A Hero's Guide to Warriors

A Hero's Guide to Warriors
     written by Deborah Murrell

REVIEW

Now you can learn facts about 4 of the major types of warriors through history. Learn about the Greek Warriors, Gladiators, Samurai, and Knights. This is a brand new book just published in September and was a great seller at the Fall BookFair!

Greek Warriors. Learn about Hoplites, training, weapons and armor, war machines used, the War with Persia, Defeating the Spartans, Alexander the Great, battle tactics, and the decline of Greece.

Gladiators. Gladiators defined, Gladiator school, Gladiators of the Empire, Provacatores, Equites, and Velites, the Colosseum, Gladiator Events, Win or Lose, and the end of the Gladiators.

Samurai. When Samurai lived, becoming a Samurai, the Pen and the Sword, weapons used, armor, ninjas, early clans, the Rise of the Samurai, three great men, the last Shoguns, and the dcline of the Samurai.

Knights. Knights defines, when they lived, training, weapons used, armor, horses, battle tactics, battlefields, heraldry, castles under attack, off the battlefield, tournaments, and the decline of Knights.

If you don't like the heavy reading of regular history textbooks we use, then try this book!  If you are interested in weapons, fighting, and war, this is the "history text" for you, right here in our Media Center.

The book has a full table of contents and index, not just for the book, but complete contents for each chapter so you can easily find the information you are most interested in. We'll be using this book to show examples of how using contents and indexes, and glossaries really help you get the most out of content reading, especially when researching for reports! There is also a glossary for the terms used throughout the book.

The information is organized into tidbit paragraphs with stylized text and graphic boxing to offset and separate clusters of information, which makes the information so much easier to locate and read without pages of text you find in a regular textbook.

So if you are interested in warriors throughout history, watch the trailer below, and then find the book in our nonfiction section and check it out soon.

ISBN: 978-1-59566-802-8

A Hero's Guide to Warriors-Trailer from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

Warriors: The Lost Warrior

Warriors: The Lost Warrior
     created by Erin Hunter...
     Manga written by Dan Jolley, art by James L. Barry

REVIEW

So Warrior fans know where our stack of books are in the fiction section, but did you know that you can also find them now in the graphic novel section of the library?

Now the nationally best selling series is being created in Manga!

Erin Hunter herself comments in the foreward of this title how the Manga version can show a wide range of emotions and actions of one of her favorite characters in the series, Greystripe. She evaluates the drawings as strong and powerful and loves the crisp dialogue to move the action along!


 Be sure to look for "The Lost Warrior"  and other Manga as we purchase them for our collection.

Right now our first copy is available through the Extremely Popular Binder so sign up today!

ISBN: 978-0-06-124020-1

The Usborne Book of Famous Paintings

The Usborne Book of Famous Paintings
     written by Rosie Dickens

REVIEW.

This book shares 35 of the world's best known paintings with explanations customized for each of the paintings presented giving you, the reader a behind-the-scenes peek at how the painting was accomplished, style and format, technique, and history. It's another "text" for Bay Farm's Media Center Library collection that proves learning something new can be interesting and fun.

It feels like you are on a private art gallery tour with a personal guide! There's even a website set up by Usborne to provide gallery links and art activities to accompany the book. Great idea for our Art Docent program as well as personal reading.  http://www.usborne-quicklinks.com  Choose United States. Then type in the key words "famous paintings." You can tour any number of famous museums and art galleries.

The famous painting "St. George and the Dragon" by Rafael has commentary that explains the technique of clustering major characters into a pyramid, how to create the feeling of distance, additional details that help to tell the story, symbolism used in art in the 16th century and how to add depth to a painting.







"A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" was painted in 1884 by Georges Seurat. Seurat used color according ot the theories of the day in the 19th century. He used 35 million dots, dabs, and dashes of color in his painting because he believed the theory that color mixing actually happened in the eye itself and he wanted his painting color to be brighter and richer. The characters in his painting are staged much like a movie director would do when setting a movie scene. He also painted people from all walks of life to assure us of the "modern people" of the 19th century.

