The Book
L'Engle, M. (1962). A Wrinkle in Time. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.
Summary
A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, a high school aged girl who is transported through time and space to first rescue her father, and then her little brother. Meg lives at home with her mother, her two older twin brothers, and her younger brother. Her younger brother has developed quite quickly, he can talk well beyond his years and even seems to possess some kind of mind reading ability. Both of her parents are scientists and her father left over a year ago on a work related job. He used to always write until one day the letters stopped coming. Meg soon discovers why as she goes on an adventure to save him from the evil forces that are imprisoning him on another planet. She goes on this adventure with her younger brother Charles Wallace and her friend Cavin O'keefe. Meg and her companions are transported on this journey with the help of three new friends, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which. The story begins with the arrival of Mrs. Whatsit at the Murry house on a dark and stormy evening. Meg does not trust her at first as she looks like a crazy old tramp, but Mrs. Murry invites her in to warm up and eat some food anyways. Mrs.Whatsit then upsets Mrs. Murry by mentioning before she leaves that a tesseract actually exists. A tesseract is a sort of "wrinkle" in space and time. It is through this wrinkle that Meg and her companions will travel through the fifth dimension in search of Mr. Murry. On the afternoon following Mrs. Whatsit's visit, Meg and Charles Wallace walk over to the haunted house where the three Mrs.W's are living. On the way, they meet Calvin O'Keefe, a popular boy from Meg's school. The three children then learn from Mrs.Whatsit and her friends that the universe is threatened by something called the Dark Thing. Many planets have already fallen victim to The Dark Thing including the planet Camazotz, on which Mr.Murry is imprisoned. Meg and her companions are then transported to Camazotz to rescue Mr.Murry. The only problem is that this planet has been taken over by a giant diembodied brain called IT. Charles Wallace tries to fight IT with his exceptional intelligence but he is overpowered and becomes possessed by IT. Under the control of IT, Charles Wallace leads Meg and Calvin to Mr. Murry and together they try to defeat IT. However, they too are unable to withstand IT's power and escape at the last minute when Mr.Murry appears and seizes Meg and Calvin and "tessers" away with them to another planet.The three Mrs. W's appear once again, and Meg realizes that she must travel alone back to Camazotz to rescue her brother as he is still there possessed by IT. Mrs. Which tells her that she has one thing that IT does not have, and this will be her weapon against IT. When standing in the presence of IT, Meg realizes what her weapon is against IT, it is her ability to love! By concentrating on her love for Charles Wallace, she is able to rescue him and restore him to his true identity. IT is defeated and Meg and Charles Wallace tesser through time and space. They land in her twin brothers' vegetable garden on Earth, where her father and Calvin stand waiting. The family joyously reunites, and the three Mrs. W's visit the happy travellers while they are en route to further travels.
Response
I chose to read this novel after it was mentioned in the novel When Your Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. It was referred to a few times in this novel and I was curious about the story behind it. During my reading of A Wrinkle in Time I was a little confused at times, but overall I enjoyed it. I liked how there was always action and something unusual happening. However, I was confused at how mature Charles Wallace was for his age and how he possessed a sort of mind reading ability. It seemed strange to me that no one, especially their mother seemed to think this was unusual. Also, I wish it would have explained in more detail how Charles Wallace came to meet the three Mrs.W's and why Calvin was chosen to join in on the journey to rescue Mr.Murry. I am left wondering what kind of adventure the three Mrs.W's are going on at the end. I also wonder why Charles and Meg did not tell their mother about this adventure, as I'm sure she would have understood and even would have tried to help. This book definitely gives it's readers a lot to think about. It also leaves many things to the reader's imagination as there are no illustrations. There are also times when the reader must develop their own explanations and backgrounds to certain parts of the story. For example, how the three Mrs.W's knew how to find Charles Wallace, Meg and Calvin. I really enjoyed how desciptive the writing was as it allowed me to really picture what was going on and create my own image of the scenes that were unfolding. I am amazed at how old this book is as while I was reading it never dawned on me that this book was over 40 years old. It is definitely a timeless classic. I also appreciated that the female and male characters were equally powerful, and that each had their own imperfections. There really is a theme of good vs. evil in this book and I also found that it contained many symbols and themes of spirituality and science. I think this book would be great to discuss as a class and hear student's different interpretations of the book and it's themes. It would also be good to study in an English Language Arts class as it uses quite descriptive vocabulary, and it contains many examples of personifications and alliterations.
