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Spring 2005
Volume II, Issue 2
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| Delving into the Shelves |
For the ultimate in convenience, logon to ipage® and then click on the highlighted title for extensive title detail information.
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| Elementary-age Readers |
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The Beautiful Butterfly Book
By Sue Unstead, illustrated by Gill Tomblin
Waterbird Books
Make learning how caterpillars turn into butterflies an extraordinary visual, hands-on experience with this colorful step-by-step book. Sue Unstead visually guides readers through the process of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, while answering all the usual FAQs. Is a butterfly an insect? How do you tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth? A kid-friendly checklist is provided, and answers are found under golden, larger-than-life sized butterfly wings. A spin-the-wheel identifier reveals the four transformation stages, with the text inside an inner circle of the vivid wings of an adult Monarch butterfly. Detailed color illustrations and text identify the Owl Chrysalis, Cloudless Giant Sulpher Chrysalis, Swallowtail Chrysalis, and the Queen Chrysalis, with touch-and-feel illustrations on the opposite page. Illustrated pages of common and uncommon butterflies and their gardens are provided, along with a one-page glossary in large print, an Index, and a page of fascinating facts. Recommended for classroom use for ages 6-9. --Wanda Meyers-Hines, MLS
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Crazy Horse's Vision
By Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by S.D. Nelson, read by Curtis Zunigha, music by Robert Tree Cody and Curtis Zunigha
Live Oak Media (Book and CD set, also available in audiocassette.)
When Crazy Horse's Vision originally came out in 2000, it received several starred reviews extolling the illustrations and the expertly focused narrative. These virtues are only enhanced by this aural interpretation in this Live Oak Media presentation. Curtis Zunigha gives each word its proper weight and underscores how the boy that would become Crazy Horse was always a leader, always seeking a different path. The musical accompaniment features a subtle flute and various birdsongs, expertly evoking the natural environment of the Lakota landscape. Recommended for grades 2-5, consider for American Indian Heritage month celebrations in November. --Ellen Myrick, Editor, K-12 MediaShelf
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Harry Houdini: A Magical Life
By Elizabeth Macleod
Kids Can Press
This great pictorial biography about the most famous magician of all time reveals how attending one magic show with his father inspired him to become a magician. He worked night and day to learn his craft and how to market himself; Houdini claimed he was born in America, thinking it would make him more appealing to the American public—he was actually born in Hungary. Archival black-and-white photographs and color posters promoting his performances give a first-hand glimpse of historic, magical feats that have not been duplicated to this day. Any budding magician will be enthralled. A thorough time-line of his life, in succinct, easy-to-follow language is provided along with an index. For more avid fans, the location of museums of magic and historical centers are provided. Even the most reluctant readers will jump at the chance to browse through this creative biography. Ages 9-12. --Wanda Meyers-Hines, MLS
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Nacho and Lolita
By Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Claudia Rueda
Scholastic Press
A touching Mexican folktale about the importance of never giving up is conveyed here through a love story about two very different birds: a majestic "pitacoche" and a swallow. Nacho, a rare bird with feathers in “the colors of the world,” lands in the Mission San Juan Capistrano along the California Pacific coastline to rest, only to find the landscape brown and dismal. When he spreads his beautiful wings and begins to sing his haunting song, a crowd gathers. Even though Nacho knows that his luminous feathers bring him much attention, he is lonely. He knows he is the only pitacoche for thousands of miles. On the day of the March feast of St. Joseph, tiny swallows arrive to spend their winter days. And, although the swallows are small, strong, and can fly, and he is “big and bound to the land, unable to fly long distances without resting,” Nacho falls in love. Ages six and up. --Wanda Meyers-Hines, MLS
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Quilt of States
Written by Adrienne Yorinks and 50 Librarians from Across the Nation, illustrated by Adrienne Yorinks
National Geographic
As challenging as it is to do a book about the United States in an entirely new way, Adrienne Yorinks and her team of author-librarians have done just that in Quilt of States. The substance of each state's entry is the story of how it achieved statehood, what hurdles it had to surmount, and how the victory of being admitted to the union was won. The librarian contributors include several well-known library professionals including Jeanette Larson (Texas), Wendy Woodfill (Minnesota), Starr Latronica (New York), and former ALA president Ann Symons (Alaska). Yorinks' state quilts include each state's flower plus appropriate symbols (potatoes for Idaho, elk for Colorado, Elvis for Tennessee) that can provide excellent fodder for discussion. The book is organized by admission date, and a helpful resource at the end provides all those facts needed for reports, including the state slogan or nickname and the state bird. Adrienne Yorinks explains her approach to quilt art in a helpful “Note from the Author/Illustrator” at the end. Recommended for grades 2-5. --Ellen Myrick, Editor, K-12 MediaShelf
