A Wrinkle in Time By: Madeleine L'Engle

This is another book that I read as a child and then shared with my daughter. The story received a Newberry Medal in 1963. It is an all time classic fantasy. The theme of good versus evil is played out in a world where time and space are manipulated. The main characters are children who take on the epic battle and are triumphant in the end. This book as well as the other 3 in the series account for much of my passion surrounding the fantasy genre. If you have never read this magnificent piece I highly suggest that you do. In fact now is the perfect time because they are just releasing a new edition with extras that make it even more memorable. There is new cover art and an introduction written by the author.

The Secret Garden By: Frances Hodgson Burnett

I am so glad I finally read this book. Actually this is another one that I listened to. It was a wonderful book to hear because of the English accents and dialects that would have been lost if I was reading silently. This is a classic that I missed somewhere along the way. I was also under the mistaken impression that this was a fantasy and that the garden somehow had magical powers that healed the boy and his cousin. That is not the way the story goes. It is however, a tale of healing. The kids in this story have been given all the material things in this world but nothing in the way of love and attention. What Mary and Collin find in the garden and in Miselthwait Manor may not be magic but, it does heal them in both mind and body. There is a new technology that I also would like to tell you about. At least it is fairly new. It is called a Play Away. I checked it out of the library and it is really cool. The entire book is in a self contained digital player. All you need is a set of headphones. The library even included an extra battery in case you needed it. This devise is small enough to fit in your pocket or you can wear it around your neck (lanyard included). Here's the best part. I was so impressed that I decided to look them up to see how expensive they are. They cost about the same as any other audio book.

If I Were In Charge of the World and Other Worries By: Judith Viorst

This has long been my favorite collection of poetry to share with my students. The poems are funny and right on the mark for my 4th and 5th grade students. The poems have a common theme; the everyday worries, thoughts and daydreams of elementary aged kids. The subjects range from friends and bullies to homework and parents. The best thing about them is that if you look past the hilarious lines, just under the surface there are some really important messages for kids. Namely that they are not the only ones who are feeling the things that they are feeling. This is the title poem from the book. Enjoy.

If I Were in Charge of the World

If I were in charge of the world

I'd cancel oatmeal

Monday mornings,

Allergy shots, and also

Sara Steinberg.

If I were in charge of the world

There'd be brighter night lights,

Healthier hamsters, and

Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower.

If I were in charge of the world

You wouldn't have lonely,

You wouldn't have clean.

You wouldn't have bedtimes,

or "Don't punch your sister."

You wouldn't even have sisters.

If I were in charge of the world

A chocolate sundae with whipped cream and nuts

would be a vegetable

All 007 movies would be rated G

And a person who sometimes forgot to brush and

Sometimes forgot to flush

Could still be in charge of the world.

By: Judith Viorst

Jumanji By: Chris Van Allsburg

This is one of the first picture books I ever purchased. I now own several Chris Van Allsburg books. He is an amazing illustrator. Jumanji is a grand example of his talent. There are two things that I most love about his work. First of all I love his attention to details, from the medium all the way down to choice of paper is made deliberately. I also love his ability with perspective. The angle from which he creates a scene is almost as important as the scene itself. I bought this book to share with my 4th and 5th graders 11 years ago. It was right after we had encountered an excerpt from the book in the basil we were using at the time. I have hated Basil's ever since and have rarely used them. I have always been fortunate to be in situations where I was not forced to use a preselected text. I have spent literally thousands of dollars on books for my class room since then. And it was well worth the investment.

The Hello, Goodbye Window By: Norton Juster Illustrated by: Chris Raschka

This is a Caldecott Medal winning book published in 2005. The illustrations are by Chris Raschka and they are in his typical style, bright colors, lots of motion. It is the story of a little girl and what she likes best about her grandparents' house. This book is full of light and love and happiness. It is a wonderful book for grandparents and parents alike to share with the small children in their lives.

