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Welcome to the next installment of my Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series! This is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of our protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well. I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Book-jumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
This week I’d like to focus on the wonderful author, Michaela MacColl. Michaela attended Vassar College and Yale University. She earned degrees in multi-disciplinary history. Unfortunately, it took her 20 years to realize that was her passion and begin writing historical fiction. Her favorite stories are the ones she finds about the childhood experiences of famous people. What happened that helped them to be great? Michaela has two daughters so she’s hoping to identify those moments firsthand. She and her family live in Connecticut, but she will travel at the drop of hat to do local research.
We’ve all heard of the beloved author Louisa May Alcott, but how many of you can say you really know her? I’ll bet more than you think, especially if you’ve entertained yourselves with the tales of the March Sisters in Little Women. But there was more to Louisa’s life than her three sisters and her sharp pen.
Hard times have befallen the Alcott family. Money is scarce since her transcendentalist father refuses to work for anyone but himself because of his morals. Because her husband will not sacrifice her morals, Marmee Alcott must leave her family in Concord so that she may support them with her own work, leaving Louisa in charge of the household, her younger sister, and her father. Oh, yes, and her family’s role in the Underground Railroad.
Just before Marmee leaves to start work, a runaway slave appears on the Alcott’s property in need of help and a place to hide until his family can reach him. Louisa is the find him, and she now feels a loyalty to him. But George Freedman does not just bring his family running after him. A literate slave, George has a high bounty on his head, and a certain dangerous slave catcher has come running after him, bringing trouble for everyone in Louisa’s circle of friends.
Mr. Finch, the slave catcher soon discovers everyone’s secrets including, Mr. Pryor, the Railroad Conductor, Henry David Thoreau, Mrs. Emerson, and even the Alcotts. So many people want him gone, so how can Louisa narrow the list of suspects when Mr. Finch turns up dead on Ralph Waldo Emerson’s property a few feet away from her injured father.
With the help of friends, family, and her own, sharp intellect, Louisa May must discover the truth behind Mr. Finch’s death to prove everyone else’s innocence. But in Concord, Massachusetts, everyone has secrets. How to tell the truth from the lies?
This is the second book of Michaela MacColl’s that I have had the pleasure of reading. This crafty novel is suspenseful, endearing, and altogether witty. I loved learning about the famous American author. Her family’s involvement in the Underground railroad was a surprise to me, but one that I find extremely interesting! This novel is filled with factual information about Louisa May Alcott’s life, with only a few fictional liberties taken by Ms. MacColl. If you are a fan of Little Women, you will love getting a look into the real March family! Facts about Louisa May Alcott:
~Louisa had three sisters, all who had paralleling characters in her famous novel Little Women. Jo’s fiery character was based off herself.
~Even though her family was destitute growing up, Louisa became very wealthy as an adult, wealthy enough to send her youngest sister to Paris to study art.
~Louisa preferred to write more adult themes, rather than for children. The success of the novel based on her life and her family continued to surprise her all throughout her life.
~Like many women of this time and before, Louisa originally published her work under a man’s pseudonym. A compilation of stories from her time as a nurse during the Civil War was her first work published under her name.
~Louisa never married, but she raised her youngest sister’s daughter when she died a few weeks after the birth.
*All of these fascinating facts and more about Ms. Alcott’s life can be found in the Author’s Note.
Later this week I’ll be sharing with you our visit to Orchard House and the Alcott’s. While visiting Concord we soon learned how close all of these famous American authors and thinkers lived to each other. Nathaniel Hawthorne lived right next door to the Alcott’s. Louisa’s father Bronson Alcott use to stand out in front of the house near the street, catching anyone passing by into lengthy intense discussions. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a very shy and solitary man. He had a pathway put in above their houses on the ridge so he could avoid Branson Alcott and his intense conversations.
Create a family Post Office-Here are some great ideas from the Pinterest Boards of one of my favorite bloggers; Growing Book by Book!
Louisa and her sisters had little personal mailboxes that they would leave notes for each other in. In little women, their neighbor Laurie would leave messages for them in a mailbox which was a very novel idea at the time. Why not have a little post office fun in your family. Here are some great ideas.