Awards Received/Reader's advisory information
A Wrinkle in Time has won the Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. It won the Newbery Medal Award in 1963 and I do not know the years it won the other awards. It would be most appropriate for children 12 and up as the chapters are quite long and the writing is pretty small. The plot is quite complex and there are also no illustrations. I also think the content would be harder for younger students to understand. It contans themes of spirituality, science, fantasy, time travel, family, friendship, courage, love, determination and the powers of good and evil (light and dark).
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Paper Bag Princess- Audio Book #1
The Book
Munsch, R. & Martchenko, M. (Illus.). (1980). The Paper Bag Princess. Toronto, ON: Annick Press Ltd.
Read by Robert Munsch. Retrieved from http://robertmunsch.com/the-paper-bag-princess/
Summary
The Paper Bag Princess is a not your typical fairytale. In this fairytale the roles are reversed and it is the princess who rescues the prince. The main character in this story is Princess Elizabeth and at first it seems that she has it all. She is beautiful, lives in a castle, has expensive clothes and even has a prince to marry. Then suddenly, a dragon attacks the castle and she loses almost everything. The dragon destroys the castle, burns all her clothes and kidnaps the prince. Instead of crying she gets angry and springs into action. She looks everywhere for something to wear, but all she could find was an old paper bag. Elizabeth then puts on the paper bag and sets out to rescue the prince. She follows the trail left by the dragon and eventually finds his cave. The dragon tells her to come back tomorrow as he is busy and quite full. Elizabeth uses this to her advantage and devises a plan to outsmart the dragon. She ends up using her wits and flattery to constantly ask the dragon to show her all the cool things he can do. Once the dragon has shown her everything she has asked he ends up being so tired he can't even talk. Elizabeth then takes this opportunity to go into the cave to rescue Prince Ronald. However, the prince is far from grateful as he is shocked to see her all dirty and wearing only a paper bag. Instead of thanking her he tells her to come back when she looks like a real princess. Elizabeth then states that he looks like a real prince but he's really a bum. They do not end up getting married after all as she leaves him and skips off into the sunset alone.
Response
I have always loved this book, it's been one of my favourites since I was a child. I love how it is not a typical traditional fairytale as in this story it's the princess that's the hero not the prince. It's a really empowering book for girls as it shows them that girls are not always damsels in distress and don't always need to be rescued, but that boys need to be rescued sometimes too. It's great as it shows that you don't need a prince and pretty clothes to succeed in life. That it is good character that matters most and if the prince (boy) does not accept this they are not worth your time. Good character is much more important than beauty and riches. Elizabeth is a great role model for young girls as she is smart, self-assured and strong. I remember being mad at how ungrateful the prince was, here Elizabeth had gone through all the trouble to save him and all he has to say are rude comments about her looks. I'm glad she ended up leaving him in the end as her strong character shines once again. I remember thinking how did everything burn except a paper bag? I'm still wondering this but that is not the point of the story. I loved Robert Munsch's reading of this story. He's so hilarious and I love how he accents certain parts of the story while reading. I would definitely recommend this book and I think both boys and girls would enjoy Munsch's reading of it. Although I think it is aimed more towards a girl audience I think boys could learn a little from it. I think some may even enjoy it as although it is backwards from traditional fairytales there is still action, a hero, and a dragon. It would be great to use in a class for a novel study, read aloud or in a thematic unit. It could also be used for a discussion on conflict resolution, bravery and determination.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
I am unsure if this book has won any awards. The themes in this book are role-reversal, stereotyping, conflict resolution, bravery, fantasy, choices, and self-esteem. I think this book is appropriate for children 3-8 or preschool to grade 3. It could be used as a read aloud book for younger children and as a free reading book for older children.
Munsch, R. & Martchenko, M. (Illus.). (1980). The Paper Bag Princess. Toronto, ON: Annick Press Ltd.