Ramona the Brave By: Beverly Cleary

I was given this book as a Christmas gift by my fifth grade teacher, Mr. Allison. I still have my copy, signed by my teacher (I actually have several books that were given to me by teachers). I have read this story numerous times as well as the others in the Ramona series. I have read them myself as a child, with my students and with my daughter. Ramona is to the children of the seventies what Junie B. Jones and Judy Moody are to the children of today. And even though they have been with us for awhile these stories are not dated. The experiences and emotions Ramona shares with us in the book stand the test of time. Her character makes you love her. Whether she is pulling out every last tissue from the box, squeezing an entire tube of toothpaste into the sink or making kitty faces in her Q we cherish every chapter. Ramona is here to stay.

Mole Music By: David McPhail

After I saw the presentation on this book in class I added it to my collection. They were even nice enough to let me have a copy of the wonderful music they used along with the story. I plan to use the story as part of a staff development in the fall. I won't even attempt to analyze the book here.That has already been done. What I would like to share is what made me LOVE this book. If you haven't noticed by now, I tend to wax philosophic. In almost everything I read, I find myself looking for the deeper meaning, the moral to the story. The moral to this story is an important one. You can make a difference, no matter how small or insignificant you believe yourself to be. This is a great message for teachers to hear as well as kids. Teachers pour their heart and soul into their students and their classrooms. Yet, seldom does a teacher know for sure whether or not he/she has made a difference in the life of a child. As educators we have to have faith that the love,patience, effort and skill we bring into our classrooms does matter even if we never see it directly. Just like the mole in his tunnel underground. Even though he didn't know it was happening, he was changing the world. I have to share my own sappy story. Last summer I contacted my first grade teacher to let her know that she had made a difference in my life. It was one of the best things I ever did. We talked for a long time and I believe she was glad that I called. She was the teacher for me that turned on my love of school and learning and I had always remembered her. In fact, when I entered the School of Ed.'s Masters program 11 years ago I wrote my application essay about her. The question was "Why do you want to teach?" or something like that. My answer was so that I could touch the lives of children the way my first grade teacher had touched mine. I hope that I shed a little light into her mole tunnel. Just remember we make a difference everyday whether we get to see it or not.

Mama, Do You Love Me? By: Barbara M. Joosse

I have had this book since my 10 year old was a toddler. The storyline is predictable. The child wonders if Mommy will still love her if....... The answer to the question is, of course, yes. So, you are probably thinking, Do we really need another one of those books on the shelf? The thing that makes this book different from all the other books that reassure a child of a parents unending love is that this story also teaches us about a different culture. We are exposed to vocabulary like mukluks and ptarmigan eggs. There is a glossary in the back of the book to help us and the illustrations are gorgeous. This book is a respectful look at the Inuit culture as well as a reassurance that no matter how naughty you are, your Mommy will still love you.

The Outsiders By: S.E. Hinton

I first discovered S.E. Hinton in the 6th grade. I blame her for always falling for the "bad boys" (thank you S.E. Hinton). After I devoured the Outsiders I read all the other books that centered around those initial characters: Rumble Fish, That Was Then, This is Now and Tex. By the time the movie came out in 1983 (4 years later) I had read the book about three times. The movie was awesome, of course. I mean just look at the cast but, the book is what made me love those characters. The classic and timeless adolescent struggles are the major themes in this novel. I believe this is why it holds up as a teen favorite 40 years after it was first published. The main characters are a group of friends from "the wrong side of the tracks". The group as a whole and as individual characters struggle to find independence from their families while attempting to find acceptance within their peer group. The plot centers around the conflict between the poor kids (greasers) and the rich kids (socshes, I probably spelled that wrong). By the end of the story the characters have learned the hard way that maybe the two groups aren't so different after all. I mentioned during our class period on poetry that my favorite poem came from this book. It is a Robert Frost poem that Pony recites to Johnny at a very poignant point in the story. I will remember it until the day I die. I would like to share it with you now.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold

Her hardest hue to hold

Her early leaves a flower

But only so an hour

Then leaf subsides to leaf

So Eden sank in grief

So dawn goes down to day

Nothing gold can stay.