Read the book Little Women which is a fictionalized version of the Alcott family.
Do your young readers love nature and all of nature’s critters? Experience the magical story of a family of foxes that took up residence right in the front yard of the author and publisher, Valarie Budayr. The Fox Diaries: The Year the Foxes Came to our Garden offers an enthusiastically educational opportunity to observe this fox family grow and learn together.
From digging and hunting to playing and resting, this diary shares a rare glimpse into the private lives of Momma Rennie and her babies. Come watch as they navigate this wildly dangerous but still wonderful world. Great to share with your children or students, The Fox Diaries speaks to the importance of growing and learning both individually and as a family unit. It is a perfect book for story time or family sharing. Not only can you read about the daily rituals of this marvelous fox family, there is an information-packed resource section at the end of the book that includes lots of facts and even a few “fox movies” that you can enjoy with your family. Grab your copy of this beautiful and inspiring book HERE.
Synopsis: As one young boy struggles to come to terms with his father’s beliefs and actions towards slaves, he pulls from deep within his soul, courage and determination he never knew existed. Will David’s attempts to save Jenkins come to fruition or does David get caught red handed in defying his Pa?
Excerpt: “David crept into the barn. His first attempts to help Jenkins hadn’t gone well. Jenkins cringed when he saw David. Over time, David gained Jenkins’ trust with promises that he was not there to harm him, but to help. Tonight the wounds from the whip were worse than ever. The welts looked as if caterpillars were stuck under the skin.”
It's a pleasure to have you stop by for a visit. Thanks a bunch for your interest and time!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best wishes, Donna M. McDine Multi Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!
Connect with Donna McDine on Google+ A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
0 Comments on U is for Underground Railroad, The Golden Pathway by Donna McDine - A to Z 2015 Challenge as of 4/24/2015 8:51:00 AM
The child turned in all directions, searching, calling, but no one called back. The sun was setting, swiftly behind the tall pines, and a late afternoon chill signaled a cold, life-threatening December night, unless the child found shelter, soon.
Her long cotton dress, and tattered wool coat, would help, but her teeth were already chattering from cold, or maybe from fear. At this point, it didn't matter which. Both could spell her death.
Their attempted escape had begun the night before from the rural Georgia plantation; the only home the girl had ever known. That much she could remember. Then sometime, just before sunup, they'd heard the dogs. Vicious sounding, braying madly, having caught scent of fully focused prey—a family trying, desperately, to distance itself from the oncoming battle between the North and the South.
Annabelle had panicked and run in the opposite direction of the fearsome howling, believing her mother, father, and younger sister were heading in the same direction.
She was wrong.
Her voice, barely audible from strain, she stumbled through the thick undergrowth for hours, calling, "Mama? Papa? Where are you?" She slumped to the ground beside the trunk of a Georgia Pine, nestled her exhausted, frightened body into a pile of dry leaves and closed her eyes,
Harriet Ross Tubman’s heroic rescue effort on behalf of slaves before and during the Civil War was a lifetime fight against social injustice and oppression.
Most people are aware of her role as what historian John Hope Franklin considered the greatest conductor for the Underground Railroad. However, her rescue effort also included her work as a cook, nurse, scout, spy, and soldier for the Union Army. As a nurse, she cared for black soldiers by working with Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, who was in charge of front line hospitals. Over 700 slaves were rescued in the Tubman-led raid against the Confederates at the Combahee River in South Carolina. She became the only woman in U.S. history to plan and lead both white and black soldiers in such a military coup.
It is the latter activity which caused black feminists in Roxbury, Massachusetts to organize themselves during the seventies as the Combahee River Collective. When Tubman died, she was given a military burial with honors. It is also Tubman’s work as an abolitionist, advocate for women’s suffrage, and care for the elderly that informs black feminist thought. It is only fitting that we remember the life of this prominent nineteenth century militant social reformer on the 165th anniversary of her escape from slavery on 17 September 1849.
