Back to School
Advertisements for "Back-to-School" specials are already making their yearly appearance. Beyond buying new clothes, book bags and back packs, paper and pencils, etc. parents and care givers are faced with the emotions associated with the beginning of a new school year. For some there is great trepidation connected with starting school for the first time, or starting a new grade, or going to a different school. Others seem to anticipate starting a new school year with excitement and curiosity. Still others display a studied indifference to the whole subject of school. Whatever the case in your household, the following book selections will offer many different choices of subjects and grade levels. You will notice that appropriate ages are given for each title so that you can match books to readers or appropriate situations.
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
Alamo Wars
Ray Villareal
The story’s premise, that teachers would want to put on a culturally insensitive play, is a stretch even if the cause--to honor their recently deceased colleague who wrote it--is honorable. It is hard enough to believe that teachers in a Texas middle school do not understand any Spanish but that they would insist on making students speak in stereotypical, degrading accents to sound “Mexicanish” is too much of a stretch. The solution at the end to say the lines in Spanish is so obvious and yet just a spur-of-the-moment thought by one of the characters, that it does not feel as satisfying as it could have. Too many stories are introduced and unanswered--such as one teacher’s attraction to the new young English teacher--or disappointingly resolved--such as when the girl who decides that acting in the play is a sellout then decides it is okay because it will earn money for her friend’s mom who already made the costumes. The story’s focus on the teachers’ perspectives and their day to day lives and meetings may be of less interest to readers than the perspective of the students, who are interesting characters. The bullying is appropriately left partially resolved and the book does show the limited role school officials can play in solving the situation. Spanish phrases are nicely interwoven and give the book a good feel of time and place. Those looking for similar themes might like to try books by Julia Alvarez, Viola Canales, Pam Munoz Ryan, and Gary Soto. 2008, Pinata Books/Arte Publico Press, Ages 9 to 12, $10.95. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-426-30116-2
Big Plans
Bob Shea
Illustrated by Lane Smith
This book is not so much a children’s picture book as an adult revenge against the authoritarian teachers of one’s childhood. Opening with a boy sitting in a corner of a classroom with a blackboard filled with “I will not’s,” Bob Shea’s text shows the boy playing out fantasies of power. He utters all the clichés from “Big plans” to “Let’s get to business” to “Dress for success” as he picks up a mynah bird flunky who helps him take over increasingly important business and political posts, including some command over outer space. Lane Smith’s signature sassy and exaggerated collages fill the oversize pages and do much to inject some humor. However, in the end, this is not a very empowering book for those children who march to different drummers or who have been humiliated in school for being divergent. Despite all his loud assertions, the boy on the end page is still stuck in disgrace in the corner. I’m not at all sure that is a message I would like to have young people be left with. 2008, Hyperion, Ages 8 to adult, $17.99. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4231-1100-9
ISBN: 1-4231-1100-1
The Big Splash
Jack D. Ferraiolo
Most young readers will not recognize that this book is modeled after detective stories and books that were popular more than fifty years ago. Teachers and other adults may recognize similarities to noir stories by Raymond Chandler, Rex Stout, Dashiell Hammett and movies like The Godfather. We have our own mafia running Franklin Middle School. Private detective Matt Stevens is hired by two kids in his school—Vincent “Vinny Biggs” Biggio (a.k.a. The Godfather) and Jenny, the sister of Nicole, (a.k.a. Nikki Fingers, once a feared member of Vinny’s gang). The kids are “taken out” with squirt guns; once on the outs they can never get back in. Matt is trying to handle a case, but it gets so complex that he begins to wonder if he will really be able to solve it. Never fear, our hero succeeds, gets the girl, wins back an old friend, and breaks up a middle school crime ring. While tongue-in-cheek, the problems of bullies, cheating, and peer acceptance are all too real in middle school. Let us hope readers will see the light and find this take on a middle school mafia to be just entertainment with a strong message to be an independent thinker who can rise above the peer group pressure.
2008, Amulet Books/Harry N. Abrams, Ages 10 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8109-7210-0
Brand-new School, Brave New Ruby
Derrick Barnes
Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
Ruby Booker’s old school has closed so she is about to start third grade at Hope Road Academy. Ruby is a sassy little character who likes to belt out songs and wear bright clothing, but she’s afraid she’ll always be in the shadows at her new school. Her three older brothers attend Hope Road Academy and they all stand out as winners. Tyner gets great grades and Ruby thinks he’s almost a genius. Marcellus is a good looking athlete and musician and all the girls are crazy about him. Ro is funny and likes to play tricks. Ruby knows most of the kids think the Booker boys rule the school. So, how will she fit in? Will she always be known only as their little sister? She’s invited to give the morning announcement over the PA system and finds herself with the microphone. Then, with the encouragement of her best friend, Theresa Petticoat, and her own outgoing personality, Ruby shows everyone she is much more than the sister of the Booker boys. This is the first book in the “Ruby and the Booker Boys” series. 2008, Little Apple/Scholastic, Ages 7 to 10, $4.99. Reviewer: Carolyn Mott Ford (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-01760-2
ISBN: 0-545-01760-2
The Bully from the Black Lagoon
Mark Thaler
Illustrations by Jared Lee
The “Black Lagoon” series has a new antagonist: the bully. Our young protagonist Hubie is seen entering his school with the knowledge that a new kid will be in his class. He knows that the boy’s name is Butch Pounder and that he is thought to be a terrible bully. It is rumored that Butch transferred from the state pen, has a record, beat up every single kid at his last school, and ate the teacher’s pet. With his imagination running rampant, Hubie begins to fantasize about the fate that awaits him. Perhaps Butch will take all the kids’ lunch money and eat all the food, use the kids for bases in baseball, or follow kids home and eat their snacks. Hubie thinks that, to protect himself, he could lift weights to get strong, wear a suit of armor, or practice running real fast. When at last he runs into Butch in the hallway, he is in for a big surprise. Butch, it turns out, is a gentle giant who is eager to make friends and learn his way around his new school. Thaler scores another hit with his subtle message about being wary of rumor and innuendo. His legion of fans will eagerly grab it from the shelves. Lee’s signature watercolor and pen-and-ink drawings are full of verve, exaggeration, and plenty of humor. 2008, Scholastic, $3.99, Ages 6 to 9. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-06521-4
ISBN: 0-545-06521-6
Happy School Year!