Read by Robert Munsch. Retrieved from http://robertmunsch.com/the-paper-bag-princess/
Summary
The Paper Bag Princess is a not your typical fairytale. In this fairytale the roles are reversed and it is the princess who rescues the prince. The main character in this story is Princess Elizabeth and at first it seems that she has it all. She is beautiful, lives in a castle, has expensive clothes and even has a prince to marry. Then suddenly, a dragon attacks the castle and she loses almost everything. The dragon destroys the castle, burns all her clothes and kidnaps the prince. Instead of crying she gets angry and springs into action. She looks everywhere for something to wear, but all she could find was an old paper bag. Elizabeth then puts on the paper bag and sets out to rescue the prince. She follows the trail left by the dragon and eventually finds his cave. The dragon tells her to come back tomorrow as he is busy and quite full. Elizabeth uses this to her advantage and devises a plan to outsmart the dragon. She ends up using her wits and flattery to constantly ask the dragon to show her all the cool things he can do. Once the dragon has shown her everything she has asked he ends up being so tired he can't even talk. Elizabeth then takes this opportunity to go into the cave to rescue Prince Ronald. However, the prince is far from grateful as he is shocked to see her all dirty and wearing only a paper bag. Instead of thanking her he tells her to come back when she looks like a real princess. Elizabeth then states that he looks like a real prince but he's really a bum. They do not end up getting married after all as she leaves him and skips off into the sunset alone.
Response
I have always loved this book, it's been one of my favourites since I was a child. I love how it is not a typical traditional fairytale as in this story it's the princess that's the hero not the prince. It's a really empowering book for girls as it shows them that girls are not always damsels in distress and don't always need to be rescued, but that boys need to be rescued sometimes too. It's great as it shows that you don't need a prince and pretty clothes to succeed in life. That it is good character that matters most and if the prince (boy) does not accept this they are not worth your time. Good character is much more important than beauty and riches. Elizabeth is a great role model for young girls as she is smart, self-assured and strong. I remember being mad at how ungrateful the prince was, here Elizabeth had gone through all the trouble to save him and all he has to say are rude comments about her looks. I'm glad she ended up leaving him in the end as her strong character shines once again. I remember thinking how did everything burn except a paper bag? I'm still wondering this but that is not the point of the story. I loved Robert Munsch's reading of this story. He's so hilarious and I love how he accents certain parts of the story while reading. I would definitely recommend this book and I think both boys and girls would enjoy Munsch's reading of it. Although I think it is aimed more towards a girl audience I think boys could learn a little from it. I think some may even enjoy it as although it is backwards from traditional fairytales there is still action, a hero, and a dragon. It would be great to use in a class for a novel study, read aloud or in a thematic unit. It could also be used for a discussion on conflict resolution, bravery and determination.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
I am unsure if this book has won any awards. The themes in this book are role-reversal, stereotyping, conflict resolution, bravery, fantasy, choices, and self-esteem. I think this book is appropriate for children 3-8 or preschool to grade 3. It could be used as a read aloud book for younger children and as a free reading book for older children.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Something from Nothing- Picture Book #6
The Book
Gilman, P. (1992). Something from Nothing. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Summary
Something from Nothing is an adaptation of a Jewish folktale. This story is about a boy named Joseph and the blanket that was made for him when he was a baby by his grandfather. Joseph loves this blanket but as he gets older the blanket gets older too. Whenever it becomes unusable Joseph takes it to his grandfather as he knows he can fix it, and every time Joseph brings him the blanket he makes something new out of it. His grandfather turns the blanket into a succession of things; a jacket, a vest, a tie, a handkerchief, and finally a button. When Joseph loses the button he soon realizes that even his grandpa can't make something from nothing. Joseph then discovers that he can make one last thing out of the blanket, a wonderful story.
Response
This was a really cute story! I really enjoyed the beautifully done illustrations. The illustrations do a great job of showing what Joseph's life was like and the different activities in it. I also liked how the domestic life of a family of mice is featured on the bottom of each page. The mice's life often mirrors Joseph's and I think it adds a whole new perspective to the story. The message in this book is great and I loved the ending. It really shows you that something can be made out of nothing and I think it would motivate children to write their own stories. It would be a great book to use in the classroom for many different activities.There are so many different stories in this book and I loved the relationship Joseph had with his grandfather. I found their relationship really touching and think kids would be able to relate to this story in many different ways. It gives the reader a good look at what life was like many many years ago and allows them to see that it`s not the material possession that's important but the story it tells.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book is the winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award and the Sydney Taylor Award. I do not know the years it won these awards. The themes in this book are storytelling, family relationships, transformation, making something from nothing and life in a Jewish community in the olden days. I think this is a story that can be enjoyed by all ages but if I have to specify I think it would be an excellent read for children 5-12 years old. It would also be great to use in grades 1-5 for a novel study or in a thematic unit.