There are so many classic works of art to view, and then the galleries and museums online to keep your artists interests going for hours on end. 



ISBN 978-0-545-24327-8

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
     written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
REVIEW

This spiritual interpretation of the  story of Harriet Tubman is in three narrative voices, the narrator (events), Harriet (her prayers and faith), and God (sending strength to continue on). 

The story is told in lyrical text, stylized for each of the voices as they contribute on each page to the overall story.

Included in the author's note at the end of the book are details of the historical events and Harriet Tubman's life that also must be shared to fully appreciate this artistic biography.

Who said E-Everybody (also known as picture books) are only for the very young? Everyone at Bay Farm knows that my favorite section of the library is the Everybody section and this book is a beautiful example of why.

One reading is not enough, multiple readings with discussion is essential. If you don't believe me....take a peak at a book trailer I created  with Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" as a musical accompaniment.

But that's not the whole story....you have to read it to really know the beauty of this book with the haunting oil paintings of my newest favorite artist Kadir Nelson. He views his work in "Moses" as his most emotional work to date. Each page is a two-page illustration with close-ups for dramatic and emotional effect. The illustrations are dark and moody addressing the topic of running away, the journey at night and the desperation of the task. Kadir was concerned about darkness in a picture book, so he worked hard not to sugarcoat the experience but to also be mindful of the range of age of the reader. He won the Caldecott honor and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator award for this book for this book.


Moses from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

ISBN: 078685175-9

Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box
     written by Ellen Levine

REVIEW

This is a true story in American history; the story of Henry "Box" Brown, one of the underground Railway's most famous runaway slaves. This picture book biography tells the story of how Henry Brown became a free man, no one's slave and celebrated his "birthday" March 30, 1849, the day he became free. Although it's an E-Everybody book, it is a story for all ages.

Henry lost his mother and family as a child. He later watched his own family sold away from him forever. He finally decided to escape to freedom, created an ingenios plan and with help and support was successful in his 350 mile escape.

Kadir Nelson created the illustrations using an old lithograph from the 1850s as his inspiration. He used crosshatched pencil lines with layers of applied watercolor and oil paint to achieve the look and feel of a lithograph in his illustrations.  He used cutaways to show the onboard ship travel while contained in a box.

Kadir won the Caldecott Honor for his work in 2008. His illustrations are easily recognizable for their emotion, strength and dignity of spirit. Watch the trailer...then read the book!

Think what courage it must have taken to escape to freedom!


ISBN: 978-0-439-77733-9


Henry"s Freedom Box from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

Wolves

Wolves
     written by Emily Gravett

REVIEW

Wolves  is one of my favorite "newer" picture books for all ages, but especially for tweens and teens who will appreciate the twisted nature of the story, the dry humor, and the artistic perspectives applied to telling a story well.

This was the first book written by the author in 2005. The subtle play on libraries, research, and reading make this book a great read-aloud when moving into research projects as a humorous "into" activity before discussing research techniques.

The book won several awards including the 2004 McMillan Prize, and the Nestle's Bronze Medal. The artwork is multimedia mix, charcoal pencil, and textured pictures with generous sprinkles of wit added throughout.

When Shel Silverstein's  "Runny Babbit" hit our shelves a few years back, we couldn't keep it in the library. Upper grades just ate up that book! This is going to be one of those tales, that truly has to be read! Now that I have a document reader, when reading this book out loud, in order to share all the nuances I think the technology will make this book an even better experience when "performed" live.

Take a look at the trailer for the book and see if you don't agree that you have to get your hands on this little picture book for maximum enjoyment!

ISBN: 9781416914914


Wolves from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary

The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg Heffley Went to Hollywood
           by Jeff Kinney

REVIEW.
With the popularity of the Wimpy Kid Series, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came knocking on Jeff Kinney's door. But the author had no clue about how a movie is made, and so he decided it would be fun to write about the new adventure as a companion to the series.