Susan Milord
Illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma
A variety of children and their families are seen from the moment they wake up right through their preparations for the day and on until they arrive for the first day of school. The talented illustrator cleverly shows us several sub-stories as the gentle text unfolds around the diverse characters depicted in the well crafted pages. We are shown the morning routines of each of the families and those same characters are shown in larger spreads outside and inside the school. I loved the page that shows just the top of a head in a bed and says, “One child burrows under the covers, hiding until the last possible minute.” We see her several pages later looking out her window at the school that is right across the street from her house. We get to watch the children as they choose their clothes, have breakfast, pack-up for the day, travel to school, and deal with their excitement or trepidations--each little vignette set off in enough white space to give the sense that we are seeing into a variety of homes and spaces. One particular little fellow is obviously very fearful but he is comforted by his Grandpa (?), who walks him into the building holding his hand. My one little quibble is that the students are greeted in the main hall with a gigantic display of cupcakes. While I understand the device for making wishes on the candle stuck in one cupcake, which serves as the vehicle for each child’s hopes for the new school year, I know that there are food allergy issues for many children. Distributing cupcakes “as the morning snack” is a precarious thing to do on the very first day of school. That said, I love the illustrations with their expressive faces and the depictions of emotions through “body language” and the text itself with its calm look at how different people approach new situations. Students, teachers, parents, and care-givers will appreciate all of the different emotions expressed about going “back-to-school” as well as being engaged by the delightful illustrations, whose colors and details give the pictures texture and depth. A web site and information about First Day of School Celebrations are included in the back matter. 2008, Scholastic, Ages 5 to 8, $15.99.
Reviewer: Sheilah Egan
ISBN: 978-0-439-88280-4
ISBN: 0-439-88280-X
How Not to Start Third Grade
Cathy Hapka and Ellen Titlebaum
Illustrated by Debbie Palen
Will is dreading the first day of school. He likes school and is excited to chat with all of his friends again but is worried about what will happen when his brother starts school for the first time. Will has good reason to be concerned. He is not thrilled about showing his little brother around the school and is horrified when Steve tears through the hallway, banging on lockers and yelping like a dog. Will does not help the situation when he attempts to threaten Steve by telling him that the principal is an alien robot whose wiring shorts out if it is too noisy, which causes Steve to run shrieking down the hallway smack into Will’s group of friends. The events of the first day of school escalate through Steve’s escapades on the playground and in the lunchroom, and end in a visit to the principal’s office for the brothers and their dog. Palen brilliantly portrays the characters’ glee, terror, and other sentiments using illustrations full of emotion and energy. This outrageously funny story will entertain and wash away the back-to- school blues and hesitations. No one will be able to top the wacky and far-fetched capers of Will and Steve as they enter school for the first time together. A Step 4 book from the “Step into Reading” series that kids will howl over as they read on their own. 2007, Random House Children’s Books/Random House Inc, $3.99, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Katie DeWald (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-83904-7
ISBN: 978-0-375-93904-4
ISBN: 0-375-83904-6
ISBN: 0-375-93904-0
John Patrick Norman McHennessy — The Boy Who Was Always Late
John Burningham
Unusual happenings occur when John Patrick Norman McHennessy is on his way to learn. The author never uses the word “school.” When John reaches his destination, he is always late. His teacher doubts the stories John tells while trying to explain. The teacher deals out a somewhat different punishment each time John comes in late. John must write 300, 400 or 500 times that “I will not lie about . . .”. The first and last pages of the book appear to have been written by a child. John tries to tell his teacher about the crocodile that grabbed his book bag and the tidal wave that could have washed him away. But the teacher does not believe poor John McHennessy. The book ends with a quirk when the teacher finds himself in an unusual predicament and John McHennessy does not believe the tale his teacher is telling him. The unpaged book has won many prizes and the content is sure to please children when the table is turned on the teacher. However, the binding did not hold up with one reading by the reviewer. The book of less than 18 pages seemed to be held together by one modified staple and all pages came loose. The illustrations are fascinating and the story is humorous; the publisher, however, should have another look at the binding of this finished product. 2008 (orig. 1987), Random House Children’s Books, Ages 8 to 12, $16.99. Reviewer: Jennie DeGenaro (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-85220-6
ISBN: 978-0-375-95220-3
Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House
Haven Kimmel
Illustrations by Peter Brown
On the morning of the first day of school, Kaline is going to be late, his mother’s car just happens to catch fire and Kaline is presented with a chicken leg for breakfast. Kaline is distressed that his dad is not around to set the timer to help him get ready for school, disappointed that he missed seeing his mother use the fire extinguisher, as he had always dreamed of using one of his father’s many fire prevention devices, and disgusted by the fact that he actually had to eat a cold chicken leg for breakfast. Kaline’s most pressing problem is that he can’t figure out where his dad is and he’s finding it to be increasingly more difficult to maintain the “Keep off the Grass” signs in his absence. This is just the beginning of Kaline’s troubles; as the year progresses, Kaline is harassed by bullies at school. A neighbor and a great imagination help Kaline find a creative solution to his problems. Kaline is a larger-than-life character, with an outrageous imagination and a life that is nearly as crazy. Kimmel packs each sentence with vivid imagery and overloads each character with personality in this complex, heartwarming, and wildly entertaining tale with a mix of both subtle and sidesplitting humor. Kimmel presents a fun, engaging story chronicling Kaline Klattermaster’s quirky struggle to find peace with life. 2008, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, Ages 7 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Katie DeWald (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-87402-4