Gilman, P. (1992). Something from Nothing. Toronto, ON: Scholastic Canada Ltd.
Summary
Something from Nothing is an adaptation of a Jewish folktale. This story is about a boy named Joseph and the blanket that was made for him when he was a baby by his grandfather. Joseph loves this blanket but as he gets older the blanket gets older too. Whenever it becomes unusable Joseph takes it to his grandfather as he knows he can fix it, and every time Joseph brings him the blanket he makes something new out of it. His grandfather turns the blanket into a succession of things; a jacket, a vest, a tie, a handkerchief, and finally a button. When Joseph loses the button he soon realizes that even his grandpa can't make something from nothing. Joseph then discovers that he can make one last thing out of the blanket, a wonderful story.
Response
This was a really cute story! I really enjoyed the beautifully done illustrations. The illustrations do a great job of showing what Joseph's life was like and the different activities in it. I also liked how the domestic life of a family of mice is featured on the bottom of each page. The mice's life often mirrors Joseph's and I think it adds a whole new perspective to the story. The message in this book is great and I loved the ending. It really shows you that something can be made out of nothing and I think it would motivate children to write their own stories. It would be a great book to use in the classroom for many different activities.There are so many different stories in this book and I loved the relationship Joseph had with his grandfather. I found their relationship really touching and think kids would be able to relate to this story in many different ways. It gives the reader a good look at what life was like many many years ago and allows them to see that it`s not the material possession that's important but the story it tells.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book is the winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award and the Sydney Taylor Award. I do not know the years it won these awards. The themes in this book are storytelling, family relationships, transformation, making something from nothing and life in a Jewish community in the olden days. I think this is a story that can be enjoyed by all ages but if I have to specify I think it would be an excellent read for children 5-12 years old. It would also be great to use in grades 1-5 for a novel study or in a thematic unit.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (Book #2)- Novel #4
The Book
Kinney, J. (2008). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
Summary
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is the second book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Greg Heffley is back for another round of funny journal entries that are accompanied by his trademark illustrations. He first starts off talking about his summer at swim camp and how he would do anything to avoid being there. He even thought of a "fool-proof" plan which resulted in him being wrapped up in toilet paper. During his time at swim camp his brother Rodrick is supposed to pick him up in his van. The only problem with this is his van is full of his band equipment and he makes Greg sit in the back with it. Greg soon discovers that this is a bumpy and painful ride home so he starts walking instead. When the summer is over Greg is back in school, and had at first forgotten that he still had the "Cheese Touch" from the previous year. He was beginning to think he would be stuck with it for the whole year but then he finds a new unsuspecting student to pass it on to. In another journal entry Greg tells of a picture that his little brother Manny drew. It was of two big heads screaming at each other and another little head crying. Greg's parents thinks it is of them but Greg knows that it's really of him and Rodrick. Rodrick and Greg have a complicated relationship and are always fighting. Throughout this novel Greg tells of many incidents involving Rodrick and how he is being blackmailed by him. You see unfortunately Greg can never tell on Rodrick as Rodrick knows an extremely humiliating secret about him and that is why Rodrick "rules". In the end Greg's secret ends up coming out, and he is suprised by the result. People aren't making fun of him, they're congratulating him! Not only that, but now Rodrick has something to be embarrassed about as he is now known as the drummer from the "Dancing Mom" video. These are only a few of the entries from this book, it includes so many more involving Rowley, Greg's parents, Rodrick and the many practical jokes Greg plays on both his friends and family.
