. Have students look at this biography paired with another biography about Nelson Mandela written in expository form. Students can compare and contrast the two types of biographies noting that both types are providing factual information in different ways.

Module 11: Actual Size

Summary:

Jenkins masterfully displays the actual size of a variety of animals, both large and small, in this book that is packed full of engaging collages and facts about each animal and their size.  

Reference:

Jenkins, S. (2004). Actual size. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. 

Impressions:

This book is made for the kid in all of us! The collages bring to life just how big some animals truly are. We see that a pygmy shrew is only two inches long and alternatively we see the actual size of a giant squid's eye - all 12 inches of it barely fitting on the page. Kids are sure to marvel at all the animals represented in this book and enjoy learning about them as they unfold pages to see just how big a goliath frog can get!

Professional Review:

A new exploration of the biological world, from one of the current masters of collage, features life-size—not scaled—representations of the extremes of the animal kingdom. Wonderfully textured collages are set against a white background, accompanied by a minimal text gloss about the animals, and their sizes. Some are so huge that only parts can be seen (the one-foot-diameter eye of a giant squid) and others require some squinting (the 1/3-inch dwarf goby). It’s a fascinating subject, and one that will resonate with an audience for whom relative size is a matter of daily interest. Jenkins exploits it for all its worth, including a fold-out of a crocodile’s jaw and a snarling tiger whose face spills off the page. Four concluding pages provide more information about the featured animals, along with reasonably sized, full-body reiterations of the illustrations. Sadly enough, however, in a book that is so intimately concerned with measurement, only English units are used, seemingly ignoring the fact that the metric system is the universal language of science worldwide. A regrettable flaw in an otherwise outstanding offering. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-12)

[Review of the book Actual size]. (May 2004). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/steve-jenkins/actual-size/ 

Library Uses: 

A perfect read aloud for the younger crowd and equally perfect as a jumping off point for older students to gain inspiration for animal inquiry. Students can then be introduced to electronic resources such as National Geographic Kids to learn about other interesting animal facts.

Module 10: Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy

Summary:

Readers get the opportunity to follow Shoeless Joe Jackson in this story of how he came to own his favorite bat, "Black Betsy".  The story follows a man (who is now said to be one of the greatest baseball players the game has ever seen) when he has hit a slump and is willing to do just about anything to get past it and get on to the major leagues!

Reference:

Bildner, P. (2002). Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy. New York, NY: Simon & Shuster.

Impressions:

This is a wonderful example of Historical Fiction that children of all ages will enjoy! Baseball fans are sure to fall in love with the story line and waiting to see if Shoeless Joe will get out of his slump. Even those who don't care as much about baseball will be sure to get a giggle at some of Shoeless Joe's superstitions. Who wouldn't laugh at seeing a grown man tucked into bed with his baseball bat?

Professional Review:

Is great hitting in the clean, natural swing of the batter—or the perfectly balanced feel of the bat? As kids know when they start playing baseball, small details must converge just right to overcome the edge between winning and losing, hitting and striking out. Sometimes this translates into superstitions or quirky behavior. First-time author Bildner toes this question in the quirks of Shoeless Joe Jackson and his feared bat, Black Betsy. Joe, who played in the major leagues from 1908 to 1920, does well in the minor leagues, but can’t seem to move up without the help of his South Carolina friend, the great bat-maker Charlie Ferguson. While Charlie knows how to make the best bat, it’s not hard to decide which needs tweaking more, the bat or Joe’s mind so he can finally realize his great potential. From Joe sleeping with the bat to his wrapping it in the cotton of his southern roots, Bildner sticks mostly to the main facts and resists a romanticization of the game. Players who know the perfect, sweeping amalgamation of hand, eye, and sweet spot might expect to hear its dramatic tenor when Joe cracks the ball with Black Betsy, but this is a story finished by statistics. Payne’s (Brave Harriet, p. 944, etc.) mixed-media illustrations are gorgeous: the fuzz is in the flannel and the light is just right. And so are his perspectives, angles, and other compositional choices that make for the right mix of mystery and narrative to draw the reader in. A lengthy synopsis of Joe’s entire career and his statistics are appended. (Picture book. 5-8)

[Review of the book Shoeless Joe and Black Betsy]. (December 2010). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/phil-bildner/shoeless-joe-black-betsy/

Library Uses: 

This would be a great read aloud to "sneak in" Historical Fiction as baseball season is gearing up in the spring. Baseball fans will love the story immediately. Others will enjoy the illustrations and repetitive language used in the story. For older grades, it would be beneficial to read the Afterword and discuss which parts of the story the author changed and why he may have chosen to make particular changes.