The Runaway
Tubman was born into slavery around 1820 to Benjamin and Harriet Ross and given the name Araminta. She later took her mother’s name, Harriet. As a slave child, she worked in the household first and then was assigned to work in the fields. Her early years as a slave on the Eastern Shore of Maryland were traumatic and she was sickly. An overseer threw an object that accidentally hit Tubman in the head. The head injury she sustained caused her to have seizures and blackouts all of her life. She even had visions and this combined with her religiosity caused her to believe that she was called by God to lead slaves to freedom. It is believed that her work in the fields gave her the physical stamina to make her rescues. She was married in 1844 to John Tubman, a free black man, but her anxiety about being sold caused her to run away to Philadelphia and leave John behind. Runaways were rare among slave women, but prevalent among slave men.
Harriet Tubman by H. Seymour Squyer, 1848 – 18 Dec 1905 (National Portrait Gallery). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
The Abolitionist
Between 1846 and 1860, Tubman successfully rescued close to 300 family members and other slaves. She became part of a network of prominent abolitionists who created escape havens for passage from the South to Northern cities and then on to Canada. The recent award winning film, Twelve Years a Slave reminds us that even free blacks were subject to being turned in as a runaway after passage of The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Tubman was bothered by this new law and was eager to go directly to Canada where she herself resided for a time. She made anywhere from 11 to 19 rescue trips. The exact count is unclear because such records were notkept in this clandestine social movement. Maryland plantation owners put a $40,000 bounty on Tubman’s head. She was never caught and she never lost a passenger. Like Patrick Henry, her motto was give me liberty or give me death. She carried a pistol with her and threatened to shoot any slave who tried to turn back. The exodus from slavery was so successful that the slaves she led to freedom called her Moses. She was such a master of disguise and subterfuge that these skills were used after she joined the Union Army. It has also been reported that the skills she developed were so useful to the military that her scouting and spy strategies were taught at West Point. She purchased a home in Auburn, New York where she resided after the Civil War. Her husband, John Tubman, died after the war, and she married Nelson Davis, another Civil War veteran. From her home in Auburn, she continued to help former slaves.
The Social Reformer
Historian Gerda Lerner once described Tubman as a revolutionist who continued her organizing activities in later life. Tubman supported women’s suffrage, gave speeches at organizing events for both black and white women, and was involved in the organizing efforts of the National Federation of Afro-American Women. After a three decade delay, Tubman was given $20 a month by the government for her military service. Tubman lived in poverty, but her mutual aid activities continued. She used her pension and money from fundraising activities to provide continued aid to freed slaves and military families. She died in 1913 in the home she established for the elderly and poor, the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged and Indigent Colored People, now a National Historic Monument.
Harriet Ross Tubman escaped from slavery, but remembered those she left behind. She was truly an historic champion for civil rights and social justice.
Heading image: Underground Railway Map. Compiled from “The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom” by Willbur H. Siebert Wilbur H. Siebert, The Macmillan Company, 1898. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Thank you for your time and interest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Best wishes, Donna M. McDine Multi Award-winning Children's Author Connect with Donna McDine on Google+ A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Reader's Favorite Five Star Review Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Favorite Five Star Review Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Reader's Farvorite Five Star Review The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist
0 Comments on HFVBT Presents Donna McDine's The Golden Pathway Blog Tour, August 25-September 17 - Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours as of 8/25/2014 10:27:00 AM
Indiana Landmarks, Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology and Indiana Freedom Trails invite students in grades 7-12 to participate in the Indiana Preservation Youth Summit. Selected students travel to southern Indiana October 4-6, 2013, visiting Underground Railroad sites in New Albany, Jeffersonville and Madison while meeting with Underground Railroad experts, community leaders, and tourism and museum staff.
Students advise local communities on ways to engage youth in the study of preservation of local history and landmarks using Indiana’s Underground Railroad sites as the platform. Selected students also share their experiences during a town hall meeting October 31 at the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in Indianapolis.
Participants selected through a competitive application process receive a full scholarship for transportation, meals, lodging and materials. Four educators will also receive full scholarships.