ISBN: 0-689-87402-2
Middle School Is Worse Than Meatloaf: A Year Told through Stuff
Jennifer Holm
Seventh grade brings Ginny Davis not life’s metaphorical goodies but its mystery meat. Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf chronicles Ginny’s year through post-it notes, doodles, homework assignments, detention notices, lists and other written detritus. The form is brilliant and the voice fresh and funny. Middle-school readers will be drawn immediately into Ginny’s world, which consists of her mother’s wedding, a brain-related science fair project, a friendship gone bad, a first dance date, a shrunken favorite sweater and two troublesome brothers. Kudos to Maryland author Jennifer Holm for such an original and touching book and to illustrator Elicia Castaldi for the pictures so revealing of Ginny’s personality. 2007, Atheneum/Simon and Schuster, $12.99, Ages 9 to 13. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
What is it really like to be a teenager? From September to June, readers explore twelve-year-old Ginny’s last year of middle school through party invitations, several report cards, science notes, poetry assignments, Instant Message conversations, graded papers, and in-class notes passed to friends. This book presents the angst and humor of seventh grade with authenticity and delight, falling gently into the stream of classic teenage voices. The accompanying artifacts of Ginny’s school experience are a wonderful collage that will be familiar to any seventh grade girl. Jennifer Holm, winner of the Newbery Honor award for Our Only May Amelia and Penny from Heaven, has once again created a story permeated with creativity. The gentle story is beautifully complemented by Elicia Castaldi’s illustrations. Young readers will enjoy following the adventures of Ginny from her to-do list to her school-themed poems to her slumber party guest list. Jennifer Holm has once again touched magic. 2007, Ginny Seo Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $12.99, Ages 10 to adult. Reviewer: Suzanna E. Henshon, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-85281-7
ISBN: 0-689-85281-9
My Mom the Pirate
Jackie French
Illustrated by Stephen Michael King
Cecil loves his mom, likes her friends, and generally enjoys his life. But he has decided he doesn’t want to grow up and join the family business. He doesn’t want to become a pirate. Instead, he wants to go to school. Mom doesn’t understand, but she arranges for the pirate ship to pass through a time continuum so Cecil can attend a great school with children his age. The trouble really starts when Mom shows up to back-to-school night dressed in her work clothes--a pirate outfit, complete with sword. When the football coach cuts Cecil from the next game, Mom does what any good pirate does: She challenges the coach to a duel. Kids and teachers wonder about Cecil after that. In fact, he is having such a tough time with all the teasing and laughing, he’s not sure he wants to keep coming to school. But when the damn breaks and the water is closing in, a pirate ship might be just what the school needs. Will Mom and her mates arrive in time? King’s fun show the contrast between Cecil’s two lives. This edition includes information about the author and illustrator, a glossary of cool pirate terms, discussion questions, writing prompts, and a guide to Internet sites. 2007 (orig. 2003), Stone Arch Books/Coughlan Publishing, $22.60, Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59889-345-8
ISBN: 1-59889-345-9
ISBN: 978-1-59889-438-7
ISBN: 1-59889-438-2
My Preschool
Anne Rockwell
My three-year-old is looking forward to her first year of preschool with a great deal of enthusiasm—and, I think, a little bit of trepidation. So, I was keenly interested in her response to this book, which is essentially a day in the life of a preschool student. Our narrator Fred loves preschool. It is his favorite place to be when he is not home. From hanging up his coat and saying “hello” to his teachers to returning to his mother at the end of the day, Fred is happy to be there. Anne Rockwell does recognize some of the typical bumps that preschoolers might see or experience during the day, such as one child crying when her mother leaves and another throwing toys when he is upset. But Rockwell shows these problems being resolved, too. The crying child quickly begins having fun, and even has so much fun that she cries when it is time to leave. The teacher has a private talk with the mad child, and he apologizes for his behavior. One weakness of this book is the amateur quality of Rockwell’s illustrations; they look like they were fingerpainted by a young child, and I found this distracting (although my daughter was not bothered by it). Another weakness is that it might pump kids up about specific experiences they won’t have at their preschool (e.g., water table, sand table, yoga). Still, if parents recap the book with their children and review those activities as “play,” this is unlikely to be an issue. As the summer dwindles and preschool draws near, my child is fascinated by the book. 2008, Henry Holt, $16.95, Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 0-8050-7955-6
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7955-5
Naked Bunyip Dancing
Steven Herrick
Pictures by Beth Norling
Written in verse, this novel follows the students of Class 6C as they embark on the most interesting, humorous, and, at times, tumultuous school year of their lives. While each student's personality is creatively displayed through the student's own poetic style, each student's character is also richly developed as the student endures the many obstacles of young adult life, including first crushes, sibling rivalries, divorcing parents, and mischief. Underpinning their personal situations, the end-of-year class concert/talent show is the ever-constant fabric that binds the students together. The poems in this novel, while not entirely in rhyme, flow together naturally and gracefully. This novel is a must-read for any young adult who seriously participates in poetic writing or merely expresses an interest in it. Students in upper elementary through middle school are likely to enjoy this novel the most. Recommended. 2008, Front Street (Boyds Mills Press), 208pp., $16.95 hc. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Jeremy Rogers (Library Media Connection, April/May 2008).
