It's Perfectly Normal

 

Harris, R. and Emberley, M. (1994). It’s Perfectly Normal. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary: 

This nonfiction book is written for ages 10 and up. It allows young readers to be able to understand the changes with their bodies and how they develop.  The book has 6 parts. Each part is broken down into more specific topics: “What is Sex?”, “Our Bodies”, “Puberty”, “Families and Babies”, “Decisions”, and “Staying Healthy”.  The Bird and the Bee read the story and add commentary throughout the book. Some of the topics are sensitive in nature for young readers as they involve bodily changes and reproduction.

Commentary:

This would be a reliable resource for parents to use as a starting point for difficult conversations with their child about their bodily changes. The reader should be aware that there are graphic photographs that are used to explain male and female anatomy. The characters, the Bird and the Bee, makes some of the topics a bit comical.  The illustrations in the book help the readers have a better understanding to what they are reading.  The author does a wonderful job with introducing new vocabulary. Not only is it introduced, the definition is also shown for the reader to understand.  

Other Books by Robie Harris: 

It’s So Amazing!

Who Has What?

What’s In There?

Author’s Website:

http://robieharris.com/?

 

Winger

Smith, A. (2013). Winger. NY: Simon & Schuster.

Summary:

Fourteen-year-old, Ryan Dean West, is the youngest person at his elite private school. His family just doesn’t have time for him. He gets into trouble by stealing a teacher’s cell phone to call his love interest, Annie.  He is sent to Opportunity Hall, where all the discipline problems go. Much to his dismay, he is forced to room with Chas Becker, one of the biggest jerks at school. Ryan is hopeful that if he can stay on good behavior, he will be allowed to return to his old dorm. However, he continues to find himself in trouble with drinking, fighting, gambling, and more.

Commentary:

Readers will love the love story that develops between Ryan Dean and Annie. His pranks and mischief can be funny at times, even if taken too far sometimes. The ending is rather unexpected and quite gut wrenching. In the end, readers will recognize that everyone is really just looking to be loved and wanted. There was quite a bit of profanity, but overall the story line was great.

Other Books by Andrew Smith:

 

Stand Off is the sequel to Winger

Grass-hopper Jungle

100 Sideways Miles

 

Author’s Website:

http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, A Girl in Pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.

Summary:

Gabi is a senior in high school with a lot to say. She has an over protective mother, and is expected to follow all the rules of their Mexican culture. Her mother is often critical of her weight and eating habits. She doesn’t believe that Gabi should go away to college. Her father is a drug addict who is constantly letting the family down. Despite his shortcomings, Gabi is devastated when her father overdoses. Gabi uses her journal to record all her thoughts about boys, sex, friends, family, and her feelings. She also learns to express herself though poetry. Through her writing and self-exploration, Gabi learns to love and accept herself  more.

Commentary:

I listened to this story from audible, and I loved it! The narrator did an amazing job at bringing Gabi to life. I loved when her mother would speak to her in Spanish. Topics of everyday life are discussed in Gabi’s journal.  Gabi writes about homosexuality, teenage pregnancy, rape, Mexican culture, drugs, overdosing, death, sexual experiences, and relationships. These are all topics that are relatable to many young adults.

Classroom Connections:

Poetry is a huge part of the book for Gabi. Students could write poetry about their own lives and experiences.

Book Trailer:

Speak

Anderson, L. (1999). Speak. New York, NY: Penguin Group, Inc.

Summary:

Melinda’s summer took a terrible turn after she was assaulted by a senior at a party. Panicked and unsure what to do, she picks up the phone and calls 911. Before the police arrive, she runs home, too afraid to tell anyone what really happened. At school, other students are hateful to her because they feel that she ruined the party by calling the police. No one knows what really happened to Melinda. Melinda spends most of her freshman year alone, with no friends, and in silence.  The secret weighs heavy on her throughout the school year as she struggles with just getting through each day. Her grades begin to fall, she becomes truant at school.  However, she can express herself in her art class.  She begins to break free of her silence towards the end.  She has an encounter with the guy that violated her, but this time she fights back.  Melinda seeks vindication, and her assault is made public.

