Don't Call Me Abe

 The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Loot at Abraham and Mary

Author: Candace Fleming

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books

Year: 2008

ISBN: 9780375936180

Abraham Lincoln detested being called Abe. Mary Lincoln declared in 1830 that she was going to grow up and marry a president. Abraham grew a beard at the suggestion of an eleven-year-old girl in 1860. In 1861 Mary sought to go against protocol by insisting on planning all White House social events herself.  These are just a few of the interesting facts that are found in Flemings’ scrapbook about the lives of Abraham and Mary Lincoln.

Written in a journal style format with Old Times American typeface that makes it look something like an old time newspaper, this book contains a plethora of photographs, snippets of personal letters as well as informational inserts about this presidential couples’ children, pets, and life before the White House.  Personal recollections of friends, acquaintances, and family give this book an interesting and personal touch while the timeline at the front of the book and the extensive author notes at the back give further factual information about not only Abraham and Mary but their children and the events of the time.  An alphabetical index enables readers to find specific information without reading the entire text.

The author purposely concentrates on the personal aspects of the Lincolns rather than the political thus making this the perfect book for those reluctant young adult readers with enough photographs, letters, and original artwork to give the book a Guinness Book of Records feel that is irresistible. It contains enough information on politics, the Civil War and slavery to make it a reliable resource for reports and projects without the feel of a textbook.  It is all together an interesting and appealing look into the lives of two of the most famous people in America’s history.

Reviews/Awards:

Starred reviews

Boston Globe-Horned Book Award for Non-fiction

Presented in period typefaces, the boxed bits of text, sidebars, and numerous running heads and subheads add detail. From portraits to pets, the book contains a wide variety of graphics, including written and visual primary documents that enrich every spread. Notes, resources, and source notes are exemplary. It's hard to imagine a more engaging or well-told biography of the Lincolns. School Library Journal

Using the same innovative scrapbook format employed in Ben Franklin’s Almanac (2003) and Our Eleanor (2005), Fleming offers another standout biographical title, this time twining accounts of two lives—Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln—into one fascinating whole. Booklist Starred Review

The visuals range from the essential to the mundane—portraits, maps, battlefield scenes, political cartoons, dress patterns, a stovepipe hat and measurements for a pair of boots—and, along with clear writing and thematic organization, leave readers “feeling as if you have just visited old friends.” Redressing a wrong committed by many histories for young readers, Mary Lincoln is portrayed here as a multidimensional woman of intelligence and social conscience, and the issue of slavery is clearly and concisely handled. Kirkus Reviews

Connections:

Read the following books about Abraham Lincoln. Compare and contrast the information from each.

Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman

The Silent Witness: A True Story of the Civil War by Robin Friedman

Lincoln Through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Shaped an Extraordinary Life by Martin W. Sandler

Have student groups create a journal or scrapbook of the current President and First Lady. 

The Girl That Time Forgot?

 Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Author: Phillip Hoose

Publisher: Melanie Kroupa Books Farrar Straus Giroux

ISBN: 9780374313227

Jim Crow was not a real person but a character in minstrel shows that made fun of African-Americans. If there was only one chair in the waiting room an African American could not sit in it until all the white people did. Claudette Colvin was first arrested at the age of 15 for refusing to give up her seat on the bus. This happened before the incident with Rosa Parks and yet many do not know her name or the roll she played in the Civil Rights Movement. “Browder vs. Gayle changed the relationships of blacks and whites in America and the world. Yet few people know about the case and even fewer know about the plaintiffs” (77, Hoose).  

Chapters filled with personal interviews and relevant facts are made all the more riveting with photographs of people, places, and newspaper clippings detailing the beginning of the end of the “Jim Crow” era. Inserts of pertinent information and personal recollections add to the appeal of this book about the road to true freedom. Twice Toward Justice is well written, informative, as well as interesting.  Bibliographical information leads the reader to additional resources while the authors’ notes add further insight into the lives of the people contained within the pages. It reads almost like a novel and I absolutely couldn’t put it down until I had read it from cover to cover.

