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Reading Rockets' children's literature expert, Maria Salvadore, brings you into her world as she explores the best ways to use kids' books both inside — and outside — of the classroom.
Many thanks to our good friend (and 2006 Caldecott winner!) Chris Raschka, for his excellent illustration of Maria, Queen of the 'Page by Page' Blog (right).
Children's attachments…
I was talking to a friend this morning and she told me both of her children loved their new winter coats; and that even before the recent cold snap, both the 2-year-old and the 5-year-old wore their new apparel with glee.
It reminded me that many children develop a fondness for a particular item. My son loved to wear his Batman cape long — even a year — after Halloween and he had an old worn burp cloth that was his "lovie," not unlike Owen's Fuzzy in the book entitled Owen (Greenwillow) by Kevin Henkes.
Author Amy Hest shows a particular sensitivity to children and the power of particular items of clothing. In her book called In the Rain with Baby Duck (Candlewick), Hest introduces Baby Duck who dislikes wet weather — quite unusual for a duck. But a trip to the attic with Grandpa where they find a bit of family history and red boots certainly improves the situation.
Another grandfather in Hest's Purple Coat (Simon & Schuster) comes up with a creative solution to the annual navy blue coat for Gabrielle (who really wants a purple coat).
Children do develop connections to odd things and peculiar pieces of clothing (I wonder what ever happened to my cowgirl boots!?) but recognition by a concerned adult — and even a suggested solution found in a book — may make it an opportunity to share something special.
A new era begins
The seemingly endless elections are over and a new family — a young president with young children — is heading to the White House.
Like with most new beginnings, there's palpable optimism. Hope is a word that I'm hearing — and feel myself — in conjunction with the future of the United States and its citizens.
Hope. It's a short word with a big meaning. I know I personally like to spend time around people who see the glass as half full rather than half empty; they're the people who tend to be positive, optimistic, hopeful.
So what does this have to do with a blog about books? Well, I am convinced that books offer readers of any age — especially children and young adults — hope in less obvious ways.
Books whether shared or read independently offer readers coping tools even before there's the need to draw on them. Stories offer a glimpse into other ways of looking at things big and little. They provide vicarious experiences, information, other ways of seeing issues. They provide hope.
Long ago, Katherine Paterson suggested that the difference between books for young readers and adults was the presence of hope in books for young readers. (Sorry, Katherine, I don't know where or when you said this, but it's stayed with me!)
Hope is presented in books that make things work out or offered in a way that generates discussion.
A depth of meaning and feeling is presented through handsome photographs and rich text in Lauren Thompson's Hope is an Open Heart (Scholastic) — much as Barbara Kerley does in her books that combine ideas presented in words and image, A Little Peace and You and Me Together (both National Geographic).
Hope. Let's share it. Let's live it. And let it be a real force in the lives of our kids.
You know it when you feel it
I've been thinking about poetry lately, probably because I spent time last week with a poet and read her work in a concentrated way.
It was a pleasure to spend time with Carole Boston Weatherford. You probably know her work. Her book Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Hyperion) was awarded a Coretta Scott King award and a Caldecott Honor. Other books that she's written have not only won prestigious awards, but have been included on many notable lists.
In any case, spending time with Carole made me wonder: what is poetry for children? How does it differ from poetry for adults? Does poetry do something that prose doesn't?
I'm not at all sure that there's a satisfactory definition of poetry, but I kind of like what Robert Frost had to say about poetry, that it "begins in delight and ends in wisdom." It seems to ring true, particularly about poetry shared with children.
We start sharing Mother Goose rhymes with the youngest child and continue on. Personally, I like the Iona Opie collection illustrated by Rosemary Wells, My Very First Mother Goose (Candlewick) for very young children.
And then Carole Weatherford's Jazz Baby (Lee & Low) is a great one to share. Jazz Baby celebrates the music in words and rhythm that can be shared with children of almost any age (I was with her when she shared it successfully with a group of 6th graders!)
Think about it. The delight, the pleasure, the joy of sharing rhymes winds up encouraging children to play with language, hear the rhythm, or pay closer attention to words because of the way they're presented.
I think the same is true for older children — and for adults &mdah; regardless of the type of poetry. The way words are put together in poetry or poetic forms slows me down as a reader.
And the space between the words — both literally and figuratively — just may give readers greater understanding of something they didn't even know they knew.
Not-so-scary tales for autumn nights
You know it is autumn when Christmas decorations start appearing in stores.
But before we get to the December holidays, many children enjoy slightly spooky stories as the dark nights of Fall approach.