Module 9: Ace Lacewing: Bug Detective

Summary:

Ace Lacewing is a detective in Motham City. He's on the case when the best honey maker in town, Queenie Bee, has been kidnapped.  Ace and Sergeant Zito, a mosquito, are hot on the trail of the kidnapper as they follow the clues that lead to what is really going on in Motham. 

Reference:

Biedrzycki, D. (20050. Ace Lacewing: Bug detective. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridege.

Impressions:

As a detective book goes, this is a great introduction to solving mysteries for young children. Those who pay close attention to discarded newspapers on the first few pages will have additional clues when trying to solve the case. The author really had fun adding in bug related jokes such as a flyswatter wielding S.W.A.T. team and crime scene tape with the words "Bug Off". All in all, this is a clever and fun detective book that is a good introduction to the mystery genre.

Professional Review:

When Queenie Bee, of Hive Rise Honey, goes missing, Motham City is abuzz. Tough P.I. Ace Lacewing (“Bad bugs are my business”) is on the case. Red herrings (mosquitoes, maggots, and walkingsticks in this case) abound, all with different stories, but the trench-coat-and--fedora-clad detective remains undaunted, sleuthing his way through the clues until a sticky surprise revelation. Biedrzycki (The Beetle AlphabetBook, 2003) makes his debut as an author here, and although his story is sometimes text heavy, it’s filled with snappy dialogue, wordplay, and puns that will especially appeal to kids with some knowledge of insects (words such as pupae are used). The slick, computer-assisted art has a cartoon flair; and its shadowy backgrounds have a noir flavor. Biedrzycki uses occasional pops of primary color and an array of perspectives and witty detail to add interest. Entertaining fare for those who appreciate creepy crawlies on the humorous side, this will attract both good readers and fans of seek-and-find books. — Shelle Rosenfeld

[Review of the book Ace Lacewing: Bug detective]. (September 2005). Booklist. Retrieved from: https://www.booklistonline.com/Ace-Lacewing-Bug-Detective-David-Biedrzycki/pid=1494764

Library Uses:

This book includes a plethora of interesting bug characters. After reading this book, students can look through the book and choose a bug to research. This would be a wonderful time to introduce TexQuest resources including Kids InfoBits. 

Module 8: Nightmares!

Summary:

Charlie Laird has been having nightmares each night that have been increasingly more realistic and frightening. One night, the witch in Charlie's nightmare threatens to come into the waking world and drag him into the realm of nightmare land. She does just that and it's up to Charlie and his friends to face their fears - no matter how terrifying - in order to find their way back home!

Reference:

Segel, J. & Miller, K. (2014). Nightmares! New York, NY: Random House.

Impressions:

This book had a little bit of everything: scares, laughs, mystery, and even tears! I absolutely loved the humor that this book provided and the touching moments near the end. I had the opportunity to enjoy this in audiobook format and was so pleased with my choice. The narration brought the characters to life and gave them their own personalities that really gave me the opportunity to connect with the main characters. I think this is a wonderful choice for readers who want a book with twists and turns and a splash of humor and heart. 

Professional Review:

Charlie Laird’s nightmares become a reality when he discovers a portal to the Netherworld.

Charlie’s widowed father has recently remarried, and Charlie hates it. He hates his stepmom. He hates that his young brother, Jack, is taken in by her. But most of all he hates the new house his family has moved into, as well as the never-ending stream of nightmares he experiences there every night. An evil witch haunts Charlie’s sleep, threatening to eat him and his brother up. When the witch appears in the real world and snatches Jack away, Charlie follows her into the Netherworld and, with the aid of a gorgon and a few slumbering friends, sets out to save not just his brother, but the Land of Nightmares itself. As a first book in a proposed trilogy, there’s a lot of promise here. The authors set up the supernatural rules of this world with ease, not getting bogged down with exceptions or contradictions. The book succeeds at scaring and amusing in equal measure, with the Nightmares as varied as they are humorous. At the heart of the endeavor is a story of personal growth, one that fits nicely with the spooky doings surrounding it. Best of all, this is a contained story. There’s no cliffhanger, no shoddy lingering threats. Upon completion, readers could set it down and never return to the Netherworld, but this world is so enjoyable and interesting, it’s hard to not anticipate future trips.