Response
I chose to read the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid as I had already seen the movie and I wanted to see what happened next in the life of Greg Heffley. I really enjoyed the movie and I heard that this book might be made into a movie soon. I would like to see the movie adaptation of this book as for some reason this is one of those times when I preferred the movie over the book. I can honestly say this book is not one of my favourite's but I can see how it is so popular amongst young readers. It is quite funny and involves incidents that I'm sure many of them can relate to. Kids would really be able to identify with Greg and his many problems and experiences. I often found myself thinking of stuff I did back when I was Greg's age and the fights I had with my friends and family. I really like how relatable this book is and the illustrations are perfect as they add a real personal feel to the book. The pictures really help you fully understand what he is saying and let you get a deeper look and see what he is thinking. I like the format and design of this book as it really looks like a diary once you open it up. The pages are lined and the entries look like they were written by a middle school student (a middle school student with very neat writing that is). I also enjoy how the format is quite different than a regular novel and how it is a pretty easy read. Overall this book is great for young readers as it is realistic, and even has a few life lessons in it. You don't have to read the first book of this series to understand it but I would recommend it as the reader's would be able to better understand Greg and his relationships with his friends and family. I would definitely encourage it as a free reading book or use it in a novel study. There are many issues that could be discussed and I think students would really enjoy talking about it with their friends, family and the class.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
I do not know whether this book has won any awards but I do know the first book in the series won the 2010 YRCA award. I found out from Wikipedia that the books in the series also won the ALA Notable Book award, the 2010 Most Favourite Book Around The World, and the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. It did not specify which books won the awards. The theme of this book is sibling rivalry, honesty, friendship and family relationships. I think it would be most appropriate for kids 8-13 or grades 3-7. I think this because it is quite long and would be most relatable to kids that age.
Kinney, J. (2008). Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules. New York, NY: Amulet Books.
Summary
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is the second book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Greg Heffley is back for another round of funny journal entries that are accompanied by his trademark illustrations. He first starts off talking about his summer at swim camp and how he would do anything to avoid being there. He even thought of a "fool-proof" plan which resulted in him being wrapped up in toilet paper. During his time at swim camp his brother Rodrick is supposed to pick him up in his van. The only problem with this is his van is full of his band equipment and he makes Greg sit in the back with it. Greg soon discovers that this is a bumpy and painful ride home so he starts walking instead. When the summer is over Greg is back in school, and had at first forgotten that he still had the "Cheese Touch" from the previous year. He was beginning to think he would be stuck with it for the whole year but then he finds a new unsuspecting student to pass it on to. In another journal entry Greg tells of a picture that his little brother Manny drew. It was of two big heads screaming at each other and another little head crying. Greg's parents thinks it is of them but Greg knows that it's really of him and Rodrick. Rodrick and Greg have a complicated relationship and are always fighting. Throughout this novel Greg tells of many incidents involving Rodrick and how he is being blackmailed by him. You see unfortunately Greg can never tell on Rodrick as Rodrick knows an extremely humiliating secret about him and that is why Rodrick "rules". In the end Greg's secret ends up coming out, and he is suprised by the result. People aren't making fun of him, they're congratulating him! Not only that, but now Rodrick has something to be embarrassed about as he is now known as the drummer from the "Dancing Mom" video. These are only a few of the entries from this book, it includes so many more involving Rowley, Greg's parents, Rodrick and the many practical jokes Greg plays on both his friends and family.
Response
I chose to read the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid as I had already seen the movie and I wanted to see what happened next in the life of Greg Heffley. I really enjoyed the movie and I heard that this book might be made into a movie soon. I would like to see the movie adaptation of this book as for some reason this is one of those times when I preferred the movie over the book. I can honestly say this book is not one of my favourite's but I can see how it is so popular amongst young readers. It is quite funny and involves incidents that I'm sure many of them can relate to. Kids would really be able to identify with Greg and his many problems and experiences. I often found myself thinking of stuff I did back when I was Greg's age and the fights I had with my friends and family. I really like how relatable this book is and the illustrations are perfect as they add a real personal feel to the book. The pictures really help you fully understand what he is saying and let you get a deeper look and see what he is thinking. I like the format and design of this book as it really looks like a diary once you open it up. The pages are lined and the entries look like they were written by a middle school student (a middle school student with very neat writing that is). I also enjoy how the format is quite different than a regular novel and how it is a pretty easy read. Overall this book is great for young readers as it is realistic, and even has a few life lessons in it. You don't have to read the first book of this series to understand it but I would recommend it as the reader's would be able to better understand Greg and his relationships with his friends and family. I would definitely encourage it as a free reading book or use it in a novel study. There are many issues that could be discussed and I think students would really enjoy talking about it with their friends, family and the class.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
I do not know whether this book has won any awards but I do know the first book in the series won the 2010 YRCA award. I found out from Wikipedia that the books in the series also won the ALA Notable Book award, the 2010 Most Favourite Book Around The World, and the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. It did not specify which books won the awards. The theme of this book is sibling rivalry, honesty, friendship and family relationships. I think it would be most appropriate for kids 8-13 or grades 3-7. I think this because it is quite long and would be most relatable to kids that age.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Our Song: The Story of "O Canada" The Canadian National Anthem- Non-Fiction Book #3
The Book
Kuitenbrouwer, P. & Spires, A. (2004). Our Song: The Story of "O Canada" The Canadian National Anthem. Montreal, QC: Lobster Press.
