Write On, Mercy! by Gretchen Woelfle April 19, 2012

In the new American Wing at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, there is a portrait of Mercy Otis Warren, the Revolutionary-era writer. I’ve always been drawn to the painting for two reasons. First, it was painted by John Singleton Copley, the “official” portrait painter of the American Revolution. And second, Warren was not a typical 18^th century woman. She wrote poetry and history and was an outspoken advocate of independence.  In 1805 – when Warren was 77-years-old, she published her three volume history of the American Revolution.

Warren is not as well known as Abigail Adams, her friend and correspondent, but maybe Gretchen Woelfle’s new picture book biography of Warren will begin to remedy that. Write On, Mercy!: The Secret Life of Mercy Otis Warren tells the story of Warren’s life, beginning with her childhood on Cape Cod. For young history buffs, especially girls between the ages of 8 and 11, Woelfle’s book is an engaging gateway to the American Revolution and a well-told story of an American Patriot.

Woelfle is also the author of a biography for older readers – Jeannette Rankin: Political Pioneer. In 1916, Rankin was the first woman elected to Congress, and in 1968, at the age of 87, she marched in a protest against the Vietnam War.  Maybe Rankin was inspired by Mercy Otis Warren!

Two Things Worth Checking Out… March 5, 2012

Incredible timing…I happen to be teaching a fairy tale unit to a group of 4th, 5th and 6th grade students right now, and when I opened my e-mail today, this was waiting. I know what the kids are going to see tomorrow:

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/02/27/childrens-book-posters/

Not two hours later, after marveling at the incredible fairy tale illustrations (I hope you clicked on the above link), I was listening to NPR’s All Things Considered, and there was a story about the 50th anniversary of Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel, A Wrinkle in Time.  What particularly struck me about the NPR story was hearing Rebecca Stead refer to the plot as “complicated.” I remember reading A Wrinkle in Time in middle school, and feeling a little (actually a lot) confused. At first, I blamed the entire science fiction genre, thinking that because I am not a fan of science fiction, the time travel was just too hard to follow. An admission: I’ve never seen Star Trek and have only seen the original Star Wars one time – which was enough.

Only later did I embrace my confusion. It was okay. The cool part was knowing I had read something important, and maybe something I was going to have to read again – a whole new concept! After reading the novel again as an adult, I’m still not sure I could draw an accurate map of Meg’s itinerary, but L’Engle’s novel has been the inspiration for a lifetime of wondering.

Here’s the link to the story:

http://www.npr.org/2012/03/05/146161011/the-unlikely-best-seller-a-wrinkle-in-time-turns-50

The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson February 29, 2012

A guest blogger today!  Elizabeth, a 4th grade student at Inly, reviewed The Flint Heart by Katherine Paterson and her husband, John Paterson. 

“This book is about a young boy named Charles, but let’s start from the beginning. One day, a thousand years ago, there were two men named Fum and Phutt. One afternoon in their small stone village, Fum made a charm. The charm looked like a heart with a hole in it so he called it the flint heart. This was no ordinary piece of flint – it was magical. That day Phutt took a look at it and he started turning evil. Phutt told Fum that when he dies, Fum should bury the flint heart in the ground. The day of Phutt’s death came, and when he was buried, Fum just threw the heart on the grave.  

A thousand years passed and there was a boy named Charles. One day Charles wanted to find gold for his family… I liked this book because it was very exciting and you don’t want to stop reading it. I recommend this book for 4th to 6th grade students because it is very long, and I think some parts might be hard for younger kids to get.”

Admittedly, I edited some of Elizabeth’s review. She gave away a bit more than you may want to know! It’s worth pointing out that the critics agree with Elizabeth.  The Flint Heart was given starred reviews by both School Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews.

In other news, the Guardian recently published Comic Heroe’s magazine’s list of the top 10 heros. Batman was #1, but if you want to see the whole list, here’s the link.  Clearly, my knowledge of comic heros is lacking. I could only recognize 5 of the 10 names! 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/feb/28/batman-greatest-comic-hero

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai January 29, 2012

Last night I sat down and read Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai. The novel – written in free verse – won the National Book Award and was named a 2012 Newbery Honor Book. My plan was to read half of it last night and the other half today. Instead, I read it straight through. Lai’s moving, and often very funny, story is about 10-year-old Ha who, along with her mother and brothers, is forced to leave her home in Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War. After a short stay in Guam, her family eventually settles in Alabama. An author’s note at the end explains that the story is based on the author’s own experience which explains the books immediacy and emotional honesty.

Some of the scenes are heartbreaking, for example when Ha describes her feelings at her new school and says she wants to “feel invisible until I can talk back.” But there are other moments that reminded me to pay closer attention to new students, regardless of where they come from. “On one side of the bright, noisy room, light skin,” Ha says about her new school cafeteria, “Other side, dark skin. Both laughing, chewing, as if it never occurred to them someone medium would show up.”