Reviews and Awards:

Newbery Honor Book 2010

The Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

National Book Award Winner 2009

The text is supplemented with black-and-white photos, reproductions of period newspapers and documents, and sidebars. While virtually all students know Rosa Parks's story, this well-written and engaging book will introduce them to a teen who also fought for racial justice and give them a new perspective on the era, making it an outstanding choice for most collections. School Library Journal

 This inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make, even as it demonstrates the multitude of interconnected lives that create and sustain a political movement. Thorough chapter notes and suggestions for further reading close this title, which will find an avid readership beyond the classroom. Booklist

The sequence of events unfolds clearly, with its large cast of characters distinctly delineated. Period photographs and reprints of newspaper articles effectively evoke the tenor of the times. Kirkus Review

Connections:

During class discussion brainstorm groups or individuals today, that face challenges or injustices related to their civil rights. On chart paper record the list of individuals or groups. Students will select a topic from the list to write a Five Paragraph Essay. Topics could include Native Americans, Hispanics, Muslims, Senior Citizens, etc. Information about writing the essay can be found on the Internet.

Create a timeline of the Civil Right Movement that includes the life of Claudette Colvin and other famous persons of the time. 

Shake, Rattle, and.....

 Earthquakes

Author: Sally M. Walker

Publisher: Lerner Classroom

Year: 2007

ISBN: 9780822579946

Plot Summary:

Love waves often cause the most damage to buildings. Body waves either move like a slinky being pulled across a tabletop or wiggle like a rope that has one end tied to a tree while the other end is shaken up and down or side to side.  The Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale describes the intensity (amount of damage) caused by these waves. No, we’re not talking about the ocean in this wonderfully descriptive and comprehensive book written by Sally M. Walker.

Walker uses actual photographs and personal accounts to add personal interest and authenticity to this fact filled book about earthquakes. The index makes it easy for students to glean important information from the well written and informative text while graphs, charts, and illustrations further explain pertinent information in an easily understood format. The logical sequencing leads the reader from the why, what, where and how in an orderly and succinct manner while the glossary of terms explains unfamiliar terminology.

Critical Analysis:

The 2007 version of the 1996 book is updated with more current photos and information. The additional section called Be a Word Detective is at the beginning of the book to encourage children to find pertinent terms while the glossary at the back of the book gives added tools for comprehension. The note to adults discusses the best way to gain the most out of the reading experience by encouraging adults to ask questions in order to ensure comprehension, become a vocabulary detective by searching for the words found in the glossary and using the index to review facts. The learn more about earthquakes page offers other books to read and websites to access that are age appropriate and informative. 

Review Excerpts:

A clearly written text and powerful full-color photographs make this a fascinating overview.This book is informative enough for reports, yet readable and visually appealing to browsers. A good glossary and index are appended. Eunice Weech, M. L. King Elementary School, Urbana, IL School Library Journal

Connections:

Read the book then access the websites for further information. Create a poster to compare and contrast the information that was learned from the websites and additional books.

Create a simple seismograph and demonstrate how it takes readings by simulating an earthquake.  You can do this by having the children walk, jump, run, or jog around the room. Observe the different readings that coincide with the different paces.

A Ball For Daisy by Chris Raschka

Schwartz and Wade, 2011

978-0375858611

 Dancing Across the Tripping Tongue and Tickling the Listening Ear

The Llama Who Had No Pajama

Author: Mary Ann Hoberman

Illustrator: Betty Fraser

Year: 1998

Publisher: Browndeer Press

ISBN: 0152001115

Plot:

 A llama has no pajamas and a cricket’s ear is in its leg. The folk who live in Backward Town are inside out and upside down.  The fun just never ends in this whimsical book of poetry by Mary Ann Hoberman. From the Birthday Bus, to the Hippopotamus this book is full of fun for the youngest to the oldest and everyone in between.

Critical Analysis:

 Hoberman’s rhymes are lively and lyrical. The subjects in this book range from animals to family and feelings. It thus lends itself to a variety of options for including poetry across subject areas in school curriculum or multiple readings in story times for many ages.

The language of the book is fast paced and rhythmic. The couplets in The Folk Who Live In Backward Town trip over the tongue and give the poem a dance like quality. While the upside down illustration lends a sense of play to the overall feel of this particular poem.

                                    The folk who lived in Backward Town

                                    Are inside out and upside down.