ISBN: 978-1-59078-499-0
ISBN: 1-59078-499-5
Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs
Katherine Applegate
Illustrated by Brian Biggs
Roscoe Riley is in time out for an almost unimaginable reason: gluing his friends to chairs. What sort of delinquent would do such a thing? Actually, Roscoe is not a bad kid. Rather, he’s a very helpful, well-intentioned kid—he just doesn’t always use the best judgment. But back to the glue, the chairs, the friends. How does that happen? It’s a big day at school. It is the day of the first-grade open house. Roscoe can see the kids are worried about their costumes, and the teacher is worried about the kids. A little bit of super-mega-gonzo glue, and their open house performance of the bee song is sure to be nothing like the rehearsal was! Roscoe is the most likable young protagonist to hit the pages of early reader chapter books in recent history. If elementary students are cool with reading about a main character who is younger than them—or if Applegate’s hero ages in subsequent books—then this series should be an instant hit. Parents may worry that Roscoe’s antics will be emulated by children who read the books, but that is unlikely. Applegate makes it abundantly clear that this mishap, while humorous, is very wrong. Book one of the “Roscoe Riley Rules” series. 2008, HarperTrophy/HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 10, $3.99. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-114881-1
ISBN: 978-0-06-114882-8
The New Bear at School
Carrie Weston
Illustrated by Tim Warnes
When Mrs. Cluck announces that the class will have a new animal member, each of the little creatures imagines just what kind of “bear” he will be: Leticia the rabbit wonders if he will be pink and fluffy, Maxwell the mole thinks that he will be floppy and brown, the mice brothers picture Paddington Bear, and Fergus the fox thinks that “any teddy bear would be just fine.” Imagine their surprise when Boris turns out to be “an enormous, hairy, scary grizzly bear!” Mrs. Cluck tries to be understanding but does reprimand Boris after he breaks a chair (he is really big) and accidentally rips his new writing tablet. “Oh, Boris! Please try to be more careful.” The rest of the animals are frightened by Boris and shun him at lunch, run away when he tries to play with them, and exclude him from circle time. After realizing that he is, indeed, scary, hairy, and “just a great big grizzly bear,” Boris is so sad that he cries. I think that Mrs. Cluck should have tried harder to make his transition into the class easier. The turning point comes when the animals are on their way home after school and they are attacked by the “Rat Pack,” who tease and terrorize the small animals. Needless to say, Boris comes plodding along and would like to join in whatever is happening, so he stands up very tall and gives his biggest bear grin. The rats flee at the sight of the “hairy, scary grizzly bear.” Boris had only wanted to say “hello.” The story concludes with the smaller animals realizing what a friendly bear Boris really is and that they are safe with him. The next day Mrs. Cluck says “What a good Bear you are.” The last scene is of Mrs. Cluck reading to everyone—all of the little creatures are snuggled happily into Boris’ arms and ample lap. This will serve as a good discussion for a class or individual child on how to view people who are different and how to find out what different people have in common—everyone in this class really just wants to play together, learn together, and listen to stories together. 2008, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $12.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-05783-7
ISBN: 0-545-05783-3
New Blood
Peter McPhee
McPhee writes a gritty and realistic tale of bullying and what it can do to a boy and his family, including moving from Scotland to Canada and sharing tight living quarters with a brother and sister-in-law. This novel shows the victim’s pain in dealing with his family. It shows his guilt at being the cause of his mother’s worry and unhappiness, and his anger and resentment at being the cause of the family’s turmoil. His fear spurs the desire to hide what is really happening, to avoid the family’s anger and frustration, not necessarily at him personally but about him which is almost as bad. Callum seems to go out of the frying pan and into the fire when he starts his new school. Fortunately, he and the bully come to an uneasy alliance about a situation that is important to both of them, the safety of a girl who interests them both. A touching and hopeful scene has Callum appealing to his older brother and father to accompany him to the home of the abused girl in an effort to help her. Their strength and unabashed confrontation give some reassurance that Callum is in good hands, even if there is not much that can be done for the girl. The ending shows hope for Callum that his new life will give him a new chance. 2007, James Lorimer & Company, Ages 12 up, $8.95. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 1-550-28998-5
ISBN: 978-1-550-28998-5
Off to First Grade
Louise Borden
Illustrated by Joan Rankin