Summary
Our Song: The Story of "O Canada" The Canadian National Anthem is about how the National Anthem originated. The tune for "O Canada" was founded in 1880 by a French Canadian named Calixa Lavallee. The French lyrics for the Anthem came from another French Canadian named Aldolphe-Basile Routhier who listened to the songs of loggers and was inspired by them. He created the lyrics in 1880 and they have never since been altered. English words came later when a Toronto composer became fascinated with "O Canada". He translated the French words into English and the Mendelssohn Choir gave the first English performance in 1907 at Massey Hall in Toronto. However, the translation of the French words did not catch on to the rest of Canada. English lyrics were finally founded by a man named Robert Stanley Weir in 1927. His lyrics were officially published as they captured the hearts of many Canadians and they have not changed since. The lyrics in both French and English are found throughout this book along with a timeline of Canada's important events from 1875-1980. This book is great for anyone who wants to learn more about the origins of Canada's National Anthem. It details the 100 year evolution of "O Canada" and is brought to life by lively illustrations. The English and French lyrics to "O Canada" are found throughout the book and sheet music is also provided.
Response
This was a really interesting book! I really enjoyed learning about the history of Canada's National Anthem as well as about the many important events that happened from 1875-1980. The maps in the front and the back of the book are also really neat. The map in the beginning of the book shows what Canada looked like in 1880 and the map in the back shows what Canada looks like in the present day. It's really cool to see how much it has changed over time. This book would be great for young children as it is full of facts and fun illustrations. It is quite wordy but it would be great for them to look at while an adult reads the text as each illustration has to do with what is being discussed. I also appreciated the addition of the timeline as it shows Canada's progress over the years. I actually learned quite a bit from this book and from the timeline. The timeline contained many important events that I did not know about. I also did not know the history of the Canadian National Anthem and that's why I chose to read this book. I was suprised at how informative it was and was pleased with it as I learned a lot.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
As far as I know this book has not won any awards. I think it would be a great book for children aged 6-12. It would also be good to use as a resource while teaching Canadian History in Elementary Social Studies. It would also be good to use for music as it contains the sheet music for "O Canada". The themes found throughout the book are Canadian History and Heritage, Patirotism, Music and Citizenship.
Kuitenbrouwer, P. & Spires, A. (2004). Our Song: The Story of "O Canada" The Canadian National Anthem. Montreal, QC: Lobster Press.
Summary
Our Song: The Story of "O Canada" The Canadian National Anthem is about how the National Anthem originated. The tune for "O Canada" was founded in 1880 by a French Canadian named Calixa Lavallee. The French lyrics for the Anthem came from another French Canadian named Aldolphe-Basile Routhier who listened to the songs of loggers and was inspired by them. He created the lyrics in 1880 and they have never since been altered. English words came later when a Toronto composer became fascinated with "O Canada". He translated the French words into English and the Mendelssohn Choir gave the first English performance in 1907 at Massey Hall in Toronto. However, the translation of the French words did not catch on to the rest of Canada. English lyrics were finally founded by a man named Robert Stanley Weir in 1927. His lyrics were officially published as they captured the hearts of many Canadians and they have not changed since. The lyrics in both French and English are found throughout this book along with a timeline of Canada's important events from 1875-1980. This book is great for anyone who wants to learn more about the origins of Canada's National Anthem. It details the 100 year evolution of "O Canada" and is brought to life by lively illustrations. The English and French lyrics to "O Canada" are found throughout the book and sheet music is also provided.