Sweet, charming and imaginative: a promising launch. 

[Review of the book Nightmares!]. (July 2014). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jason-segel/nightmares/

Library Uses: 

This book is available in audiobook format and is narrated by Jason Segel himself! The narration was excellent and I believe this would be a great opportunity to introduce students to our ebook and audiobook collection. 

Module 7: Hoot

Summary:
Roy, who has recently moved to a small Florida town, finds himself wrapped up in an attempt to save a colony of burring owls from certain demise at the construction site of Mother Paula's pancake house. Roy is intrigued by a mysterious boy who goes by the name "Mullet Fingers" and his attempts to sabotage the pancake company that is trying to destroy the colony of owls.

Reference:

Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot. New York, NY: Random House.

Impressions:
The characters make this book stand apart from the crowd. With a bully named Dana and feral boy who goes by the name Mullet Fingers, there are sure to be crowd pleasing moments! This book kept a good pace as the adventures unfold. The reader doesn't know if Roy is digging himself into deep trouble or if he's doing the right thing for much of the book. This makes for a thrilling read that includes adventure and mystery. Hiaasen has created a story that really gets you thinking, "What would I do in this situation?"

Professional Review:
"The straight-arrow son of a maybe-federal agent (he’s not quite sure) turns eco-terrorist in this first offering for kids from one of detective fiction’s funniest novelists. Fans of Hiaasen’s (Basket Case, 2001, etc.) novels for adults may wonder how well his profane and frequently kinky writing will adapt to a child’s audience; the answer is, remarkably well. Roy Eberhardt has recently arrived in Florida; accustomed to being the new kid after several family moves, he is more of an observer than a participant. When he observes a bare-footed boy running through the subdivisions of Coconut Grove, however, he finds himself compelled to follow and, later, to ally himself with the strange boy called Mullet Fingers. Meanwhile, the dimwitted but appealingly dogged Officer Delinko finds himself compelled to crack the case of the mysterious vandals at the construction site of a new Mother Paula’s All-American Pancake House—it couldn’t have anything to do with those cute burrowing owls, could it? The plot doesn’t overwhelm with surprises; even the densest readers will soon suss out the connections between Mullet Fingers, the owls, and Mother Paula’s steadfast denial of the owls’ existence. The fun lies in Hiaasen’s trademark twisted characters, including Dana Matherson, the class bully who regularly beats up on Roy and whose unwitting help Roy wickedly enlists; Beatrice Leep, Mullet Fingers’s fiercely loyal sister and co-conspirator; Curly, Mother Paula’s hilariously inept foreman; and Roy’s equally straight-arrow parents, who encourage him to do the right thing without exactly telling him how. Roy is rather surprisingly engaging, given his utter and somewhat unnatural wholesomeness; it’s his kind of determined innocence that sees through the corruption and compromises of the adult world to understand what must be done to make things right. If the ending is somewhat predictable, it is also entirely satisfying—Hoot is, indeed, a hoot." (Fiction. 10-14)
[Review of the book Hoot]. (July 2002).  Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/carl-hiaasen/hoot-2/

Library Uses:
Give students time to think about a situation that they feel needs to be changed. If needed, provide students with the opportunity to research their topics. After gathering facts and any other helpful information, students can write a persuasive letter to try to make a change.

Module 6: The Day the Crayons Quit

Summary:
One day when a young boy named Duncan opens his box of crayons, he finds letters from each of them explaining why they are quitting.  Each crayon has a unique complaint detailing why they are on strike.

Reference:

Daywalt, D. (2013). The day the crayons quit. New York, NY: The Penguin Group.

Impressions:
This book is truly laugh out loud funny. When reading it with young children, they giggle throughout the story. Daywalt did an excellent job of creating memorable personalities for each crayon. It's these personalities that make this book an instant classic that will beg to be read and re-read. The letter format also makes this book an excellent tool for teaching letter format to young learners.

Professional Review:

"Duncan wants to draw, but instead of crayons, he finds a stack of letters listing the crayons’ demands in this humorous tale.

