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Jim Trelease, author of THE READ-ALOUD HANDBOOK, properly praised this essential book for teachers and librarians in his review: "Amidst the clanging noise of today's technology, Steven Layne offers here a clear clarion call on behalf of reading to children. It is insightful, reasoned, entertaining (rare in the field), and carefully researched for those who might doubt the urgent need for something that doesn't need a Wi-Fi hot spot. It should be on every teacher's must-read list."
Be sure to enter our Book Giveaway of an autographed copy of IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD. Instructions follow after the Wednesday Writing Workout. The deadline to enter is April 6.
Were I entering our TeachingAuthors Book Giveaway, I’d share my #1 read-aloud title - Norton Juster’s THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH (Random House). As I wrote in my post celebrating Leonard Marcus’ 50th anniversary annotated edition of THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, reading aloud this beloved classic marked the first day of school for every fifth grade class I taught. Once grown and married, many of my students wrote me to share how they in turn shared Milo’s tale with their children.
So what about you? What is your favorite read-aloud title?
Once again, I thank Steven – this time for allowing me to share his Read-aloud Tips and Recommendations - as listed in IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD, in today’s Wednesday Writing Workout.
Enjoy!
Esther Hershenhorn
. . . . . . . . . .
Wednesday Writing Workout:
Dr. Steven L. Layne’s Read-aloud Tips and Recommendations
As Dr. Layne declares in his newest book, when it comes to read-aloud, practice makes perfect!
Here are a few of his practical read-aloud guidelines as shared in his March 1-released IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD (Stenhouse).
Become familiar with the book before reading it.
Launch the book successfully.
· Provide a purpose for listening.
· Work out an advantageous seating arrangement.
· Plan your stopping point. “Every stopping point is a secret reading-skill-reinforcement lesson just waiting to happen.”
· Teach reading skills such as visualization, inferring, and sequencing.
· Plan strategically for the end of the read-aloud.
· Work out a positive solution for those students who get the book and read ahead.
· Choose and balance the books and genres we read-aloud.
Just in case you’re looking for a good book to read aloud, read through his list of “The Twelve Books Steven Loves to Read Aloud.”
· COUNTERFEIT SON by Elaine Alphin (“My go-to- read-aloud for high school kids who need to be enticed back into the experience of being read to by an adult.”)
· Sue Stauffacher’S DONUTHEAD (“It has proven itself to me time and again when it comes to delighting students in the intermediate grades.”)
· Bill Grossman’s MY LITTLE SISTER ATE ONE HARE. (“How can you not fall in love with a picture book about a girl who eats all manner of disgusting things and then throws up – when it’s written by a guy whose last name is Grossman?”
· Jerry Spinelli’s STARGIRL. (“Of all the books I have read aloud to students in my career, it is Jerry Spinelli’s STARGIRL that takes center stage.”
Happy reading aloud!
And don’t forget to enter our TeachingAuthors Book Giveaway! The deadline is midnight, April 6.
Today’s interview subject qualifies as a Student Success Story + a TeachingAuthor.
He’s a national-award-winning former suburban Illinois across-the-grades classroom teacher and reading specialist who currently serves as Professor of Literacy Education at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois, directing the university’s Master of Education in Literacy program and co-directing the university’s doctoral program in Literacy Education.
He also authors picture books, including STAY WITH SISTER (Pelican), (which he wrote in my 2011 Newberry Library Picture Book Workshop), YA fiction, including THIS SIDE OF PARADISE(Pelican) and academic books for teachers, including LIFE’S LITERACY LESSONS, IGNITING A PASSION FOR READING and, as of March 1, IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD (all Stenhouse).
Dr. Layne also recently served as an elected Board Member of the International Reading Association, now the International Literacy Association.
I’m honored to call this amazing former student-dash-TeachingAuthor both “Steven” and “friend” and welcome this opportunity to share him with our readers. His earnest zeal for literacy is nothing short of contagious.
Steven travels the world igniting his audiences of teachers and writers.
His mission statement as expressed on his website says it all. Passionate about reading.
“Building lifetime readers,” he writes, “is what it’s all about for reading teachers and librarians. If we aren’t doing that – what are we doing?”
In IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD, Steven puts forth the research, the insights, the experience of teachers, librarians and authors to reinforce readers’ confidence to continue and sustain the practice of reading aloud in grades K through 12.
Thank you, Steven, for all you do to keep literacy alive – and – for sharing your smarts and experience with our TeachingAuthors readers.
Thank you, too, for offering one lucky reader a signed copy of IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD via our TeachingAuthor Book Giveaway. (Instructions appear following the Q and A.)
* * * * *
So, let’s divide the standard First Question of our Student Success Story/ TeachingAuthor Interview into two parts.
How did your teaching career begin?
I wanted it to begin right after college—but I had no teaching degree. My parents assured me I would starve if I became a teacher, so I became a therapist—who married a teacher. It took only two months of listening to her talk about her students for me to return to college again—and to follow my destiny. Over the years I worked with the impoverished, the insanely wealthy, the middle class – you name them, I taught them – every race, religion, shape, and size. I like to think those experiences taught me a few things.
How did your writing career begin?
I loved writing in school. I often made up my own cast of characters for dramas and wrote short stories and plays. My poetry and prose were awarded honors throughout high school. Many years later, when I was in a doctoral course called “Writing for Publication” and had finished all of the required “academic” submissions, I asked about writing a picture book. The professor encouraged me to “go for it.” I did, and 27 rejection letters later – I sold it. My mother and my aunt Mary bought copies right away but beyond that the sales were less than inspiring. My second book, The Teachers’ Night Before Christmas, became a national bestseller—selling over 100,000 copies. Suddenly, people wanted to talk to me about writing.
How does each role (teacher/author) inform and impact the other?
The role of “Teacher” informs EVERYTHING that I do from the way I parent, to where I sit in church, to the way I interact on an airplane. When I write for kids – I draw on my knowledge from 15 years of classroom experience. I typically write fast-paced, plot-driven YA because I am thinking of what I know will grab the kind of reluctant readers I taught. When I write picture books, I try to stay under 500 words and to write about an issue that will emotionally resonate with primary-grade readers, again, because I taught those grades. Those kids were my first loves, so to speak. When I write for teachers—how can I NOT write “as teacher?” I spend a lot of time in public and private K-12 classrooms even now. A colleague and I have been teaching in three fifth-grade classes on and off this past year and those experiences are definitely going to play into the writing of an article, book, or curriculum.