One of my favorites is The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams (HarperCollins) — a cumulative tale with lots of repetition and onomatopoeia. In it, a valiant old woman remains undaunted by the ghostly doings on her walk home.
The Teeny Tiny Woman retold by Paul Galdone (Sandpiper) is another brave soul who defies the increasingly loud voice from her cupboard demanding the return of "my bone."
Of course, there’s Molly Bang's version of Wiley and the Hairy Man (Aladdin) in which Wiley and his very smart mother outwit the nasty Hairy Man, forever banning him from their home in the woods.
And for the board book set, there is Kevin Henke's Julius' Candy Corn (HarperFestival) and the illustrated fingerplay rhyme, Five Little Pumpkins illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (Harper Growing Tree). Both of these can double as counting books or a game for younger children.
There are lots of books and stories that are especially fun to share at this time of year, especially those that are slightly spooky but not terrifying for younger children — and safer within the covers of a book!
One boy and a lot of ideas
I've just read a new book by Caldecott Honor winning artist, Laura Vaccaro Seeger called One Boy (Roaring Brook). Like several of her other books, this one uses die cuts along with rhythmic language for a simple but sophisticated book. It's downright intriguing.
I have a problem though. If I nominated it for a Cybil Award (web awards for children's and young adult books) under which category would it best fit?
The cut out square on the red cover reveals the innocent face of one boy. Turn the page, and he's "all alone." I initially wondered why "two seals" follow, but then I quickly got into the rhythm and wordplay.
It's playful, stimulating, and worth reading many times to figure out how the die cuts work, to hear the language (I read it out loud), and to take pleasure in the story coming full circle — back to one boy.
But I wonder, is it "fiction picture book" or as a concept book, is it a "nonfiction picture book?" Is it too sophisticated for young picture book audiences or perhaps too effortless-looking for older children?
Or is it just a remarkable book that can be appreciated by many ages as art, as a concept book, as visual storytelling, or as another book by a very creative author/illustrator?
Let me know what you think. I'm going to try it on a group of kindergarten children today and I'll let you know what they think.
Picture this – the National Book Festival
What do a First Lady and her daughter have in common with a football player, a newly appointed and quite outspoken Ambassador, a Grammy Award winning vocalist — and dozens of others?
They've all written books for young readers — and celebrated books together in Washington, DC.
Take a look at some of some of the photographs of the National Book Festival — and have fun with books by picking up your favorite children's book and reading it with your favorite child!
The first ever National Ambassador for Young People's Literary, Jon Scieszka, is quite outspoken and very funny. His new book, Knucklehead (Viking), for older readers (9 to 12 years old), is a collection of outrageous (and mostly true) stories about Jon growing up in a family of boys. His Trucktown series (Simon & Schuster) is especially for younger readers, preschool through primary grades, and has special appeal for boys.
Better known as an NFL player and now a sportscaster, Tiki Barber and his brother Ronde, have written several books for young readers, again with particular appeal to boys. And the velvet-voiced Dionne Warwick tells her personal story in a book for children.
Who's your favorite author? Does he or she have a book out in 2008? Let's put our favs together and we'll send them to be counted in the voting for the Cybil Award!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Come and gone, but not forgotten
The 2008 National Book Festival is now but a memory — a happy one, a lasting one — maybe even one that will change a life or two. (Books do that, of course, though we often don't know how or who.)
Anyway, the Library of Congress also gives ideas as to how others can host a book celebration and have lots of ideas to expand it. There's a neat online toolkit with lots of ideas that can be used in homes and classrooms.
This year's Book Festival was a great time for all; even a bit of rain and soggy walkways couldn't dampen spirits or keep people away from it.
There was lots to see and do.
I got to hear three (of the 100 plus!) contributors to a new book entitled, Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out (Candlewick).
Mary Brigid Barrett, Steven Kellogg, and two-time Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson shared stories about their work on the book — and the organization that it supports— the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance.
This is a fine book that makes some of the 'story' in 'history' come to life in pictures and words. There's straight nonfiction, historical fiction, fantasy, memoir, and more — with lots of illustration that is sure to captivate readers of all ages. And it's an ideal book to share especially these days with so much about the White House (and presidential candidates) in the news.
Let's hope that the Book Festival that First Lady Laura Bush initiated will become a Washington institution — even after there is a new family residing in the people's mansion, the White House.
Apple-picking time
Some have exotic names like Rome Beauty or Fuji. Others suggest fun — think 'Gala.' Still others suggest a tasty treat: red or golden delicious.
But they're apples all. And I for one associate these crunchy delights with fall. Maybe it's because we've gone apple picking each autumn since our son was in preschool.