Commentary/Connections to Textbook:

I truly loved this book. It is authentic and really captures the turmoil that a young girl goes through after an assault. Laurie Halse Anderson does an amazing job at writing about a sensitive subject and making the main character, Melinda, an inspiration.  It is heartfelt and emotional.  Rape is a sensitive subject that many do not like to speak about, yet too many teens fall victim to it each year. Students can identify with Melinda’s isolation and emotions. It is an easy read that will be hard to put down.

Interview with Laurie Halse Anderson:

 

 

Speak Poem:

 

The Knife of Never Letting Go

 

Ness, P. (2008). The Knife of Never Letting Go. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary:

Todd is the only “boy” left in Prentisstown. He is a month shy of turning 14 and becoming a man. Prentisstown was affected by a virus that killed all the women and left the men able to hear everyone’s thoughts, or noise. The swamp is the only place that you can go to get away from all the noise. One day Todd and his dog, Manchee, came upon silence. He had never heard silence before, so he was unsure what to think, but he knew that he needed to try to conceal his thoughts. Unfortunately Todd’s thoughts had been heard by the whole town, so his “parents” had to pack him a bag and send him away.  Todd was told to leave Prentisstown for his safety and never look back; he was given a knife and his mother’s journal.  Todd is running for his life and the men of Prentisstown will stop at nothing to keep to get Todd back.

Commentary:

The Knife of Never Letting Go, is part of a trilogy.  I listened to the book on Audible, and really enjoyed the narration. In fact, I started the book on a car ride with my mom and aunt, and both of them kept asking me how the book was going afterwards. They wanted to know how things worked out for Todd. The book was full of action and suspense, which kept my attention. I have never read a book quite like this, but it really made me realize that I can enjoy science fiction. I look forward to reading the other books in the trilogy.

Book Trailer:

Lesson Plans and Interviews:

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=13593

Book Talk by Patrick Ness:

Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY: HarperCollins Publishers.

Summary:

Steve Harmon is only sixteen and is on trial for murder.  He is accused of being the lookout while two other boys robbed and killed Mr. Nesbitt, a drugstore owner. The prosecutor paints Steve out to be a monster.  He is not even sure if his defense attorney believes he is innocent. While in jail, Steve records his experiences in a journal. He feels that his life is like a movie and intends to one day turn be a filmmaker. Monster is written in two different points of view.  One view is from Steve’s personal journal.  The other view is from the screenplay that Steve Harmon is writing.  

 Commentary:

This book really keeps you in suspense waiting for Steve’s verdict. This book will resonate with so many young people today. So often in the news we see stories of people falling victim to being from living in the wrong neighborhood, being in the wrong place, or associating with the wrong people. Teen readers can learn from this story and have empathy with Steve Harmon. Walter Dean Myers did an outstanding job at allowing the reader to experience a gut wrenching situation through the eyes of the main character.

Other Books by Walter Dean Myers:

Fallen Angels

All the Right Stuff

Darius& Twig

Autobiography of My Dead Brother

 

Interview with Author, Walter Dean Myers:

 

Annie on My Mind

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my Mind. NY: FSG.

Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Liza is a high school senior looking forward to her future at MIT. While visiting a museum, she meets Annie and is immediately drawn to her. They become friends, but in time their feelings for one another begin to turn romantic. Liza wrestles with the idea of being gay. They keep their relationship secret as long as they can, but once it is exposed it creates problems for the young couple. The reactions of Liza’s family and friends leaves her questioning the relationship.

Commentary:

Nancy Garden does a wonderful job at writing a story that teens can find relatable. Adolescents and young adults are discovering who they are and need to be allowed to be true to themselves. Many are struggling with sexuality and acceptance. The book really captures the message that love is love.