The role of “Author” informs my teaching, primarily when I am talking to teachers about the craft and the process of writing. I try not to speak only from my own experience but from that of others. In fact, I am often gently criticized for not shining a light on my own work, and while it is true that I can speak to my process better than anyone else’s—I am loathe to have audiences feel that I am trying to showcase my own work. That being said, I often pull from my knowledge of how “real world writing works” and from my experience when I teach about writing but am able to do so without using my own texts as the examples.
How and why did you come to write IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD?
My experience with read-alouds spans a wide range of grade levels. I read aloud, even now, to both my masters and my doctoral classes. The benefits are far-reaching and the research is sound, and yet the experience is often placed under the pedagogical microscope—raising eyebrows and leading to the question: “Is this a good use of instructional time?” I wanted to write the book that would settle the questions once and for all which is why I enlisted an army of voices from throughout the literacy arena to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me on this issue. I know of no other book where an issue of instructional practice has received such a resolute stance from so many. My prayer is that this book will be every teacher’s and librarian’s defense if their practice in reading aloud to children or teens is questioned by someone who is ill-informed.
Can you share one or two reader responses – to any of your books – that remain in your heart and keep you going…doing your important work?
I wrote my first YA novel This Side of Paradise when a 7th grader in my classroom challenged me to write a book for kids who hate to read. That title has won more awards and recognition than all my other books combined. The other day I received a letter from a single mother from California. She was writing to tell me that her middle-school son, who had been having a tough time in school and HATED books – had discovered mine. He read it, then read the sequel, and then came to ask her if she could try to find out if and when another book in the series was coming. To see this book still working magic warms my heart.
I receive a lot of mail about my professional book Igniting a Passion for Reading. I am frequently told by teachers that their reading of this title has completely altered their practice. Yesterday, I was contacted by a school district in Texas. They are opening three brand-new elementary schools and hiring all new faculty. Igniting and two other titles from my dear friends Regie Routman and Donalyn Miller are the three books around which they will anchor all instruction. They have asked me to come out and work with the teachers. What an honor – I am so blessed.
What’s the next Steven Layne children’s book and/or Dr. Steven L. Layne academic title for which we should ready our bookshelves?
Oh, I wish I could give you a definitive answer. I am due for a new picture book because I typically bounce between genres; however, I have four chapters of a YA novel started and an exciting new book for teachers also taking shape. You never know what I’m going to do next (and neither do I), and I actually kind of like it that way. Let’s just say, you can reserve a place on your shelf because something’s coming – we just don’t know what . . . or when.
…………………..
Here’s a way to instantly fill that saved space:
enter our Rafflecopter Book Giveaway and win an autographed copy of Steven’s IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD (Stenhouse)!
If you choose the “comment” option, please share your Favorite Read Aloud title – as either listener or reader.
If your name isn’t part of your comment “identity,” please include it in your comment for verification purposes. Comments may also be submitted via email to: teachingauthors [at] gmail [dot] com.
If the widget doesn’t appear for some reason (or you’re an email subscriber), use the link at the end of this post to take you to the entry form.
The Book Giveaway ends midnight, April 1.
Esther Hershenhorn
My daughter just turned four in April. She loves to be read to, and we are in no rush whatsoever for her to learn to read on her own. But I've noticed lately that she's sometimes resistant to even flipping through the pages of a book on her own (say, in the car). She'll say: "I can't read yet, Mommy." And it struck me that there was something defensive about this.
So this morning something came up about books (as is not uncommon in our house), and she remarked that if she was going to read a book it would have to be easy. I was inspired to say: "You know, even if you learn to read, we will still read to you. Whenever you like, for as long as you like." Huge smile, big hug, and, perhaps, a look of relief.
I may be projecting here. It's not that she came out and said: "I'm afraid that if I learn to read you guys won't read to me anymore. And I like it when you read to me." Rather, I've put together fleeing impressions based on her responses to things (including a diminishing interest when I point out individual words when we are reading together). But it's certainly possible that I'm right, and that she's been cautious about the idea of learning more words because she doesn't want us to stop reading to her. This is a fear that I am more than happy to take away.
So, that is my tip for other parents of developing young readers:
Take a moment to assure your child that even if he learns to read on his own, you will still read to him.
Then, of course, stay true to your word. There are so many benefits to continuing to read aloud to your children after they can read on their own. You can read them more advanced titles, thus enhancing their vocabularies and giving them exposure to ideas. You can use the books as a springboard to discussions about all sorts of things. And you can experience parent-child closeness, snuggled up together over the pages of a book.
© 2014 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
By:
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on 1/29/2014
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Today I will be sending out a new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's and young adult books and raising readers. I currently send out the newsletter once every two weeks.
Awards Update: In case you missed it, the ALA Youth Media Awards were announced on Monday morning. You can find the complete list of 2014 winners here. A few highlights:
- Newbery: Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo & K. G. Campbell
- Caldecott: Locomotive by Brian Floca
- Printz: Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgewick
- ... and lots more. Congratulations to all of the authors and publishers honored this year. There seems to be fairly widespread satisfaction with this year's selections.
Newsletter Update: In this issue I have four book reviews (picture book through middle grade / middle school). I also have a post about a recent experience that I had that validates the importance of keeping books nearby, and one with a few recent highlights from my daughter's read-aloud journey. I have two posts with links that I shared on Twitter recently, both chock full of book lists and literacy links.
Reading Update: In the last two weeks I read 3 middle grade, 3 YA, and 2 adult titles. I read:
- Matthew Kirby: The Quantum League #1: Spell Robbers. Scholastic Press. Middle Grade/Middle School. Completed January 17, 2014. My review.
- Laurel Snyder: Bigger than a Bread Box. Yearling. Middle Grade. Completed January 18, 2014. My review.
- Ari Goelman: The Path of Names. Arthur A. Levine Books (Scholastic). Middle Grade/Middle School. Completed January 23, 2014. Review to come.