                                    They wear their hats inside their heads

                                    And go to sleep beneath their beds.

                                    They only eat the apple peeling

                                    And take their walks across the ceiling.

In Ocelot the rhyming couplets and the clever play on the ending of some words lend a bouncy rhythm to this poem.  You can even eliminate portions of the poem and still learn a lot about the ocelot.

                                    The ocelot’s a clever cat.

                                    She knowsalot of this and that.

                                    She growsalot of spotted fur

                                    Which looks extremely well on her.

                                    The places where it snowsalot

                                    She seldom ever goesalot.

                                    She much prefers it where it’s hot.

                                    That’s all about the ocelot.

 The gouache and watercolor illustrations enhance the beauty of the entire book and add a touch of color and fun to an already delightful work of art. The table of contents and the index of beginning lines renders this book easy to use.

Reviews:

 "Hoberman's rhythms are lively and agile, and her imagination and sense of humor are still in tune with young readers. Fraser's simple but detailed gouache and watercolor illustrations exhibit the same qualities . . . Good for beginning or experienced readers of poetry, this should indeed become a favorite."--School Library Journal

 "Poems drawn from Hoberman's previous works…are packaged to delight a new generation of youngsters. Children may be reminded of A.A. Milne's poetry…but Hoberman's poetry goes deeper, offering children a new way to look at things." Booklist

Gold Award Winner - 1998 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA)

Best Books of the Year - Child Magazine

Connections:

Use in science class as a connection to various types of animals.

Read selected poem to go with the story time theme.

Use in conjunction with musical instruments and movement to reinforce the Language Arts concepts such as syllables and oral reading skills.

A Pocket Full of Words

Title: A Pocketful of Poems

Author: Nikki Grimes

Illustrator: Javaka Steptoe

Date: 2011

Publisher: Clarion Books

ISBN: 0395938686

Plot Summary:

Tiana lives in Harlem with her mama and her daddy. She plants seeds in her mother’s flower box, dances in the rain and feeds the pigeons that rest upon her windowsill. She carries a pocketful of words to play with. “You can borrow most of them if you want to.”

Critical Analysis:

A Pocketful of Poems is a delightful blend of poetry that uses free verse and haiku in an alternating pattern.  Coupled with collage illustrations created from various recycled and hand crafted materials this book creates the engaging story of young Tiana’s life in the city of Harlem.

 The language of such poems as Shower creates the image of a city clean and brand new. The double meaning of the word shower not only allows the reader to remember puddle stomping on a rainy day but the play on words brings to mind bubble baths and bath time fun.

                                   

                                                SHOWER

                                    This word wets my pocket.

                                    I have to stay indoors

                                    until my blue jeans dry.

                                    SHOWER is a clean word-

                                    soap and water for the sky.

One can literally see Tiana running in the storm with raindrops falling on her face. The deceptively simple Haiku that coincides with the free verse allows us to share Tiana’s joy in a clean new day.

                                    April showers scrub

                                    the air. No wonder I can

                                    run now. I can breathe!

The illustrations enhance the text as we see Tiana dancing in a rain shower as she wears blue jeans and carries a sponge and soap.  It seems as if she is actually creating a clean new day to enjoy.

The repetition of the sounds of the letter “p” in this poem let us feel a pigeon pecking at us through our pocket.  Ouch!

PIGEON

                                    Ouch! This word pecks my pocket

                                    like some wild thing, anxious to go free.

                                    PIGEON

                                    Its speckled sister paces along

                                    the windowsill, staring in at me.

The Haiku describes pigeons masquerading as wildlife and the illustrations show various pigeons dressed in different disguises. They no longer look like wildlife but like city folk out for a stroll around the block.

                                    Pigeons masquerade as wildlife.

                                    They can’t fool me.

                                    We’re all city folk.

With a clever combination of sounds, vivid imagery and creative illustrations A Pocketful of Poems is a wonderful introduction to the joys of poetry

Reviews:

"There's so much vibrant energy and freshness in this collaboration, the book will dance into the hearts of children right away." Booklist, ALA, Starred Review

“A playful and thoroughly successful pairing of words and pictures.” School Library Journal

Connections:

Use in connection with lesson plans on poetry, specifically Free Verse and Haiku. Read the book. Discuss the definitions of the two styles of poetry. Construct a Haiku and/or Free Verse poem together. Have each child create one of their own and create illustrations to convey the meaning of their poems. Alternative: Have the children work in pairs. Have one writing and the other illustrating the poem.