Right from the first glimpse of the front cover, the reader is prepared to board the yellow school bus and discover what awaits the riders at the end of their journey. Using the alphabet as a vehicle to introduce the children (portrayed as a variety of animals) and some of the staff by name, Borden relates the thoughts of both the children and the adults beginning a new year at Elm School. Many of the first-graders-to-be express delight at the prospect of “zillions of books to read,” becoming “math magicians,” using lots of new “first grade artist” supplies, and (of course) “lunch treats.” Others reflect on the newness and possible distress of the first day of first grade: Ignacio is new to America and will need help with his English, Ramon needs the help of his big sister to remember his right from his left, Whit is full of questions about how things will work differently from kindergarten, and Yoshi thinks it would be better to go to “first grade tomorrow.” In each tiny vignette, the adults, friends, or siblings reassure the future first graders that all will be well and that they will enjoy their first day. The teacher, Mrs. M for Miller, contemplates the possibilities of her new class and proclaims “This will be my best class of readers yet!” She has already invited Mr. Zimmerman, the principal, to read to her class after lunch. Xavier, the bus driver, tells the students “It’s a new beginning, for all of us.” Rankin’s loose, water colors are bright and engaging, while leaving ample white space for the straightforward text. Everyone will be reassured by this charming look at the feelings and impact of starting a new grade in a new school year (and, for some, a new school). Those with trepidations will want it read over and over again! 2008, McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, $16.99, Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-689-87395-9
ISBN: 0-689-87395-6
Ridiculous/Hilarious/Terrible/Cool; A Year in an American High School
Elisha Cooper
Walter Payton High School in Chicago, Illinois is described as “an academic urban alternative to the suburban high schools.” The student population comes from various parts of the city to attend the school with the motto “We nurture leaders.” The story provides a sketch of the different students that flow through the halls of Payton from September through June. Author Elisha Cooper visited, interviewed, and followed eight Payton High students during the course of the school year. Six of the students were seniors who were applying to colleges. Daniel, Emily, Maya, Diana, Aisha, and Anais shared their individual stories and dreams for the future as they dealt with the present issues of personal goals, family, and college. Zef and Anthony were juniors who were struggling through the school year; one slept through classes and the other sold drugs. Month by month the school year went by and the students described their thoughts and lives. A brief summary at the end of story provided an update about each student six months after graduation. 2008, Dial Books/Penguin, $17.99, Ages 14 to 18. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3169-1
ISBN: 0-8037-3169-8
School Success for Children with Special Needs: Everything You Need to Know to Help Your Child Learn
Amy James
Written for parents and based on national standards in educational law, this book explains what to expect throughout the special education process, provides examples of what to ask special education teams, gives advice for dispute resolution and discusses how to prepare for each step along the way, for children from birth through 21. While it is easier to read and understand than standard-issue Parental Rights handbooks provided at the school level, parents should keep in mind that their school system requirements may differ slightly from the national requirements discussed in the book. Some of these differences will need to be explained to you by a member of your child’s educational team who is familiar with both the national and local process. Chapters are dedicated to offering suggestions to families about how to support a struggling learner in the home, including a discussion of what accommodations and supports may be needed in school. Of note, most of the supports and suggestions listed would be appropriate for a student whose disability would not be considered severe. Also, information is provided to facilitate the process of transitioning a student out of high school and into an appropriate adult experience. The book is broken into relevant chapters that families may reference as needed, and not be required to read the entire text. It provides a variety of additional supports, including online resources, a table of common acronyms, sample forms, diagnostic checklists and references. 2008, Jossey-Bass, Ages Adult, $14.95. Reviewer: Alison Wilber (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-471-74815-1
School Time Riddles 'n' Giggles
Diane Namm
Illustrated by Wayne Becker
Humor has its place and sometimes it is visual, physical, or, as with this series of “Laugh-a-Long Readers,” mostly a play on words. In this title, the theme is school. “Why was the math book so unhappy?” Answer—“It has a lot of problems.” “Why did the student put ketchup on five dollars?” Answer—“It was his lunch money.” The kids in this school are a variety of animals, so there is no need to worry about ethnicity or stereotyping. Since many of the jokes require good language skills (homonyms, synonyms and the like), the books in this series offer an opportunity to strengthen them. Teachers could make use of the books by posting a joke of the day on the chalkboard. However, in some cases the illustrations are the most amusing part of the joke. For those who are observant, the jokes are printed in a regular font while the answers appear in italic font. 2008 (orig. 2004), Sterling, Ages 5 to 7, $3.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4027-5001-4