Other Books by Nancy Garden:

Holly’s Secret

Molly’s Family

The Year They Burned the Books

Book Trailer:

Lily and Dunkin

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. NY: Delacorte Press.

Summary:

In Lily and Dunkin the two main characters each tell the story from their own perspective. Lily McGrother (Tim) feels that she is a girl trapped in a boy’s body. The older she gets, the more she wants to be her true self. She befriends a boy named Norbert Dorfman, better known as Dunkin. Dunkin is also coping with his own differences. He is bi-polar and, like Lily, just wants to be accepted. As their friendship grows, they find acceptance with one another, which helps them both learn how to be accepting of themselves.

Commentary:

This book really hits on some important issues that teenagers are facing. I feel that it gives a voice to some populations that until recently weren’t really seen in literature. The reader is able to see the sacrifices it took for Lily, a transgender girl, to be true to herself. It also shed light on mental illness, which is often misunderstood. The book allowed the reader to understand what it is like to be unable to control your own thoughts and actions. The book presents these topics in a compassionate manner that is heartwarming and much needed.

Other Books by Donna Gephart:

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen

Death by Toilet Paper

How to Survive Middle School

Book Trailer:

LSSL 5385 Textbook Reflections Chapters 11-15

Chapter 11 – Realistic Fiction

• ·         Realistic fiction is set in modern or contemporary times.
• ·         It is believable and like the real world that we live in.

• ·         Criteria for evaluating realistic fiction for children:

o   Is everything consistent with the real world in which contemporary kids live?

o   Does the theme emerge naturally from the story? Theme should emerge slowly and consistently.

o   How does the subject of the book relate to modern readers?

Reflection

The majority of the books that I read are realistic fiction. I think that this sub-genre appeals to a lot of people because it is relatable. People can easily see themselves in the characters. They understand the struggles that the characters face. Many realistic fiction books deal with topics such as changing family structure, death, and sexuality, which are many of the same topics that children and teens are facing as well. They are able to find refuge in the pages of a book. As a librarian, we need to be familiar with a multitude of realistic fiction books so that we can help provide suggestions for students. It is also important that we learn to evaluate realistic fiction so that we can ensure our collection is well rounded.

Chapter 13 – Fantasy and Science Fiction

• ·         Fantasy fiction stories violate the laws of physical reality.
• ·         Science fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy.
• ·         All science fiction is fantasy, but not all fantasy is science fiction.
• ·         Most people prefer soft science fiction, which is more story than science. Hard science fiction is more science than story.
• ·         Soft science fiction often contains the same subjects and conflicts that are found in other types of stories (friendship, family, etc.)

• ·         Subcategories of Science Fiction:

o   Apocalyptic (end of civilization) & Post-Apocalyptic (after catastrophe)

o   Punk (cyberpunk, dieselpunk, steampunk, biopunk, fairypunk, etc.)

o   Dystopia – seems like a perfect world, but isn’t

o   Extra-Sensory Perceptions – ESP, telepathy, supernatural awareness, seeing the future

o   Robots, Androids, Cyborgs, Artificial Intelligence

o   Space, Aliens, Extraterrestrials

o   Time Travel & Parallel Universe

o   Virtual Reality & Gaming

• ·         Criteria for evaluating science fiction and fantasy for children:

o   Despite the fantastic aspects of the story, characters must behave in believable and consistent ways.

o   The fantasy world must still have rules.

o   Authors must assist readers in the “willing suspension of disbelief.”

o   Themes should explore universal truths.

Reflection

I never realized how many subcategories were included under the umbrella of science fiction. Typically I limited my thoughts about science fiction to books set in space. Because of this limited understanding, I always thought that I didn’t enjoy science fiction. After reading this chapter, I realized that many of my favorite books actually fall under the science fiction category. Dystopian and apocalyptic books are some of my favorite types of books to read. I loved Roar, The Hunger Games, and Divergent series. As a librarian, it is our job to educate our students about where to find the books they are most interested in. We need to understand genres and subgenres so that we can help guide our students to the books that most interest them. I would have never considered that I enjoyed science fiction. I need to help my students discover their own book interests as well.