Red is overworked, laboring even on holidays. Gray is exhausted from coloring expansive spaces (elephants, rhinos and whales). Black wants to be considered a color-in color, and Peach? He’s naked without his wrapper! This anthropomorphized lot amicably requests workplace changes in hand-lettered writing, explaining their work stoppage to a surprised Duncan. Some are tired, others underutilized, while a few want official titles. With a little creativity and a lot of color, Duncan saves the day. Jeffers delivers energetic and playful illustrations, done in pencil, paint and crayon. The drawings are loose and lively, and with few lines, he makes his characters effectively emote. Clever spreads, such as Duncan’s “white cat in the snow” perfectly capture the crayons’ conundrum, and photographic representations of both the letters and coloring pages offer another layer of texture, lending to the tale’s overall believability.

A comical, fresh look at crayons and color." 

[Review of the book The Day the Crayons Quit]. (May 2013).  Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/drew-daywalt/day-crayons-quit/

Library Uses:
Invite students to imagine what their crayons would say if they wanted to quit. Give students an outline of a crayon so that they can choose which color they would like to highlight. Then give students a speech bubble to add to the crayon. Students will then need to decide what their crayons will be complaining about and add the complaint to the speech bubble. These crayons would create a nice display outside of the library.

Module 5: Funny Bones

Summary:
This is the story of how the calaveras (skeletons doing everyday tasks or participating in festive activities) that are associated with the Day of the Dead came to be. Lupe Posada is the artist who created them and this book provides background into his life as an artist and the history of calaveras. Tonatiuh's illustrations earned this book the Pura Bulpre Honor award. It was also the winner of the Sibert Award for most distinguished informational book of 2015.

Reference:

Tonatiuh, D. (2015). Funny bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead calaveras. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Learners.

Impressions:
I completely understand how Tonatiuh's illustrations helped this book win the Pura Belpre Honor award. The choice of details and colors create a festive look that coincides with the Day of the Dead celebrations described in the book. Posada's story is very interesting and is not one that is commonly told. Tonatiuh did a great job of creating a picture book that is informative and easy to follow for younger children. Posada's use of political cartoons to express opinions is outlined in the second half of the book. Many of Posada's calaveras are shown with the question, "Was Posada saying that..." and pose a question for young readers that allows children to think about some of points Posada was trying to make with his artwork. This was a clever way of opening up those discussions for young readers.


Professional Review:
"This exceptional picture-book biography profiles Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada (1852–1913), who is remembered primarily for his portrayal of calaveras, the droll skeletons prominent in Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Posada, who loved to draw as a child, later discovered printmaking, the art form that would shape his career. He learned lithography, engraving, and etching, three techniques that are succinctly explained here and illustrated through cartoonlike panels of drawings. As an adult, then known as Don Lupe, Posada’s images of calaveras amused the public by poking fun at politicians. In the second half of the book, every other page reproduces a Posada print and asks a question, such as, “Was Don Lupe saying that . . . even powerful leaders one day become calaveras?” The use of questions works well, encouraging readers to engage with the art, while the clearly written narrative continues on the facing pages. Appearing throughout the book, Tonatiuh’s illustrations are digital collages notable for their controlled energy, vibrant colors, and a wonderfully rhythmic arrangement of forms on the page. The final scene, a witty, updated version of grinning calaveras, depicts them as young people today. Playful but informative, this picture book offers a fascinating introduction to the artist and his work."

Phelan, C. (2015). [Review of the book Funny bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead calaveras]. Booklist, 111(21), 52.

Library Uses:
After reading Funny Bones, invite students to create their own calaveras masks. Gather paper plates, markers, popsicle sticks, and scissors. Show students how to cut the skull shape out of the plate. Next, have students add eyes and nose and then decorate their creations. Last, add a popsicle stick that students can use to hold up the mask.

Module 4: Holes

Summary:
Stanley Yelnats comes from a long line of unlucky men due to a curse put on his great-great grandfather by a gypsy.  Bad luck has struck once again and Stanley has been sentenced to juvenile detention for a crime he didn't commit. He's been sentenced to digging holes at Camp Green Lake, Texas. As Stanley's story unfolds, we are also told two other stories simultaneously. One is the story of how Stanley's great-great grandfather came to be cursed. The other story is of Kissin' Kate Barlow, an outlaw who buried treasure in the same area in Texas where Stanley has been sentenced. The plot takes many twists and turns and the reader is sure to enjoy working to solve the mysteries that unfold throughout the story.

Reference:

Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York, NY: Yearling.

