Module 10-August 8-11 Lake Monster Mix-Up-A Sam and Friends Mystery

                                         

                                           

Lake Monster Mix Up- A Sam and Friends Mystery by Mary Labatt





Summary:

In the second book in the Sam & Friends Mystery graphic novel series, canine sleuth Sam is bored because she has to spend the weekend at the cottage at Sagawa Lake - until she hears that the lake has a deep, dark secret.  Sam wants to hear all about it and sure enough, with help from Jennie and Beth, Sam finds an old diary hidden in the wall of their cabin and what they read there is chilling. Is it the key to the secret of Sagawa Lake? What about the strange face painted on the rock, near the water's edge - and the creepy cave nearby? Something lurks in the depths of the lake. All they need is proof, which Sam is determined to obtain at all costs. As always, the mystery-solving trio of Sam, Jennie and Beth blow up events to scary proportions and young graphic novel readers will furiously turn pages to reach the climax - and a surprising solution to the mystery.

Read it Again:
Yes, if you like mysteries you'll like this series.  It is exciting to follow along with Sam and her friends as they uncover the hidden secrets of Sagawa Lake.  I really enjoyed Sam being able to talk through out the book even though she was a dog, it adds another personality and twist to the story.


Library Use:
Once again this graphic novel could be used for reluctant readers.  I think boys and girls would really enjoy that Sam is a dog plays such a large part in the book.  I think it would be fun for the kids to write a short graphic novel to go along with the Sam and Friends mysteries.

Reviews:
School Library Journal 11/1/2009 

K-Gr 4 –Sam, a telepathic dog with a yearning for adventure, and her two human friends, Jennie and Beth, go on a family trip to Sagawa Lake. Once there, the cryptic warnings of a local coot, a hidden diary, and a spooky cave combine to cause the friends to believe that the lake’s island is populated with prehistoric frog monsters, and they set out to prove their theory. This graphic-novel adaptation of the sixth book in Labatt’s “Sam, Dog Detective” series (Kids Can) is quite successful. Rioux’s figure work is very good, with excellent body language, sufficient dollops of realistic detail, and good comic timing and expression. Sam is sufficiently anthropomorphized to benefit from these aspects of the illustration, which makes her come across as cute and impetuous, whereas in the chapter books she can seem more self-interested and petty. In fact, some of Sam’s dialogue that catered to her more selfish or crabby impulses has been cut from the adaptation, which serves to make her more appealing. While the conclusion to the mystery is a bit of a cheat, with information that could not have been anticipated suddenly presented to readers and the trio, the book is more about the characters’ impulse to make adventure and entertainment for themselves. That rings true, as do the family dynamics.–Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.  


References:

www. mackin.com

Bibliography:

Labatt, M. (2009) Lake monster mix-up.  Toronto: ON. Kids Can Press.

Module 10-August 8-11 The Storm in the Barn

 

 The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Summary:
It's 1937, and Jack faces many challenges on his family's Kansas farm, including bullies, a pesky younger sister and the effects of the Dust Bowl. When Jack witnesses and investigates a mysterious flash in Talbot's abandoned barn, he uncovers a sinister lurking figure. Could he have Dust Dementia like the townsfolk are saying? Jack finds strength from a local man's "Jack tales" and becomes determined to confront what he saw.

Read it Again?
Definitely read it again!  This is a great story and would help make struggling readers feel more confident as they go through the story and learn about the historical aspects of the dust bowl.  It has great pencil drawings and keeps your attention throughout the book.

Library Use:
This book could be used in the library with a small group of struggling readers.  It is a good graphic novel that would get students interested in reading.  It would also be a good book to use in sequencing activities. This book is a good example of historical fiction.

Reviews:

Library Media Connection 11/1/2009

This graphic novel is part tall tale, part thriller, and part historical fiction. Eleven-year-old Jack Clark and his family are struggling with the effects of the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas. There is talk in town of a shadowy illness called "dust dementia." Jack worries that he is afflicted when he sees a frightening figure with a face like rain in an abandoned barn. Nevertheless, he summons the courage to end the town's drought. This is the first graphic novel by Phelan, whose full-color illustrations in pencil, ink, and watercolor, convey the desperation of the townspeople, requiring only a limited amount of text to tell the story. While this graphic novel is geared to an upper elementary or middle school audience, its content could be shared with younger elementary students. The book can be used for lessons on sequencing and visual literacy. This is an excellent book to suggest to reluctant readers and a must-have for the elementary graphics novel collection. An author's note explains why Phelan chose to create a graphic novel about the Dust Bowl. Teachers could use this book and author's note to entice students to write and illustrate their own stories based on an historical event. Highly Recommended. Michele Turner, Assistant Library Media Specialist, LaSalle High School, Cincinnati, Ohio 