Written in the now familiar format of the Wimpy Kid series, Jeff Kinney guides the reader through the movie-making experience including each major element along the way, starting with the evolution of Greg Heffley, the main character himself..."born" as a stick figure that would evolve and change many times before becoming the beloved figure we know today and was cast for a movie about him and the series.
This book includes the familiar format with an important plus....color photos from within the movie-making process itself, so the reader can truly experience the creation of the movie from start to finish.

Chapters include the original doodlings that led to the series itself,  sceenwriting, including how the script was "pitched" to the studio executives, casting process, location selection, storyboarding, the process of shooting, retakes, and out-takes of the movie, the role of the propmaster in film, and of course the unforeseen and spontaneous movie moments of moviemaking.

Not only is Jeff Kinney a great writer for tweens, he communicates directly and clearly to them. Although the book is close to 200 pages, it is filled with visual photos and illustrative treats of book and movie realia that few of us on the outside of production rarely see, with text concise to clarify what the reader is seeing, making the complex process of writing a book, converting it for film, and the process of filming understandable to the tween population and any age reader. Entertaining and informative, with the familiar literary character of Wimpy Kid adds up to a great nonfiction read!


                               

Around the World: An Amazing World

Around the World: An Amazing World
   written by Heather E. Schwartz and Tammi Salzano

REVIEW.
I love this little interactive, 3-D Travel Book I found on one of the shelves of our fall bookfair at only $4.99! I see so many uses for this book in the classroom and Library Media Center! The photos are simple and iconic.

Put on your 3-D glasses included in this book and take a quick journey around the world learning some trivia about amazing landmarks we all hope to be able to see sometime in our lives face to face!

Teacher Note: The book is written for younger readers but I will use this book K-6 and believe the true power of the book is in the higher grades. There is just enough information and beautiful photographs to peak interest to pursue more information. Each student can pursue content knowledge that appeals to them, while learning access and internet skills I introduce to them... differentiated instructional lessons. Even my most reluctant readers will become involved with partners or small group investigations. I will use this book and several others in this blog as a "text" along with important WebTools that assist learners to locate, organize, and synthesize information using content selected to release motivation.

I plan to use this book as a project launch with my upper grades to learn and utilize Google Earth to develop an online travel map for younger students to experience later on, addressing social studies standards both lower and upper grades, 21st century skills, and Library/Media Center standards, all within one project.
Authentic projects researched, developed, and published by older students as a learning tool for younger students is a favorite learning process I use through my Library/Media Center program to maximize learning experiences.

Watch for the project to appear on our Media Center webpages at some point. It will be an ongoing and constantly evolving project building collective intelligence as it grows.

ISBN: 978-0-545-17229-5

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
     written by A. Wolf and told to Jon Scieszka
     illustrated by Lane Smith

REVIEW

One of the most hilarious and twisted fairy tales ever told...and definitely not for the younger set.

But you have to read it for yourself...watching the trailer below is not enough...spend some time with this book's text, and absorb the wonderful illustrations by Lane Smith!

This fractured fairy tale has been cited in over 100 resources, reference, reviews, and books since it's publishing date of 1989. the illustrations are highly stylized, realistic, quirky with dark tones to match the mood of the story. The text is quick, smart, and witty, and challenging for older readers in responding to literature. It presents the ultimate in Spin Control, a worthy discussion as well as presenting the story from multiple perspectives and presenting a new slant on the famous tale we all know.

If you had been on the jury when A. Wolf presented his case, how would you have deliberated and decided on guilt and innocence?  Are we biased as a society because we have all heard the original telling of the events since we were small? It would be fun to discuss! Do you think that he could really have been framed?

Remember, picture books are all coded in our library as E...for Everybody...because they are...and this one is especially for you!

ISBN: 978-0140544510


The True Story of the Three Little Pigs from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

WebTools 4 Learning

WebTools 4 Learning

I recently shared a presentation for my class on WebTools. It was a definite challenge to limit myself to the number of WebTools reviewed, including examples of possible use in libraries, while staying within a 5-10 minute limit!