- Marie Lu: Champion (A Legend Novel). Putnam Juvenile. Young Adult Fiction. Completed January 15, 2014, on Kindle. I found this a satisfying conclusion to the series, but I don't feel compelled to review it.
Hollis Gillespie: Unaccompanied Minor. Merit Press. Young Adult Fiction. Completed January 22, 2014, on Kindle. I read this after reading a recommendation from Leila at Bookshelves of Doom. She said that she was too sick to read, but this book held her interest. I read it while exercising, and it kept my interest, too. The writing style took a bit of getting used to (the story is told in the form of a debrief between the main character and the authorities after an incident involving a plane hijacking and a bomb), and there's a bit more detail about the things that can go wrong on board airplanes than I personally needed. It's also relatively violent, with several deaths. Despite all that, it worked for me as escapist fare.- Rohan Gavin: Knightley & Son. Bloomsbury USA. Middle School. Completed January 27, 2014. Review to come.
- Michael Connelly: The Gods of Guilt. Little, Brown and Company. Adult Mystery. Completed January 19, 2014, on MP3. Like all of Connelley's books, this one was well-done. But I've concluded that I really don't enjoy courtroom dramas, and this one has more court time than I personally prefer (especially in an audio, where one can't skim).
Salman Kahn: The One World Schoolhouse. Twelve. Adult Nonfiction. Completed January 20, 2014. I found this book about "the flipped classroom" by the founder of the Kahn Academy fascinating (though I have no plans for changing my daughter's educational experience.) Have any of you read this one?
I'm currently reading Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton (a Kindle library book for while I'm exercising), and Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee. I'm listening to the fourth book in Maryrose Wood's Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, The Interrupted Tale. I think that the Incorrigible Children books are pure genius.
Baby Bookworm has been snagging reading time whenever she can lately. While she's eating, while she's brushing her teeth, etc. You can check out the complete list of books we've read to her so far this year on my blog. Her taste doesn't always agree with mine, but it is a lot of fun to watch her developing her own personal preferences.
What are you and your family reading these days? Thanks for reading the newsletter, and for growing bookworms.
© 2014 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
By:
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on 1/27/2014
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We haven't had anything that I would quite call a milestone of late in my three-year-old daughter's journey towards literacy. But we have had some fun moments:
Last night my daughter asked me why she doesn't have a bubble over her head when she thinks. I must attribute this to seeing bubbles over people's heads in picture books. She's also still working to understand why she can see the people in books and movies, but they can't see her.
This weekend my husband was reading to her in bed. I was down in the kitchen. I could just hear the murmur of his voice. Every couple of minutes I would hear my daughter, much louder, chime in with "there was the mouse!". Yes, they were reading A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker & Kady MacDonald Denton. When I reviewed this book back in 2008, I enthused about it's read-aloud potential, and the fact that "I (couldn't) read the book without saying that phrase out loud." To have my initial reaction validated six years later by my own delighted three-year-old is ... satisfying, to say the least. This book remains one of my favorite read-alouds.
She was admittedly in a silly mood last night, but she was positively hysterical with laughter over The Chicken Problem by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson (review here). Also, to a slightly lesser extent, Jeff Mack's Ah Ha! While these may not, in retrospect, have been good choices for bedtime books, I love it when she gets the humor in books.
We also read Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen last night (and this morning). I've always respected what Barnett was trying to do with this book, and I do love Klassen's illustrations. But I never loved Extra Yarn for some reason (though many people, including last year's Caldecott committee, do). But I have to say that my daughter was rapt, and asked again for "the yarn book" first thing this morning. She loved the magic of the yarn box that never emptied, and she liked predicting what would qualify for a new sweater next. She noticed things in the illustrations that I had missed (or not remembered, anyway). I still don't adore this book myself, but I love that my three-year-old has her own opinions.
That's all for now. What moments have you been enjoying on your family's read-aloud journey?
© 2014 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
We are usually in a bit of a rush on the mornings that my daughter goes to preschool. While she is eating breakfast, I am running around getting her schoolbag ready, putting things in the dishwasher, etc. But this morning, I happened to have a stack of picture books on the kitchen table. I've been logging the books that we read aloud since the beginning of the year, and I hadn't had a chance to enter last night's stack yet (I enter them into a sidebar list using my phone, and then copy them over periodically into a regular page).
Thus, a stack of five books was sitting on the table. My eagle-eyed daughter spotted them, and asked me to read to her while she was eating breakfast. I said: "Just one. I have to get dressed." She picked the most text-dense one (A Baby Elephant in the Wild by Caitlin O'Connell & Timothy Rodwell, upcoming from @HMHBooks).
After we finished that one, she managed to finagle two more books out of me: Where's Walrus by Stephen Savage and A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead. We ended up being about 15 minutes later for school than I might have hoped.
But, being the aspiring mother of a young bookworm, I thought to myself, "Hmmm, guess I should keep a bigger stack on the table for days when we don't have to rush off to school." It's not like I haven't seen this recommendation in lots of places ("keep books in the kitchen"). It's not like I've never read to my daughter during meals. We just haven't made it a habit. (Truth: I am addicted to reading the paper.)
But this morning's performance really drove this point home for me. Breakfast is an opportunity for squeezing in some extra reading time. It's a chance to listen again to the book that she fell asleep to last night. It feels like a special treat.
As a side benefit, my daughter ate a better breakfast than she usually does, because she was trying to show me that she wasn't finished eating, so I would keep reading.
All in all, further evidence that if you keep books handy, everywhere, you are bound to end up reading more.
© 2014 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate.
Yesterday my daughter eagerly called to me to tell me that she had just read a book by herself, not just looking at the pictures but reading the words. And she wanted to read it to me. We were running late for a holiday party, but I was naturally unable to resist saying "OK, read the book to me."
She had a little pile of books from the Little Critter Phonics Fun Set, which I received from HarperCollins, and which she adores. These books are much-simplied versions of existing Little Critter titles, each focusing on a particular series of sounds. They are tiny square paperbacks, ~5" in size, and easy to hold. She shuffled through the stack until she came to the one she wanted, and then she began:
"Going to the Sea Park. By Mercer Mayer."