I’ve already added Inside Out & Back Again to the summer reading list, but plan to recommend it to a few students between now and then.  It’s a powerful and deeply affecting book.

On a completely different note…there’s a good article in today’s New York Times about Madeleine L’Engle’s classic novel, A Wrinkle in Time. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/books/review/a-wrinkle-in-time-and-its-sci-fi-heroine.html

My New Obsession Is… November 24, 2011

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick, a book of short stories based on Chris Van Allsburg’s 1984 picture book, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. I have been looking forward to this book for months, but when I received my copy in the mail a few days ago, I put it aside until Thanksgiving weekend. I started looking at it last night and it’s amazing – well worth the wait.

Like many teachers, I’ve used Van Allsburg’s intriguing book for years. It’s perfect for creative writing classes since each picture sparks so many possible stories.  Now, a group of well known authors have collaborated on a volume of stories, 14 different interpretations of the pictures.  Among the contributors are Stephen King, Lois Lowry, Gregory Maguire, and Kate DiCamillo. I haven’t read all of them yet – but it’s only Thursday morning, and the Macy’s parade is on, and there are pies to eat. I still have three days ahead of me to read them all. Judging from last night’s skimming, some of the stories are stronger than others. That’s okay. It’s still a cool book. I don’t think I would share the stories with my students before they wrote their own. The best part of using Van Allsburg’s original book is letting the kids write about whatever they want.

This would be a good holiday gift for a young person who loves to write. The concept is not to provide answers to Van Allsburg’s riddle-like pictures, but to inspire further imaginings.

Over the next few weeks, my blog will focus on gift ideas for all of the readers on your shopping list. I’ll try to answer a few of the most common questions I hear at this time of year, for example: what do I buy for my son who is just learning to read?  or…my daughter who loves princess books, but needs to branch out?  I look forward to writing these lists. Nothing gives me more pleasure than connecting the right book with the right reader.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Celebrating 11/11/11 with 11 Favorite Characters November 11, 2011

In the spirit of today’s very fun date of 11/11/11, I am listing the eleven fictional characters to whom I am most grateful for bringing pleasure to my life. Several of them are characters in books written for adults. Three of them are not human. It doesn’t matter. A good character is a good character. And, except for Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web, they are not listed in any special order. I love them all.

1. Wilbur

2. Hans Hubermann from The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

3. Jonas from The Giver by Lois Lowry

4. Lark from Lark and Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips

5. Alma Singer from The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

6. Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Carraway is a midwesterner who is transplanted to the east. He is also an observer. I felt an immediate connection with him.)

7. Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

8. Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (Peter makes the list because this was my son’s favorite book when he was very young. Some of my best memories have to do with rejoicing in Peter’s exciting escape from Mr. McGregor’s garden!)

9. Scout Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

10. Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

11. Mole from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Bill Harley Visits Inly November 1, 2011

Bill Harley has devoted fans. Before his concert at Inly on Sunday afternoon, I talked with a couple who had traveled about 90 minutes to see him. Another family told me they try to hear every Bill gives in Massachusetts!  That’s commitment, and after watching him perform, I understand. Two-time Grammy award winner Bill Harley has magic on stage, and kids know it. At one point, Bill asked for audience requests, and the hands flew up – Black Socks, Milky Way, Monsters in the Bathroom. It was rainy and windy outdoors, but inside the school was cheerful and cozy as the children joined Bill for his greatest hits. 

My favorite moment of his performance was when Bill told the story of one of his songs that was so popular on Sirius Radio’s Kids Place, that it was voted off the air by parents who heard it too often – that’s success!

Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends by Wong Herbert Yee September 5, 2011

Today is Labor Day, but I’ve already been to CVS this morning and had to shield my eyes from the Halloween candy.  I know why it’s there, but today, on this last day of summer vacation, I can’t think about pumpkins and goblins. I’ve been at school this weekend, getting the “new” library ready for tomorrow. The posters are up, new books are on display, and there’s even an huge abstruct sculpture-like squash for the kids to see. Before leaving yesterday, I stood back  and imagined the space filled with students. The room is great – light and spacious. The section I’m particularly excited about is the area for newly independent readers. The books begin with “Level 1″ readers and move up to the “Magic Tree House level.”  That’s not an official library term, but it does help kids and parents to navigate their way through the early chapter books. 

One new series that I’m looking forward to sharing with our students is Wong Herbert Yee’s Mouse and Mole books. They are well-paced, gentle and most of all, they focus on friendship (and its challenges) in a subtle and inspiring way.  To me, they are a tribute to two of children’s literature’s greatest pals – Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel.  Frog and Toad would enjoy a day out with Mouse and Mole!  There are now six books in the Mouse and Mole series:

Mouse and Mole: Fine-Feathered Friends

Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole

A Brand New Day with Mouse and Mole

Mouse and Mole: A Winter Wonderland – this one is my favorite cover!

Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole

Mouse and Mole: A Perfect Halloween

There’s another famous friendship Mouse and Mole bring to mind – Rat and Mole from The Wind in the Willows.  LIke those famous river pals, Mouse and Mole make me feel warm and cozy and reind me that life is full of adventure - a worthwhile sentiment on the day before school starts!

The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone May 25, 2011

After reading several enthusiastic reviews of Phoebe Stone’s new middle grade novel, The Romeo and Juliet Code, I moved it a little closer to the top of my “to read” pile. A few weeks later, I read Liz Rosenberg’s review in the Boston Globe, which began with this sentence: The Romeo and Juliet Code is ”quite simply the best novel for young readers I’ve read since Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.’’  Clearly a call to action was in order – I was at the bookshop a few hours later. A few work-related books put the brakes on my intention to read Stone’s novel immediately, but I opened it to the first page a few days ago and read: ”I was always told that my dad, Danny, loved danger.” After that, I was hooked. Although I might not go quite as far as Rosenberg, I think Stone’s novel should definitely find a place on summer reading lists for students in grades 5-7. 

It’s a story for people who love books. There are references to Frances Hodgson Burnett and settings reminescent of old English novels – whispered conversations, a big house overlooking the ocean, characters straight out of a PBS miniseries, and of course, a code to crack.  The story opens in 1941 when, because London is being bombed, Felicity is sent by her parents to stay with relatives in Maine.  Over the course of the novel, she uncovers family secrets and solves a mystery. One of the best characters in a novel full of interesting people is not a person at all. It’s Felicity’s teddy bear, Wink. 

But…I have an issue with the book based on something completely superfluous to its story. This is a shallow confession, but every time I picked up the novel, my mind played a trick on me, and I expected to open a book set in the 21st century. The Converse sneakers. The way the feet are positioned . The overall mood of the jacket photo says – 2011. Not 1941. So when I began reading, it took me a minute to adjust to 1941. It shouldn’t matter, but it did. It’s like having an album (remember those?) in the wrong sleeve. You think you’re going to hear Duke Ellington. No, it’s Adele. Whole different vibe, right?  I hope the paperback version features a rocky Maine coast!

Don’t let my cover problems discourage you from reading this book. It’s on Inly’s summer reading list, and I plan to recommend it to a few young friends this week.

Random Musings… May 7, 2011

Interesting article in today’s New York Times about a new website called Bookish.com that promises to have information about “all things literary: suggestions on what books to buy, reviews of books, excerpts from books, and news about authors.” The site hasn’t been launched yet, but to learn more, here’s the link to the Times article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/07/books/publishers-plan-a-joint-one-stop-book-site.html

I’ll definitely visit the site and hope it’s wonderful, but I’ve been using Amazon for all of that information, and it’s worked pretty well. We’ll see…

This past week, I took one of my students to hear Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of the new book I’ll Be There. Sloan was speaking at the Front Street Book Shop in Scituate, and since I’ve heard so much about the book, I thought it would be a worthwhile adventure. I enjoyed hearing Sloan’s presentation about her book and her life as a writer and director of films like Angels in the Outfield and The Crocodile Hunter, but I especially enjoyed talking with one of my students about books and reading away from the classroom.

I haven’t read I’ll Be There yet, but I talked with someone today who has and they loved it. This woman (who works in another bookstore) said the story about two boys who have been kidnapped by their father is somewhat violent, but an appropriate and compelling read for kids over the age of 12.  When Sloan was talking about her characters, it reminded me of Emma Donoghue’s successful novel, Room. Both books center on children who have been separated from “ordinary” daily life because of their parents. Here’s a review of I’ll Be There from Booklist: “A harrowing survival story…. Sam and Riddle are wonderfully appealing characters….  A highly suspenseful read with a dynamic, cinematic quality that keeps the pages turning to the satisfying conclusion.” 

I want to read it soon because Inly’s summer reading list is almost a wrap, and if Sloan’s novel is as good as I expect it to be, it will be added to the Middle School list.

Finally, I re-read Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars yesterday. I don’t think I’ve read her Newbery-winning novel since it was published twenty years ago. This time it was not so much the story of Jews evacuating from WWWII-era Denmark that captivated me, but the structure of the novel. It’s so incredibly fluid. The way Lowry weaves in the story of Little Red Riding Hood is lovely. And, most of all, because there are no graphic violent scenes, it’s a perfect book to introduce the Holocaust to younger readers (over 10).  Lowry doesn’t sugarcoat, but she inspires.