ISBN: 1-4027-5001-3
Something for School
Hyun Young Lee
This story imported from South Korea features Yoon, who is so nervous about beginning her first day in kindergarten that she cannot smile when her mother wants to take a picture. Yoon has short hair and is wearing a trousers outfit, so when the teacher asks the children to divide into groups of girls and boys, the other students mistakenly think Yoon is a boy and try to push her to the wrong side of the room. Yoon shouts, “I’m not a boy!” She is so upset, she cries through much of the day. That night Yoon looks around for something to identify her as female and “borrows” her older sister’s beautiful headband with pretend hair. The next day at school is wonderful. Everyone knows Yoon is a girl. But that night, her sister takes the headband back. Yoon is at first concerned to find the headband gone, and then delighted to discover that she no longer needs such a prop. Her classmates now know she is a girl. They had not been cruel. They had made an honest mistake in the beginning and happily corrected it. The illustrations feature charming Korean children, dressed in colorful clothing, set on white backgrounds. A universal theme of the desire for acceptance and friendship. 2008, Kane/Miller, $15.95, Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-933605-85-2
Something to Blog About
Shana Norris
The significance of the cover becomes quite clear fairly early in the book. Libby, a high school sophomore, is a good kid but seems t be a zero when it comes to dating and understanding guys. She lives with her single mother and they have a surprisingly good relationship. She also has two good friends, Keisha and her cousin Roger, who are also basically good kids too. Trouble appears in the form of Angel, Libby’s nemeses since kindergarten. Could things in high school get any worse or more complicated? Yes indeed as Libby’s heartthrob asks her to tutor him in a subject that she is failing in school, and her cousin wants her help with his secret crush, and her mother has started dating. To tell all would ruin the story, but the blog (Libby’s diary plays a big role) and watching her grow, solve problems, and remain a nice girl may be a little unrealistic, but it makes for an uplifting and quick read. Down with angst, gloom, and doom! Enjoy a fast paced book that actually ends on a positive note. 2008, Amulet Books/Harry N. Abrams, Ages 10 to 16, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8109-9474-4
Spin the Bottle
Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Phoebe Hart has been looking forward to joining the middle school drama club for a long time. An aspiring actress, she’s already been to Young Protégé Acting Camp and studied all the previous middle school productions. She knows who all the major players are and is star-struck when any of them talk to her. But when Phoebe and her best friend, Harper, finally join the club, nothing seems to go right. Phoebe throws up during her first audition and is relegated to the most boring position in the whole show. And, to make it even worse, she did it in front of the boy she’s developed a crush on. When Harper and Phoebe get into an argument over the opening night tradition of Spin the Bottle and stop speaking, Phoebe begins to wonder just how hard middle school will really be. In this cute story the realities of middle school come crashing down on the characters. Though they seem a little over-aware of middle school as a time of change, speaking about it more like high school students looking back than middle school students currently living it, both Phoebe and Harper are endearing in their own ways. This is a great book for readers who don’t want to deal with a lot of heavy-handed issues, but still want some substance to their stories. 2008, Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers Group, Ages 10 to 14, $16.99. Reviewer: Kathleen Foucart (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8037-3191-2
Stand By Me
Michele Shapiera
Sarah is excited to go back to school and spend time with her friends after a long summer holiday with her autistic brother Simon. She’s excited until she finds out that her brother is transferring to her high school. Worried about how her friends, especially her boyfriend, might react to Simon’s presence in the school, Sarah decides to keep it a secret from everyone. Stand by Me is a short novel in the high interest/low vocabulary style of many new series of books. Sarah’s inner conflict between her loyalty to her brother and her desire to seem cool with her friends is real and would be understood by many young adult readers. The other characters’ ultimate acceptance of Sarah and her brother make for a predictable, but happy, ending that will satisfy most readers. This book would be useful to supplement an existing library collection of short, readable fiction for reluctant or struggling readers, especially if these are books that are in high demand. (Grantham High Series) Category: Fiction Grades 7-12. Thematic Links: High School; Family; Autism; Special Education Programs. Resource Links Rating: A (Average, all right, has its applications), Gr. 6 up. 2007, Vanwell Publishing, 64p., Pbk. $7.95. Ages 11 up. Reviewer: Joanne de Groot (Resource Links, October 2007 (Vol. 13, No. 1)).