Then she "read" the book to me. She didn't actually look at the text at all, so I know that she wasn't technically reading. And she wasn't letter-perfect - this wasn't a book that she had memorized, word for word. But she knew it well enough to come up with the gist for each page.
Then, even though we were getting later and later for the party, I let her read me another (A Green, Green Garden). I especially loved that she shared the title and author before opening each book, as I do when I read to her. She's learned that this is the proper way to read a book to someone.
I suggested that she read me more of the books on our way to the party, but she wanted me to be able to see the pictures, so we had to stop. But I was happy that even in the midst of a weekend of holiday craziness, we made time for another little literacy milestone. (And don't tell Baby Bookworm, but she's receiving the Ramona boxed set from her godparents for Christmas. Looking forward to giving those a try as a read-aloud.) Wishing you all quiet moments for books over the holiday season.
© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate.
By:
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on 10/25/2013
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Here are highlights from the links that I shared on Twitter this week @JensBookPage.
Book Lists
A Tuesday Ten: Ghostly Encounters in #kidlit | Views From the Tesseract http://ow.ly/q4r0K
Book list: So You Want to Read Middle Grade: Catherine Gilbert Murdock @greenbeanblog http://ow.ly/q4quh #kidlit
15 Multicultural Books for Babies and Toddlers, recommended by @momandkiddo http://ow.ly/q1OsY #kidlit #diversity
At Stacked: October Debut #YAlit Novels http://ow.ly/q1N87 @catagator
New Books that should make young readers (6-12) laugh, recommended by @TrevorHCairney http://ow.ly/pYNXz #kidlit
Top Twelve Picture Book Read-Alouds for Halloween from @aliposner http://ow.ly/pYNPO #kidlit
Top Ten Middle Grade Books About Mice by @muellerholly @NerdyBookClub http://ow.ly/pYMKC #kidlit
Book Awards
The 2014 World Book Day titles have been announced, reports @bkshelvesofdoom | Code Name Verity is there http://ow.ly/q94GK
The UK's Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize Awarded to @rebstead for Liar & Spy, reports @tashrow http://ow.ly/q99Jj #kidlit
The 2013 Red House Children's Book Award shortlists... http://ow.ly/q2vHc via @bkshelvesofdoom #kidlit
Common Core
Common Core IRL: Spooky, creepy stories to grab you (ages 10 - 14) from @MaryAnnScheuer http://ow.ly/q6QET #kidlit
Excellent points: How mysteries are a great fit for the Common Core, by @kkittscher http://ow.ly/q4qKY
How Parents Can Support the Common Core Reading Standards | @adlit http://ow.ly/pYCev #literacy #parenting
Growing Bookworms
Books for Kids that get them excited about learning new vocabulary, suggested by @growingbbb http://ow.ly/q1Msg #kidlit
Looking for books for your new independent reader: Bring on a Series! says @ReadingWithBean http://ow.ly/q1M4V #literacy
How cool! A theme park totally dedicated to children’s literature: Bookworm Gardens http://ow.ly/q4Jg4 @bookriot via @PWKidsBookshelf
Interesting approach: Selling Reluctant Readers: 10 Marketing Tactics To Amp Up Fun - @ShapingYouth http://ow.ly/pZALE #literacy
A Thrilling Literary Mission: James Patterson on Getting Kids to Read http://on.wsj.com/GXQoAG via @scholastic
Kidlitosphere
#KidLitCon Austin: Don't Miss Out!, urges @MotherReader | "It's worth traveling for" http://ow.ly/q94cF
Talking about #MGLit and blogging at #KidLitCon! | @BooksYALove http://ow.ly/q6Qr7
The schedule for #KidLitCon has now been published, and the deadline to register is Nov. 1st. Don't miss it! http://ow.ly/q6IdF
New post on the #Cybils blog: Register Now for #KIDLITCON! http://bit.ly/1ah9FaX
#KidLitCon 7 - Registration Closing Soon! Go because "hanging out with blogging pals is the best" says @gregpincus http://ow.ly/q4r8J
Why Leila from @bkshelvesofdoom is gearing up for #KidLitCon 2013, and you should too. http://ow.ly/q1K54 #kidlit
Talking about Middle Grade blogging (in general and at #Kidlitcon), @charlotteslib @Book_Nut @BooksYALove http://ow.ly/q1NwR
Some of the attendees signed up for #KidLitCon in Austin are listed here: http://ow.ly/q1Kiv | The deadline for registration is 10/24.
RT @cybils: Happy Birthday, Sheila!: It's @SheilaRuth birthday today, so leave your well wishes in the comments. . http://bit.ly/177ZowX
On Reading and Writing
Interesting piece @pbs on how the Little House books promoted libertarian values http://ow.ly/q4IJv via @PWKidsBookshelf
"To shove aside an entire category of literature because it features teen protagonists is lazy + pathetic" GeekEmpire http://ow.ly/q1Ode
Interesting, if not upbeat: Report On The Panel On The Status Of Women In Children's Publishing from @gail_gauthier http://ow.ly/pYOjE
Discussion on where horror falls as a genre (vs. speculative fiction, fantasy, realistic) at Views From the Tesseract http://ow.ly/q9aDy
Food for thought from @haleshannon Hone your internal reader, not your internal literary critic http://ow.ly/q9bsn
20 Classic #Kidlit / #YAlit Literature Heroines, Ranked – @Flavorwire http://ow.ly/q9vc7 via @pwkidsbookshelf
Parenting
Really excellent article: Ethical Parenting Is More Than Possible—It’s Essential – @TabletMag http://ow.ly/pYOCj via @medinger
Fun post on the classic childhood activity of Rolling Down the Hill from @momandkiddo http://ow.ly/q9a1P
Programs and Research
On Facebook: Experts agree that reading aloud is "the single most important thing a parent or caregiver can do to help a child prepare for reading and learning." So true! Read Aloud!
Read Every Day: A simple + effective prescription from a doctor + @reachoutandread director http://ow.ly/q9bR3 via @librareanne
Well, yeah. "Reading gives kids an edge, study says", reports @TheAge http://ow.ly/pYN0W via @tashrow #literacy
Field Trips to Art Museums Improve Critical Thinking, Promote Empathy + Increase Tolerance @EducationNext http://ow.ly/pYChc via @adlit
Have you seen the ilustrator-created art for the @scholastic Read Every Day Lead a Better Life campaign? Gorgeous. http://ow.ly/q9tpL
Schools and Libraries
Good for them, I say: Kid Lit Authors Ask White House to Ease Standardized Testing Mandates | @sljournal http://ow.ly/q9uu2
Shared on Facebook, the quote to the left from The Read-Aloud Handbook.