Chapter 12 – Graphic Novels

• ·         Graphic novels are not a genre. They are a form/format.
• ·         Graphic novels can be fantasy, historical, non-fiction, or any other genre/subgenre.
• ·         Graphic novels are written for all ages from elementary to adult.
• ·         Graphic novels are more complex than picture books and comic books.
• ·         Like traditional books, they are read from left to right. The dialogue bubbles are also read from left to right.
• ·         Many unmotivated readers gravitate towards graphic novels. Readers are still exposed to classic literary elements such as mood, tone, and theme.

• ·         Major Types of Graphic Novels

o   Manga – uses the traditional Japanese reading pattern of top to bottom and right to left

o   Superhero – mainstream publishers include Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse

o   Perzine – personal narrative or autobiographical stories

o   Nonfiction – similar to perzines, but touches on social issues

Reflection

When our school librarian first started a graphic novel section in our library, I was less than impressed. I basically just thought of them as glorified comic books. I wished that my students would read “real” books instead of racing for the graphic novels. I have since set my own preferences aside, and realized the error in my thinking. Year after year, I see the most reluctant students pick up graphic novels. I couldn’t keep copies of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Captain Underpants on the shelf. The books were a quick read and kept the kids’ attention. Since then, I have noticed the variety of graphic novels is growing. There are more and more options than there were just a couple of years ago. This is attracting more and more students to explore this form of book. I think that anything that gets our students reading more is a good thing.

Chapter 15 – Peck’s Questions

Ten questions to ask about a novel as suggested by Richard Peck (1978).

1.       What would the story be like if the main character were of the opposite sex?

2.       Why is the story set where it is?

3.       If you were to film the story, would you use black and white or color? Why?

4.       If you could not use all of the characters, who would you eliminate? Why?

5.       How is the main character different from you?

6.       Would this story make a good TV series? Why or why not?

7.       What is one thing that happened in the story that has also happened to you?

8.       Reread the first paragraph of chapter 1. What is in it that makes you want to continue reading?

9.       If you had to design a new cover for the book, what would it look like?

10.   What does the title tell you about the book? Does it tell the truth?

Reflection

These question seem to really help the students think critically about what they have read. I think this is far better than just basic recall questions. The questions get students thinking about their feelings about the novel. Some of the questions have students explore the author’s motives behind some of their choices within the book. These questions would be an excellent starting point for discussions. They could also be used as critical writing prompts or within cooperative learning groups. As we begin our novel studies, I will be looking for ways to incorporate these questions into my classroom.

LSSL 5385 Textbook Reflections Chapters 6-10

Chapter 6 – How Adolescents Develop

• ·         Physical – puberty

o   Am I normal?

o   Struggle with changes going on within themselves.

o   Physical reality gets in the way

• ·         Intellectual

o   Piaget – progress stages

o   In the 70s, it was taught that students move from concrete to abstract at the age of 10.

o   It is now recognized that students move from concrete to abstract closer to 14.

o   If questions are abstract, we need to scaffold for our students.

• ·         Havighurst – developmental stages

o   Learn to get along with peers

o   Work for pay

o   Changing relationships with parents

o   Develop morals and values

o   Adapt to physical bodies

o   Changing relationships with peers of the opposite sex

o   Appropriate sex roles

• ·         Kohlberg’s Theory

o   Pre-conventional – behavior reverts when reward and punishment is removed

o   Conventional – follow rules and laws because it is right

o   Post-conventional – will violate rules and laws for human rights – civil disobedience

• ·         Maslow Pyramid – needs hierarchy

o   Physiological

o   Safety

o   Love and belonging

o   Esteem

o   Self-actualization

• ·         Birthday Cake Theory

o   Unconscious delight  - get lost in books, usually in a series or with serial reading

o   Autobiographical – read about people like ourselves, book as mirrors

o   Vicarious experiences – windows out, fantasy

o   Philosophical speculation – sometimes nonfiction

o   Aesthetic experiences – reading for the pure enjoyment and experience of reading, emotional attachment