BY: ROBERT FROST

S.E. Hinton's novels are still selling to young readers. That was Then This is Now was in this month's Scholastic Book Clubs flier. It is easy to see why.

The Solar System By: Seymour Simon

I have been a fan of Seymour Simon's science picture books for some time. I think that his amazing photos bring the world, the solar system, and the universe in to the minds and hearts of every child who picks up one of his books. The reader can't help but become engaged in the text. After looking at the photos you are compelled to read in order to find out more. This book is full of full page pictures of each planet. It is a book that you could spend a full half hour just leafing through. The text is also high engaging as well as scientifically accurate. Add one, two, or ten to your classroom library and your students will be begging you to teach them science.

The Journey: Stories of Migration By: Cynthia Rylant Illustrated by: Lambert Davis

In this beautiful book Cynthia Rylant and Lambert Davis collaborate to tell the remarkable story of six animal species that migrate (Monarch Butterflies, Desert Locust, Gray Whales, American Silver Eels, Caribou and Arctic Terns. The illustrations are amazing. Each animal is depicted in different stages of growth and in different habitats as it makes its journey. The text is typical of Rylant. Almost poetic, each word chosen deliberately. Each animal has 6-8 pages devoted to its migratory cycle. This would make a good introduction to migration for a class. It would also make great independent reading material. When I am teaching a unit in Science or History I try to have a variety of reading material on the subject available to my students for silent reading time. This will be a perfect addition to such fare. The one criticism I have of this book is that there are no source notes, no bibliography and no evidence that Rylant did any research into this topic at all. The writing is not scientific in nature. More story telling than specific details. Still I think as an introduction or as an independent read it is worthwhile and certainly beautiful both in text and illustration.

Messenger By: Lois Lowry

This book is also a compaion to The Giver. This story takes place in yet another community. Here we are rejoined by characters from both of the previous books. The community in this book is more communal in nature and is founded on acceptance and compassion. Yet even in this idealic setting the flaws that plague the human condition are seeping in and threatening to destroy what has been so cherished. We see that humans are never free from the weaknesses with each of us. However, while we are confronted once again by the ugly truth of our race, Lowry is a gentle guide and we feel safe to explore the darkness without fear of being sucked into the abyss. Once again we are shown that even at it's weakest the human race is a beautiful thing and there is always hope.

Gathering Blue By: Lois Lowry

This is a follow up to The Giver. I won't say it is a sequel because it is not. None of the same characters from the first novel are in Gathering Blue and the community at the center of the story is much different. Yet, in many important aspects the stories are very much the same. The major themes that Lowry adressed in The Giver are adressed here as well. In the village where this story takes place it is unacceptable to be weak or disabled in anyway. Those who are "of no use" are simply disgarded. They made it sound nicer in The Giver. Release seemed like a good thing. But, as you know, it was the same in the end. The hero of this story is a girl. She is an outcast. The only reason that she was not "taken to the field" when she was small was the power her mothers father had in the village. Much like Jonas,Kira slowly discovers that the community in which she lives has dark secrets and is unsafe. However, Kira chooses to deal with this knowledge in an entirely different way than Jonas. Lowry has once again developed a realistic and believable world. A world that is foreign from the one in which we live but, we think, could exist under the right circumstances. Lowry has once again led us into the very darkest parts of humanity and shown us that even in the darkest night there are sparks of light.

Number the Stars By: Lois Lowry

This book won Lois Lowry her first Newberry and it is obvious to see why. This is the story of a girl and her best friend growing up in Denmark during the German occupation. The main character is 10 years old. Her best friend is Jewish. I will neither spoil the story nor waste your time by summarizing the plot. I will say that this book is a must read. Lois Lowry has become one of my all time favorite authors during this semester. I have now read six of her books and fully intend to read the others. She is a master of leading the reader, child or adult, gently by the hand into the depths of human cruelty and inhumanity. She shows us the evil in the world and in the hearts of men, not to shock or scare us but to enlighten us to the human condition. Although all of her work I have read so far deals with this darkness, she always gives us a light. Her heroes exemplify the best humanity has to offer. They are able to overcome the evil in the world and remind us all that there is still hope for us as a race. What is even more striking is that her heroes are children. These children are not just fighting the school yard bully they are fighting society, Nazis, beasts in the forest, demons in the night. At the risk of sounding "preachy", doesn't the Bible say, "and a child shall lead them"? Her characters are brave, loyal, and intelligent, and they give us a brilliant light with which to see in the dark.