Below you will find the Vimeo hosting the presentation. I plan to include additional detail on some of the tools within this blog and within a new blog I plan to start in the Spring called WebTools 4 Learning which will also have Just in Time videos of "how to's for students, parents, and teachers.

The WebTools I review include:
1. Surveying Interests: Flisti and MyeCoach Survey tools
2. Connecting and Responding:Voicethread and Wallwisher
3. Processing, Organizing, and Mapping Information: Wordle, Webspiration, Spiceynodes
4. Presentation Tools: Animoto, Prezi, GlogsterEdu


WebTools for Learning from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

Nancy Drew Mysteries and Files

Nancy Drew Mysteries
   written by Carolyn Keene

REVIEW.
Nancy Drew mysteries have been around since 1930...that's 80 years ago!
In our library as you can see in these photos, the Nancy Drew series is alive, well, and flourishing in our reading community at Bay Farm School.

We have an entire bookcase dedicated to mysteries with each side containing our favorites, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, A-Z Mysteries, and Bailey School Kids to name a few.  One and a half sides are filled with Nancy Drew alone!    Many of our copies have been lovingly donated from parent/children collections...second or third generations down! And our students love them!

The series has managed to remain current with each generation. The series has been modified, updated, and re-created over time which has kept the series current. On our shelves we not only have the original series, but also Nancy Drew Notebooks, Nancy Drew Files, Pocketbooks, and now, even graphic novels!    

Over time, Nancy Drew has aged from 16 to 18 years old and has solved well over 350 mysteries. Her favorite color is blue, she is wealthy; but doesn't hesitate to roll up her sleeves and is not afraid to get her hands dirty or take risks to solve a crime.

When first written, Nancy Drew challenged the stereotypes of the day regarding young girls' gender roles. But in many ways, she represents what everyone can be, boy or girl...curious, thoughtful, independent, polite, justice-seeker, sensitive, adventurous, brave, trustworthy, and a critical thinker/problem-solver.

Nancy Drew Notebooks were first published in 1994 to give our youngest readers a glimpse into Nancy when she was eight years old.

The first book in the series " The Secret of the Old Clock" is now 80 years old and our copies are still checked out on a regular basis in our library.

In addition to the original series, there are combined collections with the Hardy Boys, a TV series, many movies, and Nancy Drew Mystery games. There is even a website dedicated to the series and her author Carolyn Keene. Check out the website to find out about the real author of the series and many other trivia facts you may not have known about the classic series!

Nancy Drew Website: http://nancy-drew.mysterynet.com

Nat Geo Kids Almanac 2011

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2011
       by National Geographic

REVIEW.

Each annual release of the Nat Geo Kids Almanac is eagerly awaited and automatically placed on our "hot table" at our Fall BookFair each fall. This popular series is filled with interesting trivia, stats, topics, and articles that guarantee to interest even the most reluctant reader!

A good read of this book can happen in a variety of ways, but very seldom do I observe kids reading cover to cover page by page, although you can bet that the entire book eventually gets consumed!


Start at the Table of Contents with topic areas including Your World, Amazing Animals, Going Green, Super Science, Geography Rocks, History Happens, Culture Connection, Awesome Adventure, Wonders of Nature, and Future World, and you see what I mean....everyone out for their favorite topic! You can also use the index to find your favorite item or photo, or what most often happens, just start flipping through the pages! The format is easily readable, with each topic edged in its designated color,  heading on the right side pages, and subtopic heading on the top left pages. (A Teacher Librarian's delight to teach reference book skills with exciting content kids can't wait to read....they'll go through your lessons patiently just to get to the content!)

The photos leap off the pages thanks to the famous photographers at National Geographic who never fail to please and excite readers with amazing work that draws the reader into the content. And each page has a careful and deliberate customized layout to encourage the reader by deliberately and carefully parsing trivia facts and little known information that often drives my readers into heavier readings once their interest is tweaked.