Recently, I was looking for another local orchard, I came across a mention of Johnny Appleseed, an endlessly interesting character who's credited with sowing apple seeds across the country.
A recent book by Jane Yolen called Johnny Appleseed: The Legend and the Truth (HarperCollins) puts fact and fiction side-by-side in a handsomely illustrated book that calls out to be shared with children from 5 up. (The book is out just in time to help celebrate Johnny Appleseed's birthday next week.)
I'm also reminded of books that children can be encouraged to explore how, where, and why apples grow. Easy science books like Gail Gibbons' Apples (Holiday House) and How Do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro (HarperCollins) intrigue children and just may spark interests that go off into other areas (seasons and weather changes, for starters).
From fact to fiction, the change of seasons can signal new activities and good reading.
Next week is the National Book Festival . Stay tuned for more information about some of the luminaries that will appear on the National Mall in DC!
Confusing times for children
Yesterday the country commemorated a tough anniversary: the seventh year since the terrorist attacks in the United States.
I was reminded that children were not only victims, but many young children lost a parent. One 8- or 9-year-old boy was interviewed on the radio. While I don't remember the station or the time or even the child's name, his words made me tear up.
He said he didn't really remember what happened that day, he doesn't even remember his dad very well, but he does remember the love his dad had for him.
How awful that a young child looses a parent. How wonderful that the child remembers — certainly because he's reminded — the love of that parent.
What do adults do in these sad, unsettled times? How can they help children understand particularly when adults are as flummoxed as the children?
Maybe books can help. A few that I think are good for starting those difficult discussions can be found here: books to help children heal. Do you have a favorite book to help young children understand disquieting times?
Where interests lead
Have you ever been interested in one thing and have it lead to something else? I was reminded of that by a fascinating book I've just read (it's coming out in December). It's called I'll Pass for your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War (Clarion) by Anita Silvey.
In an author's note, Silvey explains how she was intrigued by an old photograph that she found when she was tracking down her own family history. Though her book is for older readers (I'd say grades 5 to 8), it made me wonder where an interest, a picture, or a book can take a young child.
Will the child who reads about dinosaurs become a paleontologist — even of the armchair variety? Gail Gibbons' recent book, Dinosaurs! (Holiday House), provides an accessible introduction to the topic with full color illustrations — and pronunciation for these dramatically illustrated creatures with polysyllabic names.
Can a class of kids be inspired to read Beatrice's Goat (Atheneum), or be propelled to "pass on the gift" after reading another book called Give a Goat (Tilbury House)? Both are about improving the lives of others far away through very doable activities near home.
Where do interests lead? Who knows, but it may well start with a book.
Dog days of summer — gone!
I missed them. Even though they haven't felt much like them, the dog days of summer have come and gone. And I missed them.
I always thought that they were called "dog days" because they were just lazy days or maybe too hot to do much other than laze around…but not so, I learned.
The dog days of summer are when the two well known stars, the Sun and Sirius (the Dog Star), are both at their brightest. Ancient people thought that it must add to the heat (and even create other things like plagues).
The dog days are called the dog days because of a star!
Even though they're harder to see from in and around cities, stargazing is a fine thing to do as the days get shorter. And H.A. Rey's The Stars: A New Way to See Them (Houghton) is a good place for new (and even experienced) stargazers to begin.
Not only was Rey the creator of the Curious George books but he studied natural science. Rey's imagination combines with science for a memorable way to see the stars — even the Dog Star.
Young stargazers and George fans may want to visit the Rey home called the Curious George Cottage. Like The Stars, it combines whimsy and knowledge as an educational and recreational center in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.
So, look up — and say goodbye to the dog days!
A summer walk
Have you ever been with a young child and watched them take in the world around them? I was recently reminded that the world and everything in it is new to each child as they encounter it.
I walked while my young niece, Michaela, pedaled furiously on her tricycle. She suddenly stopped when she noticed a pinecone on the sidewalk. She picked it up, examined it from all sides, and then put it in the basket to take home. Along the way, we picked up a yellow flower, followed by a purple flower, then a white one.
All the way, she sang the song that we'd shared while reading the Gunniwolf, a book we'd shared about a little girl who sings while collecting flowers for a bouquet for her mother.
A little squirrel we saw reminded her of Scaredy Squirrel, another book character that we'd met earlier. (In some ways, Scaredy is like Michaela, who sometimes needs encouragement to leave her comfort zone but can laugh at the similar behavior of another small creature.)
Interesting to note that books Michaela recalled were just as fresh and new to this precocious four-year old as what we saw on our walk. One story was quite old, based on a folktale; the other book is very contemporary in its approach as well as in presentation.