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books - Freedom Song: The Story of Henry “Box” Brown; illus. by Sean Qualls. Harper/HarperCollins, 2012 32p ISBN 978-0-06-058310-1 $17.99 R* 5-8yrs Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson’s Henry’s Freedom Box (BCCB 4/07) sets the bar high for picture books about the Virginia slave who endured pummeling confinement in a crate as he had himself shipped to New York and freedom. Walker, inspired by the discovery that Henry Brown sang for many years in a church choir, takes a more poetic but equally successful tack, imagining that rhythm and song sustained Brown throughout his years of enslaved labor and inspired him to seek his freedom when his wife and children were sold away from Virginia. Walker infuses her text and Brown’s thoughts with patterned phrasing, from the “twist, snap, pick-a-pea” work songs he sang in the fields, to the “freedom-land, family, stay-together words” that comforted him as a child, to the “stay-still, don’t move, wait-to-be-sure words” that kept him silent as he waited for release from his shipping crate. Qualls’ mixed-media illustrations, far more dreamy and stylized than Nelson’s near-photorealistic renderings, are nonetheless an excellent match for Walker’s text. Even his signature aquas and pinks, embellished with free-floating bubbles, are tempered with more sober grays, browns, and deep blues, and weighted with heavily textured brushwork. An author’s note touches on Walker’s research and what little is known of Brown’s subsequent history; also appended is the fascinating text of a letter from Brown’s accomplice in 1849, detailing Brown’s escape and cautioning the recipient, “for Heaven’s sake don’t publish this affai or allow it to be published. It would . . . prevent all others from escaping in the same way.” EB
0 Comments on Another *Starred Review (BCCB) for Freedom Song as of 1/1/1900
and defies his father to help his new friend attain freedom
(TAPPAN, NEW YORK) – The Golden Pathway is a richly illustrated work of historical fiction that allows children to comprehend the horror of slavery as well as the courage of the people who risked their lives to help slaves escape via the Underground Railroad. Told from a child’s perspective, the story begins with David, who is raised in a hostile environment where abuse occurs daily. David attempts to break the mold and befriends the slave, Jenkins, owned by his Pa. Fighting against extraordinary times and beliefs, David attempts to lead Jenkins to freedom with no regard for his own safety and possible consequences dealt out by his Pa.
Additional resources at the end of the book include a glossary of the code words used and a list of websites with information about the Underground Railroad.
About the author: Donna McDine is an award-winning children’s author, with Honorable Mentions in the 77th and 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions. Her stories have been published in many print and online publications and her interest in American History resulted in writing and publishing The Golden Pathway. Donna has two more books under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing, The Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey. Learn more at www.donnamcdine.com.
What they’re saying about The Golden Pathway:
“Once children have read about David and the part he played in the Underground Railroad, they’ll be eager to find other stories to enhance what they’ve learned in The Golden Pathway.”
~ Beverly Stowe McClure, author of Rebel in Blue Jeans, Just Breeze, and Caves, Cannons, and Crinolines
"This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1 John 3:10 NIV
Published by Kregel 2011, originally published 2004 Christian Non-Fiction Biography/Underground Railroad/Early 19th Century/Slavery/Abolitionist's Written for young adult reader's, but I feel for adult reader's as well.
When Lowry Rankin is almost 9 years old, he and his family move from Kentucky to across the Ohio River to Ripley, Ohio. Lowry's father is Reverend John Rankin a Presbyterian minister and abolitionist. At an early age Lowry is deeply affected by slavery. He witnessed the abuse and brutality of black slaves under the bondage of white slave masters. The Rankin family's red brick home in Ripley, Ohio becomes the first stop in the pre-Civil War Underground Railroad.
Rankin family home in Ripley, Ohio.
Across The Wide River follows the family's mission in helping runaway slaves once they cross the Ohio river. The story also tells Lowry Rankin's life story and his development in to a young man.