Introduce poetry using this book as the opening icebreaker. Discuss how the individual poems make the students feel. What do they picture in their minds? What thoughts and feelings do the poems convey to them? Make a sister poem to match the one read. Use either free verse or haiku. Then introduce other types of poetry in later lessons.

Use this story in a story time. Find music that enhances the poetry and ask the children to show what the poems make them see and feel using motion and movement. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes?

Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials

Author: Stephanie Hemphill

Date: 2010

Publisher: Balzer and Bray

ISBN: 9780061853289

Plot Summary: In 1692 seven girls play a” dangerous” game in Puritan New England. It leads to accusing a slave woman of witchcraft and starts a firestorm of hysteria that sweeps through their town and the surrounding areas. No one knows who will be next accused. Innocent and perhaps not so innocent people die and lives are changed forever all because of seven “Wicked Girls”.

Critical Analysis: Hemphill’s verse novel, written in free verse tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials through the voices of the seven girls that began it all. Hemphill’s use of language gives us a feel for the personality of each character. Her imagery allows the reader to wander in the minds and emotions of each and invites the reader to see each girl’s innermost thoughts and feelings. Margaret’s jealousy of Mercy and her pain at the thought of losing Isaac can be felt within the lines,

                                   

“I wish to bite her. I wish to punch her

                                    Arms till they turn black, but I just

                                    Collapse like a tree slashed down.” (Hemphill, 266)

The reader can almost see Margaret’s rage and sorrow on her face even as she leans on her "enemy" for comfort. 

Ann’s yearning to be noticed can be seen and felt in, What is Good, What is Great and What is Amazing. Hemphill’s language and imagery evokes Ann’s longing for the attention of her family within the heart of the reader. One can almost taste her desire to truly be noticed for who and what she is.

“What is good about witches

                                    is that when I call out “Mother,”

                                    Mother listens and replies,

                                    “Yes, dear Ann.”

                                    And When I do say

                                    I see the Invisible World

                                    Father doth bend an ear

                                    and hold me upon his lap.

                                    But what is most amazing

                                    about Affliction

                                    is that Mercy is come along now

                                    as my sister.

                                    She eats beside me at the table.

                                    We sit in meeting and examination as kin. (Hemphill, 89)

The reader can practically hear the contentment in her voice when her mother actually answers her with a loving tone and her father holds her on his lap. There is a sense of pathos that lets the reader understand her motives in spite of the consequences of what she has involved herself in.

When taken as a whole, Hemphill’s verse novel leaves the reader with an interesting and thought provoking view of the undercurrents swirling beneath the surface of one of the most controversial events in America’s history.

The reader will want to go back again and again to poems like Isolation and Family. Both evoke the feelings of what it is like to be isolated from everyone around you or the yearning to be a part of something, to matter to so someone at almost any cost. 

Wicked Girls is a thought provoking, heart touching, and emotion laden read.

Reviews and Awards:

In subtle, spare first-person free-verse poems, the author skillfully demonstrates how ordinary people may come to commit monstrous acts. Haunting and still frighteningly relevant. Kirkus Review

 Layering the girls' voices in interspersed, lyrical poems that slowly build the psychological drama, Hemphill requires patience from her readers. What emerge are richly developed portraits of Puritanical mean girls, and teens will easily recognize the contemporary parallels in the authentic clique dynamics. An excellent supplementary choice for curricular studies of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, this will also find readers outside the classroom, who will savor the accessible, unsettling, piercing lines that connect past and present with timeless conflicts and truths. Booklist Starred Review

Connections:

Use in conjunction with lesson plan on Puritans. Not recommended for younger grades.

Read as a supplement to the Crucible by Arthur Miller

Fiction read for unit on Salem Witch Trials

Select various poems from the book to hold a discussion on feelings, peer pressure, bullying

Hemphill, Stephanie. 2012. Wicked girls: A novel of the salem witch trials. New York: Balzer and Bray.