The Princess and the Pea By: Dorothy Duntze

This is a retelling of the Danish fairytale first published in 1835 by Hans Christian Andersen. The story has also been known as The Real Princess and How to Tell a True Princess. Andersen reported having heard the story has a child. However, there is no record of it in the Danish oral history. The story tells of a princess who is in search of a princess to wed. As he searches from kingdom to kingdom he is unable to find a woman who meets his high standards of what a true princess should be. Then one night there is a knock at the door and a woman standing in the rain says that she is a princess and wishes to have shelter for the night. The Queen does not believe that this woman is a true princess and devices a plan to prove whether or not she is truthful. She has her servants stack mattresses so high that one needs a ladder to get into the bed and then places a pea under the bottom mattress. The next morning the woman's royalty is proven as she complains of being horribly bruised by something in her bed. Soon the Prince and this True Princess are wed. The illustrations in this picture book are reminiscent of folk art. The story is kept short and to the point. It makes a fine addition to any collection of fairy tales.

Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood By: Cynthia Rylant

I read, "But, I'll Be Back Again" before I read this collection of poetry. I am glad I did. They go together so nicely. If I hadn't read the memoir first I might not have realized how close to a memoir these poems are. Rylant is so skillful with language that I have thought all semester that her prose is almost poetry. She chooses each word and structures each sentence with such care. This was another chance to glimpse the person behind the art.

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices By: Paul Fleischman

My daughter and I read these poems together. We were laughing so hard at first we could only manage a little at a time. Oh what a joyful noise that was. Neither my daughter nor I are the most coordinated people in the world and reading this book seemed a little like trying to rub your tummy while patting your head. With a little practice we were able to get the hang of it. Our favorite was Book Lice. This was a very pleasurable read and it was a bonding experience for my daughter and I. Hurry for Paul Fleishman!!!

Long Night Moon By: Cynthia Rylant

This is a beautiful collaboration between Cynthia Rylant and Mark Siegal. This illustrated poem makes a wonderful addition to bedtime fare. It is simple and beautiful. Rylant once again shows us her skill with words. Not too many, not too few, all beautiful and deliberate. The illustrations are serene, tranquil and inspiring. The illustrator tells us at the end of the book that he had difficulty choosing a medium that would do justice to the imagery of Rylant's words. He chose charcoal and the result is a perfect representation of the mood evoked in the poem. In paintings I have always been most captivated by artists such as Rembrandt who are able to bring light to their art. It always struck me as almost magical that a painting could actually appear to glow with real light from the way the artist used his medium. Siegel also uses light, the light of the moon, in his illustrations in a very magical way. Add to this the knowledge that is shared of the Native American tradition of naming each full moon and the book is richer still. This is a wonderful collaboration between two amazing artists.

I Had Seen Castles By Cynthia Rylant

I began this course with a dislike of historical fiction. I considered it to be dry and boring for the most part. When I read Across Five Aprils I was smug and said to myself, "see you were right". When I read The Watsons Go to Birmingham I thought it must be a fluke, one good book in a genre filled with awful ones. I was wrong. I loved this book as well and have since read several other historical fiction books that I thoroughly enjoy. Here is what I have learned. It isn't the genre it is the style. I prefer authors who do not try to delve to deeply into every detail of the period they are writing about. I do not wish to know many details of every battle of the Civil War. I like to read about the peoples lives that were living in that period. I want to feel as if I am there with them somehow. I want to be in that time machine with the author. As Dr. Johnson read from the acceptance speech in class on Monday I thought, Exactly! My husband claims that I never admit when I am wrong. So, here it is, in writing, I WAS WRONG. As I read I Had Seen Castles I kept having to remind myself that this was a work of fiction. A work of fiction written by a woman noless. The main character is so well developed and his voice so authentic that if I didn't know better I would have sworn this was a memoir written by a veteran of WWII. Rylant's ability to portray the life of this man who goes from being an innocent youth to an emotionally scarred veteran is simply amazing. The details of the life lived within this novel are heart wrenching. I believe that all young men with grandiose ideas of war should read this book and think again.