On connecting students with books, by teacher @kacwrites @KirbyLarson 's blog http://ow.ly/q99s7 #literacy
"There’s no reason to stop modeling lifelong reading when students enter high school" @thereadingzone @KirbyLarson http://ow.ly/pYO2r
A teacher's experience on Reaching the Reluctant Reader by Laura Farmer | @NerdyBookClub http://ow.ly/pYNJr
I think so! Should more YA fiction be read in schools? asks @GuardianBooks http://ow.ly/q9v2Y via @pwkidsbookshelf
© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.
I shared a while back the fact that my daughter and I were dabbling with chapter books, as an adjunct to a read-aloud diet consisting mainly of picture books. I'm pleased to report that this week we finished our very first early chapter book. I had read a few middle grade titles to her when she was a baby (The Secret Garden, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Penderwicks, the complete Winnie the Pooh), but it's not like my daughter was following the plots or anything at that point. We'd also read (and re-read) quite a few easy readers (mostly series titles featuring characters she is already familiar with). But this is the first longer book that she listened to, cover to cover.
On the recommendation of Jim Trelease in The Read-Aloud Handbook, I ordered a copy of Two Times the Fun by Beverly Cleary. Two Times the Fun is a 96 page book, aimed at a reading audience of 6 to 9 years old (probably more on the earlier end of that). I found it perfect for my 3 1/2 year old listener. Two Times the Fun is about preschool-age twins, Jimmy and Janet and the ordinary events of early childhood. Jimmy digs a big hole, Jimmy and Janet go to the shoe store, that sort of thing.
I think the key to this book was that my daughter could relate to the twins' experiences. This enabled her to listen, even though we would sometimes go a couple of page spreads without seeing a single illustration. In fact, she ended up not paying particularly close attention to the illustrations at all. She moved around her room instead. But she kept listening.
Two Times the Fun consists of four independent chapters (basically short stories). We read the first two chapters in one sitting, and the next two chapters in two separate sittings, over about a four day total time period. She remembered details between readings, like who Mr. Lemon was (the highly affable mailman). And she loved it when I would point out similarities between the characters in the book and herself ("Do you know anyone who likes to pretend like Janet does?" "Me!").
I liked that Two Times the Fun wasn't message-y. It's classic Beverly Cleary, albeit for the youngest of readers, with regular kids doing regular things. There wasn't much vocabulary that I had to define for my daughter. A few times I started to explain what an expression meant, but found that "Mother" was explaining that to the twins on the next page, anyway. All in all, Two Times the Fun was a just-right fit for us. I only wish that there were more books about Jimmy and Janet.
Incidentally, I've started a page, as well as a sidebar list, to keep track of chapter books that we finish. Right now the list numbers 1. But we're off to a great start! I'll keep you posted.
© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate.
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on 9/17/2013
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I wrote a couple of weeks ago about my three-year-old daughter's newly expressed interest in being read chapter books, in addition to her regular diet of picture books and early readers. I asked people on the post and on Facebook to share titles that they had read with their children while were still pre-readers. I collected a number of titles, and was especially pleased to be reminded of a post that Melissa Wiley wrote a couple of years on this very topic (Chapter book suggestions for a four-year-old). Out of these suggestions, and my own opinions, I've come up with a list of the top five series I most look forward to reading with my daughter. They are (in approximate age order):
1. The Clementine Books by Sara Pennypacker (ill. Marla Frazee). I absolutely adore Clementine. I think she is a wonderful character, and that the books are spot on in terms of both realism and humor. Frazee's illustrations perfectly capture Clementine for me, too. And there are enough illustrations that I think Baby Bookworm will be ready for the first book soon. In fact I just ordered a new copy, because I apparently gave mine away (back in the days before I knew that I'd have a daughter to read it to, I suspect). And as a bonus, the books are set in Boston, where my family's pro sports loyalties will forever lie.
2. The Pippi Longstocking Books by Astrid Lindgren. My daughter has a 3-year-old's love of the ridiculous. I think that she'll be as charmed by the irrepressible Pippi as I was. And perhaps she'll be inspired by the way that Pippi solves her own problems. Pippi gives new meaning to the term "strong girl." My second grade class did Pippi as a class play, with my friend Holly as Pippi (her real braids manipulated out to the sides with a coat hanger or something). I was Annika, and I'll never forget it.
I also splurged on the DVD boxed set of the four Pippi movies from the 1970s. This was more for me than for Baby Bookworm, in truth (though she adores movies), because I have fond memories of my dad taking my siblings and I (or probably just my next-youngest brother and I) to see them in the theater. Pippi in the South Seas was my favorite of the movies, and I look forward to seeing it again (after we read the book).
3. The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ill. Garth Williams). This was the first series that I remember reading on my own, devouring book after book. Little House in the Big Woods will forever be the first middle grade title that Baby Bookworm expressed a serious interest in reading (admittedly inspired by Little House in the Big Woods paper dolls). So it is naturally on our Top 5 list. But as we've progressed in attempting to read the first book, it's become clear that she's more interested in hearing the stories associated with some of the pictures than in actually listening to the whole book right now. No worries. The books will wait.
4. The Penderwicks Books by Jeanne Birdsall. I adore The Penderwicks. To me these books are modern classics, with the characterization and emotional resonance of the Elizabeth Enright books (childhood favorites of mine), but with a more up-to-date feel. Clearly 4-year-old Batty will be Baby Bookworm's favorite character, if we read the books any time within the next few years, but I imagine that one day she will identify with Jane or Skye or eventually Rosalind. These are books I'd like to read with her while she's in elementary school, when she's old enough to discuss Rosalind's crush, and Jeffrey's loneliness. But young enough to feel the endless potential of summer in the first book.