Reflection

This chapter really took me back to my college days. I recognized many of the names and theories from my course work. As a librarian, it will be our responsibility to help address students’ changing needs as they are growing physically, intellectually, and emotionally. There are some books that our younger students just aren’t developmentally ready for yet. I remember when I was in elementary school, you were not allowed to check out Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret until fourth grade. It was like a rite of passage finally being able to check it out and find out what all the fuss was about. Due to flood damages, our 6^th grade students are currently attending school at the junior high, which is normally 7^th and 8^th grade only. Due to a difference in the types of books offered in their library, we have had to create a special section for our 6^th graders.

Chapter 7 – Literary Elements & Devices

• Antagonist- the character that stands in opposition of the protagonist, or main character, often referred to as a villain, used to bring about conflict
• Character- person, animal, or figure that serves an important purpose to a story
• Conflict- a struggle between two opposing forces; often between a protagonist and antagonist; there is both internal and external conflict
• Mood – evokes feelings within the reader through words and descriptions; atmosphere or emotional situation
• Tone – the attitude the author has towards a subject or an audience; conveyed through word choice
• Plot – the events that make up a story; the foundation of a story; there are 5 main parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution
• Protagonist – the central character or leading character in a story; often referred to as the hero
• Setting – environment where a story takes place; three major components; social environment, place and time
• Themes – the main idea or meaning of a literary work; it can be directly or indirectly stated
• Allegory - abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events
• Allusion – a brief, often indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea that has historical, cultural, literary or political significance
• Archetype - a typical character, action or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature – gives literary work a universal acceptance  – example: heros exibit goodness and fight against evil
• Deus ex Machine - an implausible concept or a divine character is introduced into a storyline for the purpose of resolving its conflict and procuring an interesting outcome – considered an ill-constructed plot – brings about a solution to an otherwise unsolvable problem
• Hyperbole – an unreal exaggeration for the sake of emphasis – does not compare – example: It has been a million years since I’ve went to the movies!
• Imagery – represents objects, actions, and ideas in a way that it appeals to our physical senses – creates a mental picture – helps the reader envision the characters and scene more clearly
• Metaphor - an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two unlike things - you portray a person, place, thing, or an action as being something else – example: His voice was music to my ears.
• Motif - an image, sound, action or other figures that have a symbolic significance and contributes toward the development of theme – helps explain and reinforce the central idea
• Point of View - the angle or mode of narration that lets the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story – who is telling the story – first, second, or third person
• Simile – makes a comparison between two unlike things using the words “like” or “as” – example: His smile was as bright as the sun.
• Symbolism – the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities – an object represents another object – example: a dove is the symbol of peace

Reflection

Writing these definitions reminded me of being a first year teacher. Going into a 6^th grade ELAR class, I had little recollection of these literary terms. I remember spending countless hours that first year studying so that I would understand what I was teaching to my students. Of all of these, the figurative language terms and plot terms stand out the most. Those are the ones that we work with more frequently in my classroom. When reading My Life in Dog Years, I would give my students sticky notes to flag the figurative language that they found in each chapter. The students turned it into a competition to see who could find the most. Without having a strong understanding of the definitions, they wouldn’t be successful in discovering it in the passages. I always stress the importance of knowing vocabulary, and like to use interactive notebooks to have my students record their vocabulary terms. I usually like to post the terms on a word wall as well so that we can refer back to them throughout the year. It is important for students to understand literary elements and devices in their reading.

Chapter 8 – Awards

Printz – This award for works that exemplify literary excellence in young adult literature.

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction – YALSA honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.

Great Graphic Novels for Teens – This is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18 and it is prepared yearly by YALSA.

Best Fiction for Young Adults - YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee presents fiction titles published for young adults in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18. The purpose of the annual list it to provide librarians and library workers with a resource to use for collection development and reader’s advisory purposes.