Thank you, Annette! The Rankin family continues to inspire me and I'm so glad you enjoyed meeting them and reading about their work. It just goes to show you what God can do through us when we allow Him to be in charge. :-)
In Book 1 Across the Wide River the main character is the oldest Rankin child--Lowry. In The Light Across the River we are introduced to the 7th child in the Rankin's family of 13 children. His name is Johnny. The Rankin family lives in southern Ohio and just across the Ohio River from Kentucky. The year is 1837. The Rankin family is apart of the network of the Underground Railroad. Not only are the parents involved in helping black slaves escape to Canada, but the Rankin children when they are old enough are also involved in this mission. When the book begins Johnny is considered "too young to keep a secret," he has the reputation in his family of not being able to discipline his mouth from telling any kind of information. Johnny feels pushed aside, unimportant. But as the story unfolds Johnny will become apart of a sweeping and dangerous journey that has touched many American lives, and is considered to have pushed emotions to the edge in bringing about the Civil War. The story of the Rankin family is based on true historical information that the author Stephanie Reed worked tirelessly to bring in to the two books: Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River.
I have loved these two books! For the main reason is that they are just good stories of people that were willing to sacrifice all that they had and loved, in order to help others to reach freedom. I felt the author wrote in perfect detail what it must have been like for a slave to flee in fear to an unknown land, knowing that the slave-traders and their slave-masters were pursuing them. I felt the author has a gift for descriptive writing that makes the reader feel as if they are "there." In story the author makes comparisons such as the kindness and gentleness and extravagant sacrificial love of the Rankin family--versus--the cruelty abuse and horror of the slave-trader. The author writes of the warmth of a fireplace and plenty of food to eat in a free persons house--versus--the sparsity of clothing and food in a bare and cold slaves home. The mistrust of a slave towards any white person is understandable, as of yet they'd only encountered those white people that wanted them in bondage. It took patience and the earning of trust for any slave to accept the kindness of these strangers across the river. I felt Stephanie did a great job of bringing these issues in to the story.
Annette, thanks again! You're right, Light is no longer available at Christian Book. Though I feel it is a much better book than book one, Light has not sold well. I truly appreciate your kind words. It's difficult to pour so much work and love into a book and have it languish. Knowing you enjoyed it makes a big difference. Bless you! :-)
Kulling, Monica. 2010. All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine. Ill. by Bill Slavin. Ontario, CA: Tundra.
One of the things that I love about reviewing children’s nonfiction is the number of new things that I learn every day. Today I learned a little-known, but interesting and inspirational life story, as well as an interesting tidbit of etymology, the origin of the phrase “the real McCoy.”
Get on Board!
we hear our conductor singing low the song she uses to let us know now is the time to get on board...
the midnight train runs underground we hide and pray not to be found we risk our lives to stay on board...
So begins All Aboard! But All Aboard! is not the story of the Underground Railroad, rather it is the culmination of the Underground Railroad's greater purpose - a self-determined, productive life, lived out in freedom. Elijah McCoy was the son of slaves who escaped to Canada on the Underground Railroad. His determined and hardworking parents saved enough money to send Elijah to school overseas, where he studied to become a mechanical engineer.
He returned in 1866 to join his family in Michigan. Though he may have been free, his opportunities were not equal. Despite his education, he was only able to secure work as an "ashcat," feeding coal into the firebox of a steam engine for the Michigan Central Railroad,
What a letdown! Elijah knew engines inside and out. He knew how to design them. He knew how to build them. He also knew the boss didn't think much of him because he was Black. But Elijah needed work, so he took the job.
Still, Elijah persevered in his job while his mind, trained in engineering, sought to find a solution to the miserable job of "grease monkey," the boys (including Elijah) who oiled all of a train's gears when they frequently seized up due to friction and lack of lubrication. Trains of the time were typically stopped every half hour or so for greasing. After several years, Elijah invented (and patented) an oil cup, which was used successfully to keep the trains running. Travel by train became faster, safer, and more efficient. He continued to invent throughout his life, eventually filing 57 patents! Others tried to copy Elijah McCoy's oil cup, but none were able to match his success.
When engineers wanted to make sure they got the best oil cup, they asked for the real McCoy.
All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine is an obscure but inspiring story, made particularly poignant by the juxtaposition of his parents' Underground Railroad experience, and his own experience working for the Michigan Central Railroad. The dialogue is invented and there are no references cited, however, the engaging story is simply told in a manner that makes complex topics like the inventive process and racism accessible to young readers. All Aboard! is short enough that it can easily be read aloud to a classroom or storytime for older children.