5. The Harry Potter Books by J.K. Rowling (ill. Mary GrandPre). OK, this one is a bit of a cliche. But really, who doesn't look forward to reading the Harry Potter books with their child? I did, in fact, read Baby Bookworm the first book when she was an infant, but I look forward to her being old enough to appreciate the story. I don't want to start too soon, because the later books are pretty dark, and I know that once we start we're likely to want to keep going. But I do look forward to spending time with my daughter in Harry Potter's world. In fact, I think this one will be a family affair, because I can't imagine my husband not wanting to participate, too.
There are lots of other books that I hope to read with my Baby Bookworm when the time is right. I hope that she will be as captivated by the work of Elizabeth Enright and Zilpha Keatley Snyder as I was, and am. I imagine that she'll love The Borrowers. I hope that she doesn't find A Little Princess or The Secret Garden dated. I hope that we are able to read book after book after book together. I think that there are some books that she'll enjoy more if she discovers them on her own (though I can't say which ones off the top of my head). But the above five are the series that I am most looking forward to sharing with her. Perhaps in a future post I'll look at some standalone titles (Matilda, perhaps?).
What books do you look forward to reading aloud with your children? What books did you enjoy when they were younger? If you've already been through it, don't you kind of envy me, having all of these books still ahead of us? An unintentional upside to having a child late in life. Thanks for reading!
© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook. This site is an Amazon affiliate.
Title: Spike and Orange Ball
Author: Allan Walker
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A dog laments over his lost ball.
Features:
- Animation
- Musical Score
- Read-Aloud
The Greasy Screen says: Spike, a cuddly black dog, is sad. His “bestie,” a prickly orange ball, is lost, and his family is set to move any day. What will he do, he wonders, in a new place without his favorite companion?
We’ve all been in Spike’s shoes. Moving is stressful, especially when your most important items get misplaced. I have to say that hearing Spike lament over his lost friend pulled at my heart strings. “I never thought I’d lose a best friend,” he moans. *sniffle!* Read in a low, baritone voice that I often imagine would be the voice of my bulldog if she could talk, the ebook illustrates the small comforts of a dog’s life and how they, just like us, get attached to silly little things.
Spike and Orange Ball is a bit lacking in special features, but Curly and I enjoyed flipping through this story, particularly the final page which shows a photo of what I can only assume is the real-life Spike. This inexpensive ebook will make you smile.
By: crystal,
on 4/25/2011
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Title: Benny the Cat
Author: Tamar Hak
Publisher: Touchoo
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: A day in the life of a kitty named Benny.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Voice Recording
The Greasy Screen says: Curly loves cats, while I have a slight feline fear. That, in combination with my husband’s allergies, is why we will never own a pet cat. But, with the introduction of Benny the Cat, Curly can now go through the motions of a real cat owner!
In this ebook, the reader is encouraged to help take care of Benny, a plump little kitty, by doing things like picking out his favorite toys and helping him find his litter box. The interactivity is really great; I especially liked throwing a pile of pillows around in attempt to find a hiding Benny, and Curly liked hearing him purr as she petted him. When asked to choose the best meal for Benny, Curly immediately wanted to feed him the plate of lollipops– she is her mother’s daughter, after all. The story itself was a little thin, with the text focused more on giving the reader instructions rather than telling a tale, but the main focus of this ebook seemed to be walking through the steps of pet maintenance, and we enjoyed taking care of Benny.
My favorite part of Benny the Cat was the hand-drawn illustrations; so often, ebooks are accompanied by more stark, computer graphics. This is a fun ebook for cat lovers and cat cowards alike.
Title: Green Splosh
Publisher: Emantras Inc
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: Free
Synopsis: A blob of paint escapes his paint bottle and explores the world.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: When a boy named Ken spills a bottle of paint, a green-tinted blob decides it’s his chance to hit the road and see the world around him, as so begins Green Splosh, a semi cohesive ebook. The concept of the story was cute, but reading through the screens left me a bit confused.
At first I thought the story would focus on teaching colors, as early on a neat interactive feature allows readers to paint on the page along with Ken. But after the splosh escapes, we are then taken on a journey about counting, and what a crazy journey it is. The little green splosh really gets around: one minute he’s hopping lily pads, then playing with a clown, then creeping through a haunted house. There was no rhyme or reason as to where the paint would go next.
Green Splosh does have some creative interactivity, such as birds that sing on fence when tapped, but the overall usability of the app was a bit clumsy, and since I had trouble following the point of the story, I struggled to make it to the end. Curly didn’t even last that long. More attention to a linear storyline wold make this ebook more worthy of its imaginative premise.
Title: My Dad Drives a Roller Coaster Car
Author: Bill Doyle
Illustrator: Daniel Guidera
Publisher: Crab Hill Press
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A young boy showcases his family’s crazy modes of transportation.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: When I saw the title My Dad Drives a Roller Coaster Car on the App Store, I immediately hit the purchase button. With a name like that, I expected extreme silliness and ridiculous hilarity– and I was not disappointed.
A young boy starts out the story by declaring his dad drives a roller coaster car. But his pop is not the only one with a penchant for quirky vehicles. His Aunt Frizzy spins around on a teacup, while his mom rides a galloping carousel horse. Everyday the boy asks if he can join in the fun, but his wacky family just can’t ever hand over their carnival cruisers.
I laughed – A LOT – while reading this ebook. When the boy is turned down again and again, the page turns to reveal a sad close-up of his face, while a small violin plays in the background. Hee. I also greatly appreciated Aunt Frizzy turning green after continuous loops in her teacup; I personally cannot ever get inside one of those things without puking. Curly loved loved loved the carousel horse, which cloppity clopped across the screen with realistic pony sounds. Everything in this ebook is so touchable, and the retro-cool illustrations fit in perfectly with the kooky text. Even the sound effects were chosen with great care, and never overshadowed the narrator.
There are many ebooks (and print books, for that matter) that we read time and time again because Curly likes them, even if they are not necessarily my favorite. My Dad Drives a Roller Coaster Car is a hysterical tale that accomplishes a rare goal– making both child and adult laugh!
Title: Penelope the Purple Pirate
Author: Melissa Northway
Illustrator: Paul Johnson
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A young girl takes an imaginary adventure at sea.