Margaret A. Edwards Award – This award was established in 1988, and honors an author, as well as a specific body of his or her work, for significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. The annual award is administered by YALSA and sponsored by School Library Journal It recognizes an author’s work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world.

ALEX Award - The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have a special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18. Please note that the winning titles are selected from the previous year’s publishing.

Odyssey Award - This annual award will be given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.

Morris Award – The Morris Award honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

Outstanding Books for the College Bound - These books offer opportunities to discover new ideas, and introduce the fascinating variety of subjects within an academic discipline. Readers will gain an understanding of our diverse world and build a foundation to deepen their response to that world. This list is developed every five years.

Popular Paperbacks - Each year, the Popular Paperbacks committee creates lists of books to encourage young adults to read for pleasure. The lists of popular or topical titles are widely available in paperback and represent a broad variety of accessible themes and genres.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers – This list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike reading for whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction.

Readers’ Choice - YALSA’s Readers’ Choice list seeks to engage a wide audience of librarians, educators, teens and young adult literature enthusiasts in choosing the most popular teen titles in a given year, as organized by broad genres.  The list will also provide librarians with a timely means of identifying popular teen titles on an ongoing basis.

Teens Top Ten – This is a “teen choice” list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in fifteen school and public libraries around the country.

Amazing Audiobooks - YALSA’s Amazing Audiobooks committee selects and annotates an annual list of notable audio recordings significant to young adults from those released in the past two years.

YA Choices - Since 1986, the Young Adults’ Choices project has developed an annual list of new books that will encourage adolescents to read. The books are selected by the readers themselves, so they are bound to be popular with middle and secondary school students. The reading list is a trusted source of book recommendations, used by adolescents, their parents, teachers, and librarians.

Lone Star Reading List - The Texas Lone Star list is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table. The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6, 7, or 8 to explore a variety of current books. The Lone Star list is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.

TAYSHAS Reading List - The object of the Tayshas project is to motivate young adults to become lifelong readers and to participate in the community of readers in Texas. The Tayshas High School Reading List Committee coordinates activities associated with the Tayshas program, a reading incentive program designed for young adults in Texas, grades 9-12, who are encouraged to read books for pleasure from a selected reading list prepared by the Tayshas Committee.

Maverick Reading List - The Texas Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List (TMGNRL) is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table (YART). The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current books. The TMGNRL list is intended for recreational reading, not to support a specific curriculum.

Edgar Award for Mystery - This is an award presented by the Mystery Writers of America and is seen as the most prestige award to be given to writers of mystery suspense and crime.

NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children - NCTE established the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 1977 to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3–13. NCTE also recognizes and fosters excellence in children’s poetry by encouraging its publication and by exploring ways to acquaint teachers and children with poetry through such means as publications, programs, and displays. 

Orbis Pictus - The award was established in 1989 to promote and recognize excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.

Batchelder Award - The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction - The Scott O’Dell award was established to encourage other writers–particularly new authors–to focus on historical fiction. It was O’Dell hope that this was a way to increase the interest of young readers in the historical background that has helped to shape their country and their world.

Pura Belpre Award - The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Schneider Family Award - The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Sibert Award - The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year. 

Stonewall Award - The first and most enduring award for GLBT books is the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table.

Reflection

I am amazed at the variety of book awards available. Growing up, I only remember hearing about Caldecott, Newberry, and Blue Bonnet. I know that the list of book awards is growing, and that could account for some of that. I like that some of the awards listed are actually top choices chosen by the reading group, such as Teen Top Choice. I think it is great that young people are given a voice in what books matter to them. As a librarian it is our responsibility to recommend books for students. It is nice to have such a variety of book lists to steer students towards. There are lists that cater to the diverse population of students that we will service. I believe that by having awards that are specific to certain groups such as GLBT and Latinos, it allows students to easily find books that are relatable to them. Since I had such a limited knowledge of book awards before taking LSSL courses, I have a lot to learn to prepare me for my future as a librarian. I appreciate that our required reading includes many of the books that appear on these lists. It helps me to become familiar with books that I might otherwise not read.