The book's pen and watercolor illustrations are colorful, and full of life and expression; the reverse side of the dust jacket doubles as poster. The cov
1 Comments on All Aboard! Elijah McCoy’s Steam Engine, last added: 10/5/2010
Donna McDine’s book The Golden Pathway is a poignant tale of sorrow and abuse and how one boy rises above it all to stay true to his humanity.
Set in the time of slavery in the South, young David witnesses cruelty on a daily basis. Despite enormous risk to himself, he feels compelled to help a young slave named Jenkins.
Learning of a secret society that helps slaves to escape, David sets his plan in motion. But will it be in time?
The Golden Pathway is a wonderfully-written children’s book that accurately reflects the thoughts and actions of the time period. A must read for any student of history.
Title:The Golden Pathway Author: Donna M. McDine Illustrator: K. C. Snider Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc (August 12, 2010) ISBN-10: 1616330880 ISBN-13: 978-1616330880
0 Comments on The Golden Pathway by Donna M. McDine as of 1/1/1900
Just in time for Black History Month come three excellent picture books which help teachers discuss the experiences of Black Americans by examining both well- and little-known real life events.
My personal favorite of the three titles featured here is Let Them Play. One reason is that it shared a story I hadn't heard before. But what made more of an impression upon me was the reminder that not even children were immune from the racism of 1950s America. Written by Margot Theis Raven and illustrated by Chris Ellison, Let Them Play is the story of the Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars, an all-black team from Charleston, South Carolina with dreams of becoming Little League World Champions.
But what happens when every other team in the sixty-two leagues of South Carolina refuses to play them, going so far as to drop out of Little League to form their own white-only leagues? When the boycott spreads to eleven Southern states, the Cannon Street All-Stars become "the team nobody would play." How can they advance to the World Series in Williamsport if they don’t play a single game?
This book will become a class favorite, one which your students will want to talk about, research, and read more than once. SPOILER ALERT: I highly recommend you visit the site to read more details concerning this little-known event in youth sports, but skip this if you'd rather read the outcome for yourself. (Looking for companion titles? Willie and the All-Stars by Floyd Cooper and Just Like Josh Gibson, written by Angela Johnson and illustrated by Beth Peck, are my immediate suggestions).
Pappy's Handkerchief, written by Devin Scillian and illustrated by Chris Ellison, relates the story of the Oklahoma Land Run and the lesser-known opportunity it provided for many recently freed slaves to finally own land. Through the eyes of one fictitious family, Pappy's Handkerchief tells the tale of hundreds of black families who came to the Territory seeking their dreams. Staking a claim required both risk and sacrifice, and not every family wa
2 Comments on Recommended Picture Books for Black History Month, Part One, last added: 1/31/2010
America's White Table was my first encounter with Margot Theis Raven, but I just love this one! I heard that Disney has some interest in making a feature film from this story (Let Them Play). Hope they get it right!
I just started the “Snapple Real Facts Buster” wiki a couple of weeks ago and lo and behold, you can find our site by searching “snapple real facts” on google already. If you search “snapple real facts” wiki, then we are the first on the results list. I just sent a mass email to all the 4th graders and hopefully, they will find this an exciting turn of events. (I really wasn’t expecting google spidering us so quickly!)
0 Comments on Google can be so fast! as of 1/1/1990
My daughter has always been fascinated by those Snapple “Real Facts” under their bottle caps. Not long ago, a few odd-sounding “facts” piqued my interest and I started to verify the validity behind each fact we encountered. It turns out that not all of those facts are entirely true. I have concluded that the good folks at Snapple did not start out to fool their public, but due to the space limitation of the caps, they had to truncate quite a bit of their facts into short sentences and along the way choices of words and syntax often altered the meanings of the facts.