Once the reader has gotten his/her fill of the "hottest" pages, within this source are articles like "Write a letter that gets results", "You can make a difference," "The Constitution and the Bill of Rights," ""How to write a perfect essay," "How a bill becomes Law," and so many other topics that teachers have to cover, but can become so dry and boring to our students. Presented within this exciting book, with the kind of attention that pop culture magazines use to captivate, we might be able to squeeze in some of the standards work that is so essential to academic success without our students even knowing it!

This weekend I'm respectfully tearing apart two of my copies to put them together to use with my document reader as 5 minute content starters with my students throughout the year to help encourage deeper readings of topics that students are learning in their classrooms.
I'm excited!

A multi-content "textbook" for $13.99 that kids will actually want to take home to read!

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2011 Book Talk from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

ISBN: 978-1-4263-0630-3

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Ultimate Guide

REVIEW.

This is THE Guide for all Percy Jackson enthusiasts! The Ultimate Guide includes additional information to clarify Percy Jackson events and characters and deepen the reader's understandings, further enriching the entire reading experience.

I love the hologram figures on the front cover and the overlapping “locking” flap. Inside, the Ten signs that you might be a half blood...easily explains most tweens' views of the adults around them and behavior adults regularly observe in their tweens, such as  "suspicions that at least one of your teachers may not be human," odd events happening that cannot easily be explained, experiencing deja vu, the feeling that parents might not actually be your real parents, a friend that doesn't seem normal, feelings that you are being watched or followed, vivid recurring dreams, and fears and phobias. A diagnosis of dyslexia or ADHD is explained as godlike behaviors and qualities that elevate one beyond mere mortal, celebrating differences instead of being viewed as often-negative labels.

Other chapters include details of camp, Gods and spirits, the Labyrinth, Underworld, the Beastiary where mythological creatures are defined, and everything you wanted to know about Percy Jackson, including stats, his favorites, and his lack luster performance in school.

This is a companion book that adds interesting depth to the series. It includes maps, drawings and sketches, charts, and paintings that assist readers to visualize important characters and elements throughout the series. The guide also stimulates natural curiosity to find out more about the characters and events that occur within this very popular series and in Greek mythology.

ISBN: 978-1-4231-2171-8 

It's a Mystery Wiki

It's a Mystery Wiki

REVIEW
Click Here to go to our "It's a Mystery Wiki" where you will find all the listings of books we recommend and reviewed for a core collection of mystery titles. The wiki has 20 titles listed.

Major categories of the wiki include:
What is a Mystery?
Why are these for tweens?
Elements of a good collection
Classics
Award winners
Hot New Titles
Transition Books
Interactivity
Tools

Be sure to check out our Voicethread about these exciting Mystery titles!

The Composer is Dead

REVIEW

"The Composer is Dead" by Lemony Snicket, is a picture book for all ages but I think especially appreciated by older readers. The book includes a CD with the San Francisco symphony playing the accompanying music and narration of the story. This is a murder mystery with all the suspects within the orchestra itself. As we try to determine who the murderer is, we learn all about the sections of the orchestra, instruments of the symphony, and listen to some terrific music.

Mr. Snicket actually performed his murder "symphony" live at the San Francisco Symphony. I wish I could have attended; there were great reviews of the live performance, but the book and CD are terrific so you almost feel like you are in the presence of the masterful storyteller himself! Since its debut in San Francisco, it has been performed by the Toronto Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philarmonic, and others.

I created the slide show trailer you see below in iMovie, using scanned pictures from portions of the book and edited audio clips in Garage Band from the full length CD. You really have to experience the book with the accompanying CD to fully enjoy the creative genius of Lemony Snicket!

Additional books by Lemony Snicket to enjoy:
The Series of Unfortunate Events (F Sni)
The Beatrice Letters (F Sni)
Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography (F Sni)


Where can I find it in our library?
E Sni

Did you know that Lemony Snicket has his own website?
On the web: http://www.lemonysnicket.com




Snicket, Lemony, Carson Ellis, and Nathaniel Stookey. The Composer Is Dead. New York: HarperCollins, 2009.
ISBN: 978-0-06-123627-3