Response
This was a really interesting book! I really enjoyed learning about the history of Canada's National Anthem as well as about the many important events that happened from 1875-1980. The maps in the front and the back of the book are also really neat. The map in the beginning of the book shows what Canada looked like in 1880 and the map in the back shows what Canada looks like in the present day. It's really cool to see how much it has changed over time. This book would be great for young children as it is full of facts and fun illustrations. It is quite wordy but it would be great for them to look at while an adult reads the text as each illustration has to do with what is being discussed. I also appreciated the addition of the timeline as it shows Canada's progress over the years. I actually learned quite a bit from this book and from the timeline. The timeline contained many important events that I did not know about. I also did not know the history of the Canadian National Anthem and that's why I chose to read this book. I was suprised at how informative it was and was pleased with it as I learned a lot.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
As far as I know this book has not won any awards. I think it would be a great book for children aged 6-12. It would also be good to use as a resource while teaching Canadian History in Elementary Social Studies. It would also be good to use for music as it contains the sheet music for "O Canada". The themes found throughout the book are Canadian History and Heritage, Patirotism, Music and Citizenship.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Best Story- Picture Book #5
The Book
Spinelli, E. & Wilsdorf, A. (Illus.). (2008). The Best Story. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Summary
The Best story is about a young girl who wants to write the best story to win the Red Brick Library contest. If she wins, first prize is a ride on the Sooper Dooper Looper rollercoaster with her favourite author. She really wants to win this contest as in her mind first prizes don't get any better than that. She then starts asking advice from her family on what makes a good story and she gets all different kinds of ideas from everyone she talks to. However, none of their suggestions seem to sound right once she writes them down. Her mother then gives her great advice and tells her to write from her heart, and as soon as she does she is pleased with her story. In the end she doesn't seem to mind whether she wins or loses the contest as the story she wrote is her own, it came from her heart and nobody elses and that is what makes it the best.
Response
This was a really cute book.Eileen Spinelli does a great job of encouraging children to write from within and create their own stories and inspiration.I found this book to be quite charming and funny. The illustrations really added a nice touch to the story and the theme is pretty realistic which allows the reader to relate to it. The results of the contest are left to speculation and Spinelli does not name the child which allows the reader to think about what's important in this story. The point is not whether or not she wins the contest but that she is proud of the story she created as it came from her own heart.I think this would be an excellent story to read to young children to motivate them to write their own stories and narratives and would also be a good read aloud to inspire them when learning about creative writing.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book has not won any awards that I know of. It's theme is story telling, creative writing and using your imagination. I think this book would be most appropriate for children 4-9 years old. It has vibrant fun illustrations that would draw younger children and a theme that is appropriate for children learning to write. I think this would be a great book for grades 1-3 to motivate the children to write their own stories and learn more about creative writing.
Spinelli, E. & Wilsdorf, A. (Illus.). (2008). The Best Story. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Summary
The Best story is about a young girl who wants to write the best story to win the Red Brick Library contest. If she wins, first prize is a ride on the Sooper Dooper Looper rollercoaster with her favourite author. She really wants to win this contest as in her mind first prizes don't get any better than that. She then starts asking advice from her family on what makes a good story and she gets all different kinds of ideas from everyone she talks to. However, none of their suggestions seem to sound right once she writes them down. Her mother then gives her great advice and tells her to write from her heart, and as soon as she does she is pleased with her story. In the end she doesn't seem to mind whether she wins or loses the contest as the story she wrote is her own, it came from her heart and nobody elses and that is what makes it the best.