A few weeks ago, I thought, hey, why don’t I use this into an Info. Lit. Unit for my fourth graders? First of all, I have been trying to figure out a way that will make creating wiki documents meaningful to the children. A wiki can be a natural space where they can share their findings with each other and the world, where I can give them instant and continuous comments and pointers, and where they can formulate a solid understanding of how wiki sites are put together and thus are less likely to be simply just believe in whatever they find online.
We started the unit by looking at how wikipedia works and how we could add and change information about our school on wikipedia without submitting any proof of our identities or expertise. And then the students were shown how to create their individual group’s wiki file and record their “research findings” of the randomly assigned caps/facts. We named our wiki “Snapple Real Facts Buster” in the fashion of the very popular Discovery Channel’s “Myth Busters.” We are in the thick of figuring out whether any of the facts is valid and discovering that it is not always that easy to verify a simple factual statement. In a week or two, we will be done with the unit and a final reflection and discussion will be posted on our site. So far, this has been a fun unit to create and it seems that the students have enjoyed the idea behind the unit. It is, however, hard work for 9- and 10-year-olds to have the patience and tenacity to continue working both after 15 minutes of futile searching or seeing one source, regardless of its validity. This is part of the discovery process and hopefully both the success stories and difficulties will prove to be illuminating for both the children and the library teacher.
0 Comments on Are those “Real Facts” for Real? as of 1/1/1990
I promise that this is the final post on the Notable CBC of 2008.
Some quick answers to FAQ’s:
Q: How many books did you receive?
A: I think someone counted to about 1,780 or so.
Q: How long did you have to read all these books?
A: We started really reading intensely about March since that’s when the boxes of finished books arrived. Since we cannot discuss a book unless everyone has access to the finished book (meaning, not galleys, F&G’s or ARCs,) most of us stopped reading galleys really quickly. So, we basically had about 9 months to read.
Q: Did you read ALL those books personally?
A: No, silly. That is just not humanly possible. That is why we have a Committee — so that many different kinds of books are being looked at and then nominated for the other Committee members to consider. I am so grateful for my colleagues who read lots of nonfiction and picture books so I have an inkling what to look at in those fields that I don’t usually work with. The colleagues are not just the committee members — my co-workers, friends on goodreads.com, and reviewers are all really helpful resources here.
Q: But when a book got nominated, you had to read it?
A: Indeed. So, I’d say maybe I read between 400 - 500 books last year.
Q: What is the reading and nominating “schedule” like?
A: We basically read for one month, nominated books that we’d enjoyed and thought noteworthy, and then read everyone’s nominated titles for another month, and then voted to select those we would DISCUSS face-to-face at the Conferences. So, before Annual, we had one round of nominations and voting. And between Annual and Midwinter, we had another four rounds (8 months) of nominations and voting.
Q: You mean, if a book did not get “voted” for those rounds, it doesn’t even get discussed?
A: Indeed.
Q: How many votes got a book “on the table” for discussion?
A: It’s a simple majority rule: 6 or more YES votes got a book onto the discussion Table.
Q: How many books did you have to have on the list?
A: It’s not specified. It depends on many factors: how strongly we feel about including the books that only receive five votes at our final balloting; how many books we have to put on our list automatically (all ALSC award winners and honored titles); how many votes the Chair decided to “give” us, etc.
Q: How many votes did you get this year?
A: We each had to vote for 60 titles. It’s lower than the previous couple of years, partly because there were a lot of overlapping with the award winners.
Q: How many books did you have on your final list?
A: We have 74 titles — 21 of them are from the ALSC Awards pool and 53 of them were “voted in.” Many of the 21 automatic titles would have gone on our list if we had to vote for them. They were all strong and strongly supported titles.
Q: Were there surprises?
A: Oh, yes. We all changed our minds during the process of our discussions. There were books that I thought were shoot-in’s that didn’t make it, and there were books that really grew on me after listening to others’ opinions. It’s a highly interesting and energizing process. I recommend this for anyone seeking to hone their public book discussion skills and wishing to look at books closely and not minding being told to look at a book very differently from time to time.