ISBN: 978-1-55068-962-4
ISBN: 1-55068-962-2
Stanley and the Class Pet
Barney Saltzberg
Stanley Birdbaum, hamster/kid hero of Crazy Hair Day and Star of the Week, is back! He is very happy when it is finally his turn to take Figgy, the class pet bird, home for the weekend. When his friend Larry comes over, they play with Figgy. Larry persuades the reluctant Stanley that Figgy should be allowed to fly around for a change. Unfortunately but predictably, someone opens the door and Figgy flies away. They search for him in vain. After initially blaming Larry, Stanley finally accepts responsibility. At the same time, Larry apologizes to their teacher. The other children recall what they miss about Figgy, then decide they need four new class pets. Stanley and his anthropomorphic friends are drawn with a simplicity that nevertheless conveys emotions through body language and facial expression. Pencil, ink, and acrylics handle the equally simple settings of home and school. The front endpapers show Stanley catching the last leaf to fall from a bare tree. As Stanley’s sorry tale comes to a happy end, the back endpapers show the same branches, with Figgy perched there with two friends. There is, of course, a useful lesson in the tale. 2008, Candlewick Press, $16.99, Ages 5 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3595-4
Stay Safe: How You Can Keep Out of Harm’s Way
Sara Nelson
Illustrations by Jack Desrocher
This balanced and informative entry in the “Health Zone” series would be a useful addition to either a school or home library. Ideally this book can be a discussion starter between a parent, teacher or guardian and tweens or teenagers. The book covers a range of situations such as bullying in schools (by classmates or teachers), inappropriate touching by family members, internet solicitations and threats in public places (such as attempted abductions). Awareness and avoidance of potentially harmful situations is always the primary strategy, but clear, specific steps are presented for dealing with a number of difficult or dangerous situations. In addition to the obvious values of making readers aware of potential problems and coping strategies, conversations about the subject provide opportunities to expand the child’s knowledge of local resources for getting help, or even of spurring pro-active efforts such as bullying awareness programs in school or a neighborhood effort to create a system of “safe houses.” Sonya Green, M.D., serves as a consultant to this volume and the author is both a K-12 teacher and active in a self-defense group for women and girls. To its credit, the focus is not exclusively on girls. Pictures and graphics show children of both genders as well as varying ages and ethnicities. Design wise, the slim book is designed to present information in manageable chunks with lots of visual interest, including photos and graphics, varied size, style and color of text, colored backgrounds for special topics, and numbered lists. Supplemental materials include a quiz, scenarios for discussion, a glossary, selected bibliography, index, photo credits and additional sources of information. 2009, Lerner Publishing Group, Ages 10 to 14, $30.60. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D. (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-7551-1
Take a Stand!: What You Can Do About Bullying
Carrie Golus
Illustrations by Jack Desrocher
This is a low-key and reasonably thorough presentation of various types of bullying that children may experience from schoolmates, teachers or online perpetrators. Practical tips called “bully stoppers” are offered for responding to these situations, and some involve students taking the initiative to make their schools safer. The children depicted are of both genders, various ages and different ethnicities. Gender differences in bullying behavior are discussed. Readers realize that bullying is not the victims’ fault through inclusion of the fact that statistics suggest as many as 75% of children experience bullying and several famous people have said they were bullied as children (Tom Cruise, Kate Winslet, and Eminem). Information is provided about why bullying is abuse and should be taken seriously, rather than being viewed as just childhood pranks. The cycle of bullied victims becoming bullies, either as children or adults is one example. An appropriate emphasis on dealing with cyberbullying is the final segment of the book. As with the Stay Safe volume of the “Health Zone” series, Sonya Green, M.D. serves as a consultant. Also like other books in this series, this is fairly short (55 pages, excluding the supplemental material) and information is presented in manageable chunks. A mix of photos and graphics, the use of brightly-colored backgrounds for some pages, and the inclusio of varied size, style and color of text all work together to create visual interest. Supplemental materials include a quiz, information about keeping a bullying journal, a glossary, a selected bibliography, an index, photo credits, and a list of additional sources of information. This would be a useful addition to any school library or school counselor’s collection. It would also certainly be a good choice for parents whose children have reported being bullied. 2009, Lerner Publishing Group, $30.60, Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D. (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8225-7554-2
The Teacher from the Black Lagoon
Mike Thaler
Pictures by Jared Lee
Anticipating the worst as he starts a new year at school, a young student falls asleep as he waits for his new teacher, Mrs. Green, to appear. Of course, his dream is influenced by his fears and we are immersed in it with him. Mrs. Green seems to be some sort of dragonish creature—green, bumpy skin and all. As various students react to the situation, we see spitball throwing Freddy Jones incinerated by Mrs. Green’s fiery breath, Eric Porter’s head is put in the globe stand, and Randy Potts is turned into a frog. Fractions are demonstrated when Mrs. Green bites Derek Bloom in half—“This is half a boy. Now you’ve had fractions.”
When Doris Foodle cracks her gum, Mrs. Green swallows her whole (‘“No chewing in class,” she smiles.’) Then there is poor Penny Weber who complains of a “huge headache” and finds her head reduced to the size of a pin. ‘“Better?” asks Mrs. Green.’ The ringing of the school bell awakens our dreaming student who is delighted to discover that the real Mrs. Green is “a pretty woman writing her name on the blackboard.” He is so relieved that he rushes up to give her a hug. ‘“Well, thank you,” she says. “I’m glad to be here.” “Not as glad as I am.”’ Thaler has managed to capture the dread that many students feel when they begin a new year and create an outrageous look at those fears. The cartoon illustrations are just as outrageous as the story! I am particularly fond of the “dreamy” Mrs. Green’s bright red lipstick, which is painted on lips protruding from her long, tooth-filled snout! Students will find this hilarious book reassuring and just plain funny. Look for all of the others in this series (The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, The Principal from the Black Lagoon, etc.).