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Slow Days, Fast Friends
By Erik Brooks
Albert Whitman & Company
Being different is hard. Accepting people that are different is even harder. Howard, a cheetah, is fast, while Quince, a sloth, is slow. Howard thinks nothing could be worse than being slow, so when he hurts his leg and can't even catch the turtles that tease him, he is miserable. And Quince's way of life is borrrring! That is, until sunset, when Howard discovers there are so many more colors to see besides the blue of the sky and the yellow of the sun during the daytime. It's fun to listen, with eyes closed, when the elephants "plunge into the watering hole…splashing and stomping and trumpeting." After playing chess, and "watching…thinking…listening…talking" with Quince, Howard discovers that his legs have rested, and he can once again walk. With that, he tells Quince "You showed me how to like being slow—now let me show you fast!" Ages 5-7. --Wanda Meyers-Hines, MLS
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Waves: From Surfing to Tsunami
By Drew Kampion
Gibbs Smith Publishers
With the memory of the December 26, 2004, tsunami still fresh, students are bound to be more fascinated than ever by the vagaries of waves. The science of waves is presented in clear illustrations and figure drawings, while the drama of waves is expertly presented in stunning photographs. Some feature before and after shots from tsunamis, while others feature intrepid surfers dwarfed by giant waves with names like “Jaws.” The targeted text is perfect for reluctant readers and includes several points of entry. Recommended for grades two through six. --Ellen Myrick, Editor, K-12 MediaShelf
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| Grades 5-9 |
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Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life
By Candace Fleming
A legendary, larger-than-life hero, Eleanor Roosevelt lived a passionate life that touched men, women, and children everywhere. Showing Eleanor the person, rather than Mrs. Roosevelt the saint, her story is told in a loose chronological order emphasizing a thematic approach. Containing plenty of photographs, letters, cartoons, and more, this book will satisfy the needs of a student who is writing a report as well as the one who is just dipping into the life of a fascinating woman. It also includes a timeline and an index for quick searching. Appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students. --Tracy Taylor, MLS
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| High School |
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Lazarillo de Tormes: A Kaplan Spanish-Language Vocabulary-Building Novel
By Anonymous
Simon & Schuster
This classic Spanish novel provides a gateway to vocabulary enhancement for advanced students of Spanish. Similar to Kaplan's SAT vocabulary-building books, the text is on the right-hand side of the page while key words are defined on the left-hand side, making translation and comprehension both quicker and easier. The novel itself is often cited as the first of the picaresque novels, following the adventures of a young rogue (picaro) in 16th century Spain. Ideal for use by students approaching their Advanced Placement examinations in Spanish or by the eager student who wants a deeper understanding of the verbal nuances, Lazarillo de Tormes is a recommended purchase for high schools with advanced Spanish language classes. --Ellen Myrick, Editor, K-12 MediaShelf
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Lincoln's Last Night: Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth and the Last 36 Hours Before the Assassination
By Alan Axelrod
Chamberlain Brothers
By high school, Lincoln's story is often so familiar to students that it can be difficult to engage them in the story of his life and struggles. This innovative package provides a snapshot of his final night through a book and recreated artifacts. From the breakfast where his wife asked him to forego the evening's plans in favor of seeing a play to his office where a bulging folder resided which contained 80 death threats saved over the years, each moment is played out with a heightened reality within its historical context.
The second part of the package is a portfolio of items from Lincoln's wallet. A $5 bill, strange to us because Lincoln's portrait is not yet affixed to it, newspaper clippings both for and against the president and his policies, and an advertisement trumpeting Our American Cousin at the Ford theatre are just a few of the items. The man, the moment and the times are all in evidence in Lincoln's Last Night. Recommended for grades 7-12. --Ellen Myrick, Editor, K-12 MediaShelf
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| Professional Development |
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The Organized Teacher: A Hands-On Guide to Setting Up and Running a Terrific Classroom
by Steve Springer, Brandy Alexander, and Kimberly Persiani-Becker, Ed.D.
McGraw Hill
This comprehensive resource provides not only guidelines on setting up a classroom but helpful checklists to use all year. Information is organized by subject and grade. Templates for student use and celebrations cover everything from achievement certificates, behavior contracts to “Notes Home,” while administrative templates for teacher's aides, substitutes, and evaluations can either serve as inspiration or be used as is. The art is humorous and just edgy enough to engage both teacher and student. Recommended for new teachers for kindergarten through fifth grade. --Ellen Myrick, Editor, K-12 MediaShelf
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