0 Comments on 2008 Notable Children’s Books Committee Photo and Final Musings as of 1/1/1990
There is so much more that I can say about being on this incredible Committee, but I’ll keep it brief again. To me, there are always two related but also separate facets that make serving on Media Evaluation Committees so valuable. One is of course the “work” and the stated “goal” of the Committee, compiling a list of titles that will reach libraries and children nationwide (be they Audio Books, Websites, or Books). Through these recommended lists, we are promoting great works and even guiding the industry to a certain extend.
The second facet is the tremendous growth that one gains by serving on these Committees. Days after our concluding meeting and heart-felt goodbyes, the 2008 Notable Children’s Books Committee members have been filling each other’s email inboxes with messages, gushing over how grateful we are to each other’s insights and professionalism, and how much we have all learned and matured, professionally. I personally have learned how to better listen and participate in a group discussion. I definitely got a better sense as to when to speak up and when to keep silent. I learned to be more in tune with the group and see from others’ view points. I also learned to not be afraid to raise concerns as long as I can phrase my concerns in ways that will not offend my colleagues and to back up my comments with specific examples from the materials at hand. (Maybe I didn’t quite learn how not to be afraid, being a very vocal critic all along, but I did learn to phrase my concerns carefully, especially in a public arena such as this!) To listen carefully to my skilled colleagues as they describe parts of a book with such precision and eloquence was probably the most joyful part of the whole “arduous” task.
I said that I’d be brief, so I’m stopping here. There might be more posts coming about this experience, as I get ready for another year of Notables.
0 Comments on Serving on Notable Children’s Books Committee, part II as of 1/1/1990
I’m floating on clouds… two days after our last Notable Children’s Books Committee meeting and the final balloting and compiling of the 2008 Notable Children’s Books List. This has been my first year serving on this amazing Committee and I just want to say how grateful I am to be able to discuss in-depth about so many really strong books and learn so much from my insightful, knowledgeable, thoughtful, and diligent colleagues. The final list can be found on the ALSC website here. I really would like to hear from those working with children day in and day out how you all think of this list. Do you think it’s balanced? Do you feel that this list can be of use in helping your collection development? Do you think children will enjoy these books? Are there titles that you really wish to be on the list but didn’t make it? Specific comments will be great.
The process is so intense and exhausting (exhilarating, of course) and we are all so eager to make a solid list. I believe that I can speak for everyone on the Committee that we also are always willing to learn from our fellow librarians and educators through your thoughtful suggestions.
0 Comments on Brief Note on Notable Books Committee as of 1/1/1990
I just finished today’s blog entry at my middle school library’s literary blog site about today’s Library Literary Lab and now, using the exact same software (WordPress) and an identical interface, I am posting on ALSC’s blog, as a contributing blogger from the School Library field. So, I guess it is fitting to just show everyone what I and my students have blogged in the last few months.
My own reading log is here: Fairrosa’s Reading Journal which I only recently started posting thoughts about literature on top of short notes on books I read.
At school, The Reading Nook is my literary blog, open to anyone in the Dalton community but is most often used as where my students post their finished assignments. This year, the 7th graders are asked to post their Young Adult reading assignments directly on The Reading Nook. Here’s a sample of their responses and my feedback. If you’re interested, take a look at the actual YA genre assignment.
This fall, I am running a Monday afternoon Library Literary Lab for 6th graders who are interested in reading and sharing their reading experiences. (Lab, at Dalton, is a period of time that students are responsible for their own academic and personal persuits. Many use it to meet with teachers, study, or work on projects, but often they also come to the library to read or to check out books.) We’ve had a few really exciting meetings, and they are all documented on the blog site as well.
I have yet to see a lot of commenting back and forth amongst students but will think of ways to encourage positive feedbacks for a future project. Right now, I am just having a blast with this easy-to-use tool as a way to convey information to my students and to encourage them to write about their own literary experiences. Hopefully, The Reading Nook will really be a corner in cyberspace where “the readers’ minds meet and enrich each other’s experiences.”
0 Comments on Blogging about Blogging as of 1/1/1990
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Thank you, Annette! The Rankin family continues to inspire me and I'm so glad you enjoyed meeting them and reading about their work. It just goes to show you what God can do through us when we allow Him to be in charge. :-)