2008 (orig. 1989), Cartwheel/Scholastic, Ages 6 to 9, $3.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan
ISBN: 978-0-5445-06522-1
ISBN: 0-545-06522-4
Teacher's Pet
Hongying Yang
It starts way back in preschool. Even then Man Man, the teacher's pet, is told to keep an eye on Mo, the class troublemaker. In those days Mo does not really mind; in fact, he is Man Man’s biggest fan, admiring her grades, model behavior, and all around perfection--until she turns on him in second grade, choosing to hold goody-goody Wen’s hand instead of his own. To Mo, that means war. He pulls the chair out from under Man Man and copies her flawless math answers. Man Man in turn puts down the wrong answers so Mo gets in trouble, and so it goes. In fourth grade, however, they suddenly end up on the same team for a cooking competition. Now, the former rivals must put aside their differences and work together to win. This is a title in a very popular series (“Mo’s Mischief”) by China’s bestselling children’s author. Mo and Man Man are well developed characters with believable vices and virtues. For example, despite his anger and frustration with Man Man, when Mo learns she is out sick, he not only decides to visit her but even brings her cookies. And even though Man Man is bossy, she does try to do the right thing. Their battle of wills is funny and engaging. As an added bonus, an interesting reader’s note at the end includes information about Chinese names, characters (as opposed to our alphabet), and students. An enjoyable import. 2008 (orig. 2003), HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 10, $3.99. Reviewer: Naomi Milliner (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-156473-4
Trouble Talk
Trudy Ludwig
When a new girl joins her class, Maya is asked to help her feel welcome. Bailey talks a lot and she asks a lot of questions and it does not’ take Maya and her classmates long to discover that Bailey is a gossip and a troublemaker. After Bailey visits Maya’s home, a rumor starts around school that Maya’s parents are getting a divorce. Maya is upset, and her teacher sends her to the counselor. During the visit with the counselor, the whole story comes out and Maya learns how some people indulge in “trouble talk.” The counselor encourages Maya to not take part in this kind of talk. The counselor tells her to “keep doing what you’ve been doing. Don’t join in and don’t pass on rumors. Just change the subject and hang out with kids who make you feel safe.” Ludwig speaks to children on a level that they can understand, about a serious problem they will inevitably encounter. Teachers and parents will find information in the author’s note about “trouble talk” and how to turn it into “healthy talk” and how bystanders can be empowered. Also included are questions for discussion and additional resources. Mikela Prevost’s illustrations are amazingly supportive of the text and help create a book that should be in every school library. 2008, Tricycle Press, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95. Reviewer: Naomi Williamson (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 078-0-58246-240-0
X-Men First Class
Jeff Parker
Penciler Roger Cruz
Inker Victor Olazaba
Colorist Val Staples
This is an up-to-date version of the original comic book called X-Men Team. The story is about a group of teenagers who live at a boarding school. The original characters remain the same: Iceman, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, and Angel (some have different names but the characters are the same). These teens show the same frustrations that teens feel today. Problems of puberty, no fun, too much school work, and even “puppy love.” For many thousands of years, teens have had to fight battles. Our teens today make tough choices when it comes to drugs and sex, and the peer pressures are never ending. The teens in the book battle demons, weird computers, aliens, and other evil mutants. The teens have to learn to live together in a boarding school. They also try to understand why Warren acts like he does. When Warren ditches class and flies in the sky, the Professor takes form in the clouds and tells him a story from the past to help him understand what he is feeling now. The Professor helps him understand that many before him have felt what he is feeling--that feeling of being a caged bird. The Professor instills the thought that even though all mutants are not role models, these five are special and everyone is judged by their actions and deeds. The illustrations are fantastic and add much to the story. I was pleasantly surprised to see that life lessons are learned. During a challenge to save Professor X, the team ultimately learns some excellent lessons such as family values and the power that they have as teenagers. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 2008, Spotlight Publishing, Ages 12 to 14, $21.35. Reviewer: Kathie Josephs (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7851-2426-9
Zip, Zip…Homework
Nancy Poydar
Violet chooses a rolling backpack because “she will have homework this year.” The older children caution her “not to lose” the homework Ms Patience (great name for a teacher) hands out. When Ms Patience finally gives out a homework paper, Violet has a hard time deciding which pack pocket to put it in. Once she is home, Violet discovers (much to her dismay) that the homework paper is not in any of the numerous pockets. She bravely zips and unzips, clicks, and “unsticks” all of the openings to no avail—this scene depicts her desperation and panic quite vividly. As mother tucks her into bed, her eyes tell of her distress and the dreaded anticipation of the next day. Violet compounds the evasion of her parents’ remarks of “finished homework” from the night before by telling Ms Patience that she is searching for her homework in “a pocket somewhere.” Ms Patience holds up the paper that she found under Violet’s desk and says that they will “need to have a talk at recess time.” The teacher handles the situation with compassion and wisdom—telling Violet that she must tell her parents the whole story. This task is certainly more difficult than any homework could ever be but Violet manages to tell them the whole truth. Her parents “did not have happy faces, but Violet knew that they hadn’t lost them.” The next day many of the other students have rolling packs of their own and Violet had a piece of yarn to mark the designated “homework-pocket.” Poydar’s cheerfully colorful illustrations are ethnically diverse and enhance the storyline. The “lesson” is carefully introduced and is not didactic. Readers will know the moment that Violet goes astray and will begin to predict the outcome. The scene of Violet’s dreams of the rolling pack “zipping, cliiicking, and snaaapping” all night long gives the pack an aura of a living creature—not a night of sweet dreams. Poydar has given teachers and students another look at a common school situation wrapped in an accessible storyline that will be appreciated by all. 2008, Holiday House, Ages 5 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2090-2
ISBN: 0-8234-2090-6
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Updated 07/30/08
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