Chapter 9 – Poetry

• ·         Poetry is a form, not a genre.
• ·         Students often have a negative view of poetry because they do not enjoy having to pick it apart to analyze it.
• ·         Kids prefer narrative poetry – it is similar the stories that they are used to reading
• ·         Kids dislike free verse and haikus the most. They enjoy writing haiku more than reading it. They do not like the lack of rhyme in free verse.
• ·         They like sound devices such as onomatopoeia, alliteration, and tongue twisters.
• ·         Imagery and visual words are important because they allow students’ imagination to expand.
• ·         Poems do not have to be brought down to a child’s level.
• ·         They enjoy funny poems such as Shel Silverstein.
• ·         Poems that lend themselves to interaction and repeated readings are favorable.
• ·         Kids enjoy concrete poems.
• ·         Poetry can lead to teachable moments.
• ·         NCTE Award – given to a poet for the body of work they have produced, was previously given every three years and now it is every year

Reflection

I guess I am one of the odd people that loved poetry as a child. I have fond memories of the poems that my teachers shared throughout elementary school. In kindergarten, our graduation ceremony consisted of us reciting nursery rhymes that we had memorized. I remember how proud I felt standing in front of all the parents reciting my nursery rhyme My 2^nd grade teacher introduced us to the world of Shel Silverstein.  We were always eager for her to read a new poem to us. Each day we would all rush to be the first one finished with our work so we could read Light in the Attic or Where the Sidewalk Ends. One of my favorite assignments in college was in a writing class. We had to write 3 poems and a creatively display them. I was so proud of my gingerbread man poem. I wrote the poem on a large foam gingerbread man and glued it to a disposable baking sheet. As a teacher, I have always enjoyed sharing poetry with my students. Some of my favorite poems to share are metaphor poems and inferencing poems. The students always love guessing what the poem is describing. I also always love reading The Walrus and the Carpenter with my class for narrative poetry. We are currently on our poetry unit, and I always have a few students that are still shocked that poems do not have to rhyme. This week they have been working on I Am poems and I have been impressed by the thought that many of the students have put into their work. I always enjoy reading these poems because I feel like it gives me a little insight into my students.

Chapter 10 – Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is a story that is set in the past. The age of the reader can affect what one views as historical. Young students view history as things that happened earlier in the day. Older students see history as being when they were younger, and adults often view history as events that happened before they were born. Because of these discrepancies, you must be careful when deciding what books belong in the historical fiction section.

Criteria for Evaluating Historical Fiction for Children

1. Does the book tell a good story that effortlessly blends the history in the story itself?
2. Are the facts of the historical period accurate? Reviews are an excellent source to verify authenticity.
3. How are the values of the time brought to life?  Readers need to see that time periods might have valued some things differently from contemporary times.   
4. Is everything consistent with the social milieu?  Details such as clothing, architecture, and speech patterns should reflect the historical time period.
5. Does the theme of the story relate to contemporary readers? The theme should be universal.

Reflection

If you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have told you that I hate historical fiction. History was always one of my least favorite subjects, so I always thought I would hate any historical book. I didn’t even realize that many of the books that I enjoy and share with my class are actually historical. The Watson’s Go to Birmingham is always one of my students’ favorite books. In fact, we will begin reading it this week. It always leads to conversations about the time period and what influenced the events in the book. We also enjoy reading Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and Number the Stars. The students are much more engaged learning about these historical events through the conversations sparked by these books. My first year teaching, I decided to read The Man Who Walked Between the Towers for September 11^th. It never occurred to me that my students wouldn’t really know September 11^th. I had taken it for granted that they were familiar with it because it doesn’t feel historic to me. I remember the day vividly, yet my students at the time were only toddlers. It was definitely a learning experience and every year since then, I have taken the time to have conversations beforehand to make sure they have some background knowledge.