A simple walk reminded me that books — like the world — are new to each and every child that comes to them. So, I'll continue to share books that I've shared a million times as well as the new ones.
I just hope that I will approach them all with the freshness of children like Michaela. She gave me a fine reminder.
What did you say?
Children absorb what's around them, including — or maybe especially — language. Words are absorbed at an incredible pace, but just look around; you'll probably see how often adults talk at children rather than with them.
We all do it, it's frequently necessary and certainly speeds things up. But I can't help but notice how few words all of us use in daily conversation.
So, how can we introduce children to language is rich and varied? By sharing books with them, of course.
When my son was very young, we were out and about one day when we overheard someone use the word "odiferous." My son exclaimed in his huge four-year old voice: "ODIFEROUS WRETCH!" (The looks around us ranged from amazement to horror.)
He'd heard that word when we read (and reread) one of his then favorite books — William Steig's Amazing Bone (Farrar).
Rich language is a hallmark of Steig's books. Pearl, the heroine of the book, goes out not on a sunny day, but rather one that is "brilliant." The cheerful pig doesn't call her captor, a villainous and hungry fox, simply a bad guy, he becomes an "odiferous wretch."
More than one book for children has sent me to the dictionary to figure out what a word means or how to pronounce a word. And that's a good thing. It means that these books can build vocabulary for adults as well as children while making a time shared memorable.
Let the games begin!
The 2008 Summer Olympics will officially open in Beijing tomorrow. Television and computer screens will be filled with images of athletes and athletics, not to mention the host county.
I wonder how the Olympics can achieve what its slogan advertises: One World One Dream.
Maybe it begins by introducing children to the history and background of the games.
Older readers — even adults — will appreciate the informative tidbits and stunning photographs in Sue Macy's recently updated Swifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics (National Geographic).
Younger readers continue to be intrigued by the Magic Tree House trip to early games in ancient Greece. A more recent Magic Tree House Research Guide: Ancient Greece and the Olympics Random) both satisfies curiosity as well as piques it.
Since Olympiads come from all over the world, an atlas such as the National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers, 3rd edition , may encourage kids to look at the world differently.
And of course, there's an opportunity to examine different sports or the lives of individual athletes, past and present. One of my personal favorites is Wilma Unlimited (Harcourt). This picture book presents a downright inspiring biographical sketch of the first woman to win 3 gold medals in spite of huge obstacles.
Maybe, like the Olympics, books can help children envision a world filled with shared dreams.
Vacation...and the learning is easy
We're on vacation this week, visiting my sister in southwest Florida. It's a tropical climate, and we're here during the rainy season. Happily, the tropics — where the energy for hurricanes begins — have been quiet so far.
There's a lot to do here: swimming in the Gulf of Mexico (we saw juvenile stingrays and cavorting dolphins a bit farther out), golf — miniature and non-miniature — and watching different birds in the wild, the suburbs, and in a nearby wildlife preserve, the Ding Darling Refuge, part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
We've seen snowy egrets, osprey, lots of brown pelicans (they look almost prehistoric), a very large wood stork, and even a stunningly beautiful Roseate Spoonbill — (I guess this one decided not to go north for the summer).
I purchased a one-page guide, but still want a book to learn more about these exotic beauties. With a good identification book, we'd be better able to better answer my young nieces' questions and better satisfy our own curiosity.
I think I'll look for a bookstore (or find the local library) now to bone up on Southwest Florida wildlife. I'm sure we'll keep an eye open for birds when we head north. We listen to audio books on the seemingly endless trip home so our eyes remain available to see any unexpected flyovers!
I've learned a ton on this vacation and it's aroused the kids' curiosity.
Summer, don't you love it?
On the road again…
Last summer, we drove to southwest Florida to visit my sister and her family. I give the credit for us getting there to Jim Dale and Harry Potter.
A fine voice reading an exciting story (even though we'd all individually read the books) allowed us to avoid conflict over which kind of music to listen to and to share a different kind of experience.
This year we're planning another road trip, even though the price of gas is keeping us closer to home.
I'm better prepared these days. I try to remind myself of easy games to play in the car (which are also a good way to keep the driver alert). I found a neat website that reminded me of familiar games, organized by age.
And now — even without a family vacation on the horizon — I keep a few audio books in the car. (I borrow them from my library. Many libraries even have downloadable books for MP3s or iPods these days.) They're a great way to enhance reading skills whether your child is a typical or a special learner.
It's always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep everyone engaged and maybe even stimulate a bit of learning, maybe overall awareness of language — all the while sharing some fun.