Features:
- Bonus Materials
- Read-Aloud
The Greasy Screen says: Ahoy mateys! Just because you’re a girl doesn’t mean you can’t have adventures on the open sea! Now, I am not anti-girly girl or anything, but with the overabundance of princess paraphernalia shoved down young girls’ throats, Penelope the Purple Pirate is a nice break from the stereotype. Dressed in no-nonsense boots and skull-and-cross-bones hat, Penelope proves a girl can have fun without a spec of fairy dust.
Banished to her room to take a nap, Penelope instead decides to take a watery journey with her sea creature pals. Together, they search for some buried treasure, build sand castles, and swim in the ocean. The story is very carefree and fun, and Curly really liked seeing all the sweet sea animals. The only real visuals of sea life she sees on a regular basis are her bath toys, so it was nice to read a nautical-themed tale.
Included at the end of the story are bonus activity suggestions to try at home or in the classroom, along with fun facts about dolphins, sea turtles, and octopuses. This was a nice touch that is not often included with ebooks, but is a very considerate feature. We really liked spending time with Penelope the Purple Pirate, and I think you will too!
By: crystal,
on 4/1/2011
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Title: Big Red Barn
Author/Illustrator: Jon Higham
Publisher: Dipali Vaidya
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: A counting story set in a farmyard.
Features:
- Interactivity
- Read-Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: Jon Highman, author of the charming Elly the Reindeer series, really has a knack for knowing what little ones are drawn to. Big Red Barn combines children’s natural curiosity toward animals and desire to learn numbers into one adorable ebook.
Every page features fun, candy-colored illustrations that are so cute you just want to squeeze them, and sound effects of the farm animals. Curly and I both really enjoyed the last few pages, which allow you to hear multiple animal sounds at the same time. Once you start pressing all those buttons, it sounds like a real live farm! If farms were has happy looking and odor free as they are in this story, I would be more inclined to head out to the country more often.
Older kids will not find much for them here, as the text revolves mainly on counting, but Big Red Barn is perfect for the toddler set.
Title: Meet the Fraggles
Author: Michaela Muntean
Illustrator: Barbara Lanza
Publisher: iStorytime
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A guide on how to entertain Fraggles, should one ever come to your house.
Features:
- Auto Page Turn
- Read Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: “Have you ever wondered what you would do if a Doozer or a Fraggle or a Gorg came to visit?” If you haven’t, well, then you obviously are not a child of the 80s. I loved the Fraggles as a kid, but seeing as our house didn’t have cable, I only got to watch the show when HBO would have their special preview weekends. Still, I knew all about them, but this ebook (adapted from a print version) certainly would have added to my Fraggle expertise!
For example, where else can you learn all about the sleeping, eating, and bathing habits of this fun little friends? The ebook reads like an informative how-to book, and features informative segments such as “Interesting Radish Recipes” (radish shish kebab, sliced radishes on toast, etc). The deliciously retro illustrations are ridiculously cute, and Curly really liked seeing all the little critters.
Meet the Fraggles does not have a lot of fancy extras, but I certainly wasn’t missing them. If you’ve been looking for a way to introduce your little one to the characters you loved as a kid, this ebook is a fun place to start!
Title: Roy the Little Rabbit
Publisher: LaLafish
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A little rabbit explores and meets new friends.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Roy the Little Rabbit is geared for the toddler set, with uncomplicated words and basic plot line. Roy hops around, meeting new friends, and gets caught in a rain storm. It is a simple story, so little ones looking for more oomph (like my Curly) will quickly lose interest.
Roy’s graphics were a bit too stark for my taste, and some of the sound effects were a bit over the top: when Roy’s new friend Lyn the bluebird needs to fly away, a random chorus of children’s voices chimes in with a loud “BOO!” I did like the repeat text button on each screen, available for little ones looking to hear the words again, but in our case, Curly was itching to get through the story and was not looking for a repeat performance.
If Roy continues to have more eBook adventures, I hope he gets more to do the next time around!
Title: Katie and the Witch’s Swap
Publisher: Storynory LTD
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: Katie, a witch with magical powers, switches places with a friend for a day.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says:If I was a witch, there are lots of spells I’d want to try. Flying or any mode of transportation featured in the Harry Potter series would be high on the list, along with ways to turn stuff into gold. Switching bodies for a day, as is done in Katie and the Witch’s Swap, could be interesting as well, provided you choose your swapee with care. This is definitely a situation where you would want to upgrade to be someone completely fabulous and more well off than yourself, which is exactly what Katie thinks she’s doing when she pulls a freaky Friday with her pal Isis.
After the girls switch, they have fun experiencing the differences in each other’s lives for awhile, but eventually, they decide they are happier being themselves. I’m sure the story’s moral wants to be touching on the “grass-is-always-greener-love-yourself-for-who-you-are” vein, but it wasn’t clear to me why either girl was itching to switch back. There was no conflict, no drama, no… nothing. Curly lost interest part way through, mainly because the story didn’t move fast enough; each illustration was bogged down by tons of text, so much in fact that the publisher does not even feature the text and the illustrations together (one needs to turn the iPad to see the text, which then includes a tiny thumbnail of the drawings). More artwork could have helped bring the story to life.
For a story about a witch, I thought there would be more magic on the pages of this eBook, but with no extras to be found and a story that took too long to get to its point, Katie was a bit of a let down.
Title: Huggybird and the Dream Box
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: While digging in the garden, Huggybird finds a magical treasure box that takes him on an adventure.
Features:
- Animation
- Read Aloud
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: A mysterious box sprouts up in Huggybird’s garden, and though it doesn’t contain sweets or treasures liked he’d hoped, it does hold enchanted pirate, detective, and knight costumes that transport the wearer to far-off adventures. Right now, I wish I could find a box like that containing some cruise wear, so I could get out of this endless Chicago winter!
Huggybird and the Dream Box is a cute story that had some humorous moments. I especially liked when Huggybird turned into a pirate and suddenly had a peg leg (er, claw), and I also laughed when as a brave knight, he spotted a sign outside a castle that indicated a princess was at the top of the stairs. It reminded me of a line from Gilmore Girls, when Lorelai said, “I left behind a glass slipper and a business card, in case the prince is really dumb.” Ha.