Gossamer By: Lois Lowry

The first thing I want to tell you is that I have included a cool link with this post. If you click on the title it will take you to NPR.org. There is a blurb about the book and you can hear Lois Lowry read a passage from the book. I didn't want to risk anyone missing it. I thought it was kind of cool. Anyway.........

This is Lois Lowry's newest novel. It was published in 2006. The premise of the story is that there are magical, fairy like creatures, which "bestow" dreams upon humans and animals while they sleep. These are good beings who use the memories stored in items around the house (pictures, old sweaters, keep sakes, etc...) to give good dreams to people while they are sleeping. The purpose of the dreams is to help the humans who have them to gain some strength and happiness from them so that they may effectively deal with the problems they face from day to day. There are also evil counterparts who bestow nightmares but, you'll have to read the book to find out more about them.

This novel is based in the modern world and is reality based. The humans to which the main characters (the Dream Givers) are assigned are ordinary people. There is an elderly woman, her dog, and an angry foster child. We get to meet the boy's mother as well. The difficulties faced by these humans are normal, ordinary problems. All of this "ordinariness" serves to make the fantasy world of the Dream Givers more believable.

I hope I am not being to cryptic but, I really do not want to give anything away. If you have enjoyed any of Lois Lowry's other work then you must read Gossamer.

Once again she has taken the reader by the hand and gently revealed to us the reality that there is evil in the world. However, as with her other stories we are also reminded that humans are basically good and that there are heroes all around us if we can just "See Beyond" ourselves and remember that we are all in this world together.

I will leave you with one quote from the book that I think summarizes a lot about Lois Lowry and her work as a whole. It is a statement made by the main character in the story: " And you know what..... Sad parts are important. If I ever get to train a new young dream giver, that's one of the things I'll teach: that you must include the sad parts, because they are part of the story, and they have to be part of the dreams."(pg. 96)

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes By: Eleanor Coerr

This is a historical fiction novel based on the life of a girl who died at the age of 12 due to the effects of the atom bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. The picture to the left is of a statue in a Peace Park in Seattle, Washington. You may access a link to the Sadako website by clicking on the title of this post. This is an important and powerful book that is as relevant today as it was years ago. The story of this brave little girl and her life cut short by a war she and her family had nothing to do with is both sad and inspiring. Sadako so inspired her class mates that they had a book of her letters published. She has continued to inspire people around the world. There are statues of her in Hiroshima as well as Seattle. This could be a powerful tool in the classroom as a part of the discussion of WWII. Sadako is suitable for middle school aged students. The story is well written and would be accessible for a wide range of reading levels. The text is written at about a 4Th grade level and there is a picturebook written by the same author that is written at a 3rd grade level. As I have mentioned before, it is difficult to find quality books for middle and high school students at a lower reading level. This is definitely one that can be added to the top of that list.

Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart By: Patricia Lauber

Amelia Earhart is someone whom I have often wondered about. I always knew she was a pilot whose plane went down over the ocean and was never found, but that was the extent of my knowledge. This book gave me alot of insight not only into her death but, into her amazing life as well. I listened to this book on tape and it was extremely well done. The version I listened to was by Scholastic as part of their Read XL program for middle school students reading below grade level. Our school bought and began using this program this year. The tapes that come with the read aloud series model cognitive strategies during the reading. The narrator also stops when there is a word that the student may not know and not only tells the reader what it means but, while doing so talks about how to figure the word out. An example was Altimeter, the narrator said something like "I wonder what that word means? Well, I know that a meter is a tool for measuring something (like a thermometer, or a speedometer) and I think Alti- sounds like the beginning of Altitude which is that word we discussed earlier that means height in the air, so I think an Altimeter must be a gauge for measuring how high in the area the plane is." You might think that all this talk would interfere with the flow of the book but, it really didn't. In fact I think that it was important especially with this book because there were quite a few technical aviation terms. Alot of struggling readers don't have the skills to stop and think about words they don't understand as they read and this was a great model. I think it will help me too, it was like being able to sit and listen to a great teacher's lesson. Modeling is good for teachers AND their students. As I said this is an excellent book. It is written on a sixth grade level. Some of the terms may be difficulty without some class discussions or the audio. Otherwise, I highly recommend this biography of a Great American Woman.