Response
This was a really cute book.Eileen Spinelli does a great job of encouraging children to write from within and create their own stories and inspiration.I found this book to be quite charming and funny. The illustrations really added a nice touch to the story and the theme is pretty realistic which allows the reader to relate to it. The results of the contest are left to speculation and Spinelli does not name the child which allows the reader to think about what's important in this story. The point is not whether or not she wins the contest but that she is proud of the story she created as it came from her own heart.I think this would be an excellent story to read to young children to motivate them to write their own stories and narratives and would also be a good read aloud to inspire them when learning about creative writing.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
This book has not won any awards that I know of. It's theme is story telling, creative writing and using your imagination. I think this book would be most appropriate for children 4-9 years old. It has vibrant fun illustrations that would draw younger children and a theme that is appropriate for children learning to write. I think this would be a great book for grades 1-3 to motivate the children to write their own stories and learn more about creative writing.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Diary of a Worm- Picture book #4
The Book
Cronin, D. & Bliss, H. (Illus.). (2003). Diary of a Worm. New York: Joanna Cotler Books an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Summary
Diary of a Worm chronicles the everyday life of a funny, intelligent young male worm. His diary spans from March 20th to August 1st and through these entries he details the amusing adventures that occur during this time. Some of his adventures include trying to teach his friend Spider to dig a hole, pestering his sister, hiding from shovels during fishing season, trying to dance to the hokey pokey and so many more. Through his diary entries he also explains how worms play an important role in caring for the earth. His humanistic qualities are shown through various entries and the scrapbook like beginning and end of the book. He concludes his diary by stating it's not always easy being a worm and shares both what he likes and does not like about being a worm in this great big world.
Response
This book was both funny and endearing and to my suprise it was also quite informative! It really increases the reader's ecological awareness and allows them to see the world from the perspective of a worm. Through his diary entries children can see how he is not that much different from themselves, besides the whole eating his homework thing, never having to bath and the obvious physical differences. He dreams about the future, creates relationships and learns through trial and error like all of us.The illustrations are wonderfully done and they really add character to the book and the worm's diary entries. There were many times I laughed out loud reading this book, especially when he told his sister that no matter how many times she tried her head would always look like her rear end. I also enjoyed how one of the journal entries demonstrated the importance of manners. I believe learning about manners is very important and think this book could have a great influence on young children. This book would also be great to read during Earth Days, many fun activities and discussions could be motivated by it. It is a good book to increase the student's awareness and knowledge about the roles different inhabitants play in keeping the Earth healthy.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
Diary of a Worm has won multiple awards. The awards are as follows: School Library Journal Best Book, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, Nevada Young Reader's Award and Parents' Choice Silver Honor. The years in which this book won these awards was not stated and I found them on the Harper Collins website. The book jacket states this book is for ages 4-8 and I agree, this is a wonderful book for young children. It's themes are family, friends, personal attributes and talents, diaries, worms and ecological awareness.
Cronin, D. & Bliss, H. (Illus.). (2003). Diary of a Worm. New York: Joanna Cotler Books an Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Summary
Diary of a Worm chronicles the everyday life of a funny, intelligent young male worm. His diary spans from March 20th to August 1st and through these entries he details the amusing adventures that occur during this time. Some of his adventures include trying to teach his friend Spider to dig a hole, pestering his sister, hiding from shovels during fishing season, trying to dance to the hokey pokey and so many more. Through his diary entries he also explains how worms play an important role in caring for the earth. His humanistic qualities are shown through various entries and the scrapbook like beginning and end of the book. He concludes his diary by stating it's not always easy being a worm and shares both what he likes and does not like about being a worm in this great big world.
Response
This book was both funny and endearing and to my suprise it was also quite informative! It really increases the reader's ecological awareness and allows them to see the world from the perspective of a worm. Through his diary entries children can see how he is not that much different from themselves, besides the whole eating his homework thing, never having to bath and the obvious physical differences. He dreams about the future, creates relationships and learns through trial and error like all of us.The illustrations are wonderfully done and they really add character to the book and the worm's diary entries. There were many times I laughed out loud reading this book, especially when he told his sister that no matter how many times she tried her head would always look like her rear end. I also enjoyed how one of the journal entries demonstrated the importance of manners. I believe learning about manners is very important and think this book could have a great influence on young children. This book would also be great to read during Earth Days, many fun activities and discussions could be motivated by it. It is a good book to increase the student's awareness and knowledge about the roles different inhabitants play in keeping the Earth healthy.
Awards received/Reader's advisory information
Diary of a Worm has won multiple awards. The awards are as follows: School Library Journal Best Book, IRA/CBC Children's Choice, Nevada Young Reader's Award and Parents' Choice Silver Honor. The years in which this book won these awards was not stated and I found them on the Harper Collins website. The book jacket states this book is for ages 4-8 and I agree, this is a wonderful book for young children. It's themes are family, friends, personal attributes and talents, diaries, worms and ecological awareness.
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