The story uses some great, sophisticated vocabulary, such as “chivalrous” and “enthusiastically.” I love when kids’ books sprinkle in some tougher words. Who says you can’t be challenged while being entertained? I do wish the story featured more illustrations; many of the scenes are repeated as the words change underneath. Huggybird is a cutie, and deserves more variation, just like in his closet of costumes.
Title: Human Body Detectives: The Lucky Escape
Author: Dr. Heather Manley, N.D.
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: Two sisters learn about the digestive system through an imaginative adventure.
Features:
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: In The Lucky Escape, two sisters take an imaginative trip through their baby brother Robbie’s digestive track and learn about tummy troubles from the inside out. After Robbie swallows a penny, his stomach churns in pain, and the sisters get an up close and personal look at everything from stomach acid to gas bubbles.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this eBook. The narration voices are provided by actual kids, which gave an authentic touch to the whole experience. It was cute to hear young voices pronounce big words like “peristalsis.” The music and sounds effects also really added to the suspense and feel of the story as well, especially when the girls were sliding through the small intestines. One major drawback for me was the lack of illustrations throughout. Though there were some great drawings, they were only occasionally sprinkled in, and never with the text on the same page. The lack of visuals made it tough for Curly to stay connected to the story, though truthfully the content was probably a bit over her head anyway.
Any story that puts a creative spin on challenging topics is a winner for me. Though it lacked in illustrations, The Lucky Escape told a tale that was equally amusing and educational, which is quite a feat in itself.
Title: Spaghetti Day
Author/Illustrator: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: While their owners are away, a group of cats cook up an Italian feast.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Spaghetti Day answers a question most pet owners ponder at some point: what does my pet do all day while I’m gone? In this case, a cat named Catrina gathers up all her buddies to make spaghetti and hang out.
Admittedly, I’m a dog person, who has a slight fear of cats. When I was younger, a family member’s cat went crazy on me, and ever since then, I’ve been hesitant toward all felines. What I envision cats doing when their owners aren’t around is plotting the demise of human kind, but of course, that’s just me. My daughter, on the other hand, LOVES cats, and laughs hysterically every time she sees one. Curly was once even swatted by a cat, and yet she still adores them. She also adored this story, and giggled as the cats played together while making their meal. When touched, the cats purred and meowed realistically, to Curly’s delight.
This eBook is a digital makeover of the best selling print book, Wednesday is Spaghetti Day. It’s easy to see why that book, and this eBook version, are such hits: the story is funny, imaginative, and engaging. It’s not the most high-tech eBook, but the story is great, and that’s what’s most important.
Title: Rapunzel
Author/Illustrator: Lana Le
Publisher: KwiqApps
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A retelling of the classic Grimm fairy tale.
Features:
- Read Aloud
- Auto Page Turn
The Greasy Screen says: As I was reading Rapunzel, I realized I have been forever ruined by Disney’s recent remake, Tangled. To say I loved Tangled is an understatement. It’s not hard for me to fall in love with Disney movies, but I very much enjoyed this one. My little date, Curly, loved it to. In fact, when I told her we were going to read Rapunzel, she called out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Rapunzel is not Tangled. Disney tends to gloss over any unpleasant plot points, such as a woman dramatically declaring she will JUST DIE if she doesn’t get what she wants to eat, and I tend to like that. Classic fairy tales usually have some pretty random elements that are best left on the cutting room floor. That being said, this eBook does its best to showcase Grimm’s tale of a girl with long golden locks. The illustrations are beautiful, with delicate textures and charming appeal. Curly sat through the whole story, but I think she felt like I had pulled a fast one on her by not showing her Tangled.
The book does not have any extras or interactivity, which is a shame. The font size was weirdly small despite how much room was available on the screen, but there is narration so you don’t have to squint. I would recommend this eBook on the illustrations alone, as they are a nice break from the commonly used computer graphics seen in many eBooks.
By: crystal,
on 1/27/2011
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Title: One Rainy Day
Author: Tammi Salzano
Illustrator: Hannah Wood
Publisher: mytales digital
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A little duck discovers colors as he walks through the rain.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Painting
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: I enjoy rainy days, but not as much as the cuddly yellow duck who stars in One Rainy Day. This duck likes to really splash it up, playing in puddles and wiggling in mud. As he romps outside in his watery wonderland, he learns about all the colors of the rainbow. When different colors are touched, their names are read aloud, and the duck himself provides extra commentary when pressed. There are not a lot of animations; the interactivity is mainly expressed through additional sound effects. Still, Curly was engaged throughout the rainy journey, and really enjoyed the painting pages provided through the menu.
One Rainy Day is perfect for toddlers who are just becoming familiar with digital mediums. The story is short and sweet, and there is enough interactivity to keep them engaged without being overwhelmed.
By: crystal,
on 1/17/2011
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Title: The Little Snail
Publisher: Rye Studio
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: Free
Synopsis: A little snail takes a stroll with his mother and asks about the world around him.
Features:
- English/Chinese/Japanese/French/German/Spanish
- Read Aloud
- Sleep Mode
The Greasy Screen says: The Little Snail opens with what has to be the most asked question in the history of childhood: “Why?” In the snail’s case, he can’t help but wonder why he has to carry a giant shell around all day, when other soft-bodied critters, such as earthworms and caterpillars, don’t. His mother explains that while the other creatures have to rely on external forms of protection, snails are self-reliant and can take care of themselves.
While I always appreciate a message of independence, this eBook ended a bit too abruptly, and with no interactivity, animation, or extras, it fell a little short. I would have liked to have seen the snail’s reaction to his mom’s wisdom revelation; instead, she tells him about how strong snails are, and then the story ends. Fleshing out the ending would have been more satisfying.
The Little Snail contained one interesting feature I’d never come across before, called, “sleep mode.” In this setting, the story would read aloud, except the pages would not play. I believe the intention is for children to listen to the story as they fall asleep, but as a parent, I feel like I’d rather be playing on my iPad once my kid is down for the night, rather than leaving it in her room. Maybe that’s just me, but Momma likes her quiet time!
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My Monday’s post introduced readers to Dr. Steven L. Layne, my former Newberry Library Picture Book Workshop student and exceptional TeachingAuthor, as well as his newest professional book, IN DEFENSE OF READ-ALOUD.(Stenhouse).