But, I'll be back again By: Cynthia Rylant

I must admit that I was a little upset that we were expected to read this book when it is out of print. I was afraid I was not going to be able to find it. I was able to borrow a copy from a classmate so I got over it. After reading this book I completely understand why Dr. Johnson insisted we read it. I am glad she didn't take it off the list. It is amazing to read about the life of this talented author and realize that she had a rough childhood. Or at least her life was hard compared to what I consider to be a "normal" upbringing. It also gave me much more insight into her writing. I was happy to find out that her book When I was Young in the Mountains was dedicated to her grandparents. Her self awareness and understanding of the mechanisms by which children in difficult situations construct their own truth and reality is remarkable. I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology and have spent my career to this point working with children who have emotional disorders. I have worked with children in very sad and scary circumstances. I know from these experiences that children are survivors. They make due with what the world throws at them. Rylant's courage in sharing her inner most doubts and heart break is a testament to her own survival instinct. I would like to thank her for sharing her story with us. I will enjoy her books on a whole new level because of it.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 By: Christopher Paul Curtis

This is one of those books that I have been meaning to read forever and just never quite got around to it. I am glad I was given this opportunity. I listened to the book in the car. Since I commute an hour a day and more on Mondays it seemed like a good idea. Lavar Burton narrated the book. You probably know him as the blind character Jordy from Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also hosts The Reading Rainbow on PBS. Anyway, He did a wonderful job with this novel. His acting ability really brought the characters to life. I enjoyed listening to the story very much. Of course, the narrator's voice isn't the only thing I enjoyed. The way this story is woven is incredible. The Watsons live in Michigan. They have three children. The mother of the family grew up in Alabama but, has not been home in 10 years. Thus, even though the family is aware of the civil rights movement and understand its importance, they have not experienced it first hand. For most of the book we are allowed to get to know the family. They are all likable. Even the oldest son, who is a bit of a bully, has his redeeming qualities. There is a lot of humor in the book. The reader is given many chances to see the personalities of each character in a variety of situations. The family is just like any other family and we feel connected to them. The fact that we, the reader, get to know the family so well makes the second half of the story all that much more devastating. We are almost as surprised by the church bomb as the Watsons themselves. In fact when I read the part where the explosion is heard I didn't think of what it could be right away either. The reactions by each family member to this horrific tragedy are moving. The way in which Curtis has constructed this story makes it a much more personal experience for the reader. We have studied the Civil Rights movement in school. But, some how we are separated from it. Much like the Watsons were separated from it by geography. Because we are walked through this families experience and have the chance to understand them we feel it in a much more personal way. I am glad I finally read this book.

Bull Run By: Paul Fleischman

This is the third book we have read now that devotes each chapter to a different person or event. As with the other two this one is very well done. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing a situation from many different perspectives. Bull Run gives the reader the opportunity to see one battle through the eyes of 16 people. Eight of whom are Northern and eight of whom are southern. The voices are male and female, young and old, black and white. It is the most complete picture of the Civil War that I have encountered in any one place. Fleishman is able to bring the humanity out of this battle and teach us a lesson about the true nature of war. It is suggested in my addition that this work could be done as a readers theater. The author even breaks down the characters by name, Northern or Southern, and gives the page numbers for each character. I think that this would make a wonderful play for a drama club in middle school. In fact my husband is in charge of his middle schol's drama club and I intend to pitch it to him.