Impressions:
Sachar's novel is crafted in such a way that the reader is pulled into a page-turning experience. There is mystery, love, adventure, and an underdog story all wrapped up in a book that is sure to entertain. The way Sachar has woven three stories together creates a unique twist of Realistic Fiction and Tall Tale rolled into a fun combination of interesting characters. All of the characters are colorful and larger-than-life and they keep the story moving a pace that is sure hook readers into the plot.

Professional Review:

"Middle-schooler Stanley Yelnats is only the latest in a long line of Yelnats to encounter bad luck, but Stanley’s serving of the family curse is a doozie. Wrongfully convicted of stealing a baseball star’s sneakers, Stanley is sentenced to six months in a juvenile-detention center, Camp Green Lake. “There is no lake at Camp Green Lake,” where Stanley and his fellow campers (imagine the cast from your favorite prison movie, kid version) must dig one five-by-five hole in the dry lake bed every day, ostensibly building character but actually aiding the sicko warden in her search for buried treasure. Sachar’s novel mixes comedy, hard-hitting realistic drama, and outrageous fable in a combination that is, at best, unsettling. The comic elements, especially the banter between the boys (part scared teens, part Cool Hand Luke wanna-bes) work well, and the adventure story surrounding Stanley’s rescue of his black friend Zero, who attempts to escape, provides both high drama and moving human emotion. But the ending, in which realism gives way to fable, while undeniably clever, seems to belong in another book entirely, dulling the impact of all that has gone before. These mismatched parts don’t add up to a coherent whole, but they do deliver a fair share of entertaining and sometimes compelling moments." 

Ott, B. (1998). [Review of the book Holes]. Booklist, 94(19), 1750.

Library Uses:
This book creates a great opportunity for a librarian to work with a teacher who is using Holes as a classroom read aloud or novel study.  Invite students into the library for a lesson on timelines. Holes has three different stories interwoven and this creates an excellent opportunity to explore noting important events and when they occurred. Using Capzles.com, students can create a timeline and insert images, videos, or text to create a multimedia experience.

Module 3: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

Summary:
Beekle lives on a far away island where imaginary friends live...before they are actually imagined by a real child.  After Beekle is tired of waiting to imagined, he takes it upon himself to journey to the real world to find his friend. Once he is in the real world he does eventually meet his true friend and it is everything he dreamed it would be!

Reference:

Santat, D. (2014). The adventures of Beekle: The unimaginary friend. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Impressions:
The Adventures of Beekle is sure to please young readers with its premise and it's colorful, fun illustrations. This story holds great lessons of taking matters into your own hands and finding friendship. Beekle is an instantly likable character who I was cheering for the whole time. Readers will be cheering for Beekle through the story and the ending leaves room for the imagination to run wild with possibilities as to what might happen next!

Professional Review:

"If an imaginary friend is unimagined, does it become a real friend?

Beekle (a crowned white gumdrop of lovable cuteness) lives on a fantastic island with other creatures “waiting to be imagined by a real child.” After seeing his companions leave, one by one, Beekle loses faith that he will ever “be picked and given a special name,” and so he does “the unimaginable” and ventures forth to find his friend. Upon arriving at a port city, he observes adults going about their daily lives in monochrome, dingy settings that lack any spark of color or vitality. Perspectives that often isolate the tiny Beekle in corners or surround him with large figures accentuate his loneliness. Everything changes when he arrives at a playground awash in color and sees children playing with their imaginary friends—many of whom had been on his island. But even here, he still cannot find his special friend. Feeling sad, he climbs a tree, and from his perch, he hears a voice calling to him. Lo and behold, he meets his special friend, Alice. She’s imagined him after all, as evidenced by the picture he retrieves for her, which is of himself handing her a picture. In a delightful comic sequence, the pair become acquainted, and “[t]he world began to feel a little less strange.”

Welcome, Beekle. It’s nice to know you."

[Review of the book The adventures of Beekle: The unimaginary friend]. (March 2014). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dan-santat/the-adventures-of-beekle/

Library Uses:
After reading The Adventures of Beekle together and discussing the imaginary friends in the story, provide students with a variety of play dough, google eyes, pom-poms, and pipe cleaners. Then, invite students to create and name their own imaginary friend. Depending on the age of the students, you could also invite them to write a story about something they could do with their imaginary friend.

Module 2: The Important Book

Summary:
The Important Book takes everyday objects and describes them by their most important qualities.  The book is deceptively simple in its game-like rhythm. It is sure to spark children's imaginations and have them creating what is important about other objects they see in their everyday lives.