And just think, you just may not hear that usually whiny question (that is really more of a complaint) — "Are we there yet?"
Books to film, and the learning is engaging
It's summertime. The pace has slowed down, partially because it's too hot to move too quickly but more so because school's out, people are away, and life has generally taken on a slightly more civilized tempo.
But it's a time of learning loss as well.
One recent rainy sultry Saturday, we went to the movies. During the previews, I was reminded just how many films are adapted from books.
A movie of City of Ember (Random), the first book in a series by Jean DuPrau, is forthcoming. Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (Picture House/New Line), based on the ever-popular American Girl series, is already out.
Scheduled for the fall is the movie version of Kate DiCamillo's fantasy, The Tale of Desperaux (Candlewick) as is the most recent of the Harry Potters (Scholastic).
These are just a few adaptations from books for young people.
Watching movies and television shows for children may be just the ticket to encourage reading. There are lots of ideas out there.
A website called F.I.L.M. (Finding Inspiration in Literature & Film) provides ready-made ideas for content — for parents as well as teachers. The approach is adaptable for any age child.
The whole notion of using media, books, and activities is not a new one. Ready To Learn, a PBS model that uses television programs, books, and activities to encourage young children's learning, has been around for some years.
Building out themes from movies or TV shows, reading about the ideas presented (or the book from which the program is based), and accompanying it by some kind of fun activity is a great way to learn.
So, sit back and relax and maybe grab a bag of popcorn!
Tasha Tudor: an appreciation
If I told you that Starling Burgess had died, you'd probably ask who he is.
But I sure have heard many wistful 'ahs' when people learned that Tasha Tudor died this past June at age 92. (She legally changed her name early on.)
Maybe she instinctively knew that Sterling Burgess wasn’t such a great name for an artistic soul.
Tasha Tudor was a prolific author and illustrator who rejected the 20th century to which she was born. Instead, she preferred the 19th century, reflected in the sweet, idealized images she created.
It was interesting to me when I found that her first book, Pumpkin Moonshine (Simon & Schuster) — which depicts a rural autumn in all its glory — is still in print.
A lot of Tasha Tudor's books are still available, not just because she was prolific, but perhaps because her work provides a glimpse into a different, kinder, time and place.
Maybe Tudor's books provide a respite from today's frenzied life — the "real world" and its problems. In any case, Tasha Tudor will continue to live on through her work. And she will continue to be loved.
A remarkable marker
I remember when my son was in preschool. His teacher was very excited when he brought in his favorite book — and then 'read' it (verbatim) to the other kids.
The book was Where the Wild Things Are (HarperCollins), his maximum favorite book for a long, long time — and obviously one that had been read aloud to him innumerable times.
It's amazing to learn that Maurice Sendak recently turned 80 years old.
It's even more amazing to think about the impact that his Wild Things have had on generations of children — and that influence continues to be felt in tangible ways.
A movie of Where the Wild Things Are may be released next year (Fall 2009). The Gene Deitch film (for Weston Woods) is on YouTube. The characters have been on stage, in commercials, and made into soft toys.
Most important, children still respond to the book. (I guarantee that this book is as fresh and timely today as it was in 1963 when it was first published. I read it regularly!)
And all because Sendak and his childhood — presented in this seemingly simple, highly imaginative and satisfying picture book — are truly timeless, ageless.
Amazing. Do you or your children have a recollection of a special book or story? Share with our readers why it's so memorable.
Mother Nature shows off: shake, rumble, and roll
Our normally calm dog turned into Velcro the other night; she became stuck to my side. By the time the thunder and lightning subsided, I was ready to go into a closet with my trembling pooch.
It was a sound and light show provided by Mother Nature.
The weather and other natural disasters have been in the news a lot lately — earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, torrential rains, and now the hurricane season has started.
These events directly impact children in affected areas, but also on children who hear about them. It's almost impossible to insulate kids from this kind of news.
But learning about weather and other natural disasters may prepare kids or at least help develop an understanding of events.
I usually rely on books by Seymour Simon. He's written about Storms, Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Tornadoes, (all HarperCollins) and more — each illustrated with amazing color photographs and clearly presented information. (Adults may need to 'translate' the information for younger children — but it's a great way for adults to get the information.)
For those who'd like a lighter approach to weather, something sillier might be just the thing — like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs(Aladdin) or the imaginative Hurricane by David Wiesner (Clarion).
You can complain about it, but it can't be changed. It's simply Mother Nature showing her stuff.
"A Tale of Two Schools was a wonderful and inspiring documentary that shed a human light on the problems and triumphs of our public education system.
~ Regina
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