Reference:
Brown, M. (1949). The Important Book. (n.p.) : HarperCollins.

Impressions:
I enjoy reading this book with young children because the objects in the book are such simple everyday objects and this book gets right to their most important qualities. It makes one think, what's important about me? What makes me...me? It has the reader think about the qualities of objects and people around their own worlds and think about their importance.

Professional Review:

"A perfect book for very small children, one that will go on long after the printed word has been absorbed, for the text establishes a word game which tiny children accept with glee. The text is a series of word songs, the child's first conception of poetry, dealing simply and repetitively with each object pictured, whether grass or sky, an apple, shoes, rain, or what have you. Children go on from there, picking out the important thing about other familiar objects around. The Weisgard pictures have that imaginative quality so characteristic of him. This is tops- with us." - Kirkus Reviews

[Review of the book The important book]. (May 1949).  Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/margaret-wise-brown/the-important-book/.

Library Uses:

Students can brainstorm important people around the school such as the principal, custodians, librarian, and art teacher (to name a few). After being divided into groups, students can list characteristics that are unique to the important person assigned to their group. Then, mimicking the text of The Important Book, students can create their own Important Book about the school. These groups of students can take digital pictures of these important people and add them to the pages of their book.  This would take more than one library visit to complete which could build anticipation for students to finish the project. This would also provide students time to think about their important person and re-evaluate if needed when they return to finish the book with their groups.

Module 1: The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore

Summary:

Morris Lessmore is content writing his own story until one day a tornado devastates his town and everything in his life is scattered: including his story. A mysterious lady being pulled along by flying books entices Lessmore to follow her. He discovers a magical library full of flying books that love having their stories told. Morris Lessmore stays with the books for many years until he finishes his own story and is ready to leave. The books are sad to have lost their friend but notice Morris Lessmore has left his own story behind for others to enjoy.

Reference:

Joyce, W. (2012) The fantastic books of Morris Lessmore. New York, NY: Antheneum Books for Young Readers.

Impressions:

The story is simple and sweet but it is transformed into something truly special by Joe Bluhm's illustrations. They are detailed and realistic and there are nods to the classic Wizard of Oz. Only this time, the tornado has taken all of Mr. Lessmore's joy and he is drained of color. It's only when he discovers the fantastic books that he regains his color once again.

The author's note tells us of the struggles the author, William Joyce, went through to see his book through to completion. Much like Morris Lessmore's story, Joyce had much of his hard work destroyed by a natural disaster, hurricane Katrina, and his progress was interrupted. Mr. Joyce also had setbacks to the completion of his book due to eye surgeries and so it ended up that the wordless short film and a story app were both released before the book's final release 13 years after Joyce first began to write the story.

It is evident that Joyce's personal trials contributed to the evolution of Morris Lessmore's character and the result is a true gift. This story is one that should be shared with children who are being raised in a generation that holds video games in higher regards than the written word.

Professional Review:
"First it was an Academy Award–winning animated short. Then it was an intuitively interactive iPad story app. And now it’s a regular old book, which is fitting given that the story is all about the lasting power of books to transport and nourish the soul. Our hero is a bibliophile modeled after legendary children’s-literature advocate William Morris (in spirit) and Buster Keaton (in looks), whose gray-colored world is colorized when he sees a woman fly past, pulled by “a festive squadron of flying books.” One such book leads him to take custodianship of a house full of rambunctious stories. As the years pass, he writes one of his own, which in turn inspires a young girl after he is gone. The message-heavy narrative is lifted by Joyce’s superb artwork, presenting nostalgic, picket-fence scenes with a modeled, dimensional feel built on the animation but given a lustrous polish for the printed page. Perhaps most fascinating, the movie, app, and book taken together present an entirely kid-friendly opportunity to talk about the interplay between content and format. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The movie and app iterations of this work have attracted gobs of acclaim and attention for the book to capitalize on."

Chipman, I. (2012). [Review of the book The fantastic flying books of Morris Lessmore]. Booklist, 108(20), 70.

Library Uses:

The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore has an interesting backstory (explained in the Author's Note) and is unique in that the wordless animated short film was released prior to the book's release. Read the book and show the film to students and have them compare and contrast the book to the short film. Have them note the differences and similarities that they notice between the two and create a list.