School Library Journal 9/1/2009

Gr 5-7 -It is 1937 in Kansas, during the Dust Bowl, and 11-year-old Jack can barely remember a world with plentiful water and crops. Unable to help his father with a harvest that isn’t there, and bullied by the other boys his age, he feels like a useless baby. Stories offer a refuge, and there are multiple stories in this work. Jack’s mother tells about the time when the land was a fertile “paradise.” Jack’s invalid sister, Dorothy, is reading The Wizard of Oz , gaining inspiration from the adventures of another Kansan of the same name. Jack’s friend comforts him with folktales about a brave man named Jack who masters nature, battling the King of the West Wind, the King of Blizzards, and the King of the Northeast Winds. In the end, Phelan turns the Dust Bowl into another one of Ernie’s “Jack” tales when the real Jack encounters the Storm King in an abandoned barn and finds out that he has been holding back the rain. The boy must then gather the strength to determine his own narrative, as well as his parched town’s future. Children can read this as a work of historical fiction, a piece of folklore, a scary story, a graphic novel, or all four. Written with simple, direct language, it’s an almost wordless book: the illustrations’ shadowy grays and blurry lines eloquently depict the haze of the dust. A complex but accessible and fascinating book. –Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

References:
www.mackin.com

Bibliography:

Phelan, M. (2009). The storm in the barn.  Humen:China. Candlewick Press.

Module 9- August 1-7 Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant by Jack Prelutsky

 

            Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and other poems

by Jack Prelutsky

Summary:
Take a bunch of words and scramble them up. Give them definitions with a humorous twist and you've got Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant and Other Poems. This book has lots of fun poems about quirky combinations of animals with musical instruments, rain gear, nature and other objects will tie those tongues and make your child laugh. Have fun and be silly with your kids as you read the poems or let your students take a stab at reading the poems themselves. The creative drawings are humorous on their own.


Read it Again?
Yes, this a great book to read.  It is fun to look at all of the illustrations and figure out how they came up with such crazy combinations.  The words are quirky and fun and the illustrations add detail to the poems.  You could sit and read this book over and over again all day.

Library Use:
This would be a fun book to have students read out loud while other students act out the poem out. The students would have making their own photo collages of the poems in the book or creating their own paper collages of poems they create on their own.  It is a great book to get students involved and interested in poetry.

Reviews:

Horn Book (November/December, 2006)

Berger's sophisticated visual wit pairs with Prelutsky's verbal ingenuity to create unconventional animals-the Ocelock, the Clocktopus, and the Tubaboons, to name a few. In each of the seventeen poems, Prelutsky combines an animal with an inanimate object and then evokes the purpose of the object in the animal's behavior. An elephant extends into an Umbrellaphant, which is always in the shade and stays dry; a hornet becomes a shoehornet, a useful but dangerous tool; and "the Pop-Up Toadsters hop and hop, / Then startlingly, abruptly stop / And place in slots atop their heads / Fresh slices of assorted breads." The style of Prelutsky's verse here is reminiscent of his poems for preschoolers in Ride a Purple Pelican, with effective use of repetition, but Berger's art marks this as clearly for elementary-age children. The clever collage art uses reproductions of old-fashioned illustrations of objects-e.g., the Toadsters are vintage toasters with eyes and toad legs, the Alarmadillos' bodies are round analog clocks with bells, and the Panthermometer's tail is a glass mercury thermometer.

School Library Journal (October 1, 2006)

Gr 3-6-Prelutsky is one of the best word crafters in the business, and this collection does not disappoint. Each entry is about a creature that is part animal and part inanimate object. For instance, the Alarmadillos have alarm clocks for bodies, and the Ballpoint Penguins can write with their beaks. The poems are full of fun and wit, with wordplay and meter that never miss a beat. The whimsical illustrations use cut-print media, old-fashioned print images, and a variety of paper textures to create a rich visual treat well suited to the poetry. The detail in the mixed-media pictures makes this a good choice for individual or lap reading, but the poetry begs to be read aloud. This is definitely a "do not miss" poetry pick.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.


References:
www.mackin.com
www.amazon.com

Bibliography:

Prelutsky, J. (2006). Behold the bold Umbrellaphant and other poems.  New York: New York. Harper Collins.

Module 9- August 1-7 Once I Ate a Pie

 

    Once I Ate a Pie 

by 

Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLahlan Charest

Summary:
13 dogs tell all! The dogs each talk about the special things they like in their own words, barks, and yips. Each dog talks about what it likes to do and the important jobs they each do for the people they love.
 
Read it Again?
Yes, this was an adorable book.  It did a great job of drawing the students into book while introducing them to poetry.  The words are all shapes and size which really appeals to the students and makes the book even more interesting. The pictures are very detailed and illustrated very well. 

Library Use:
This would be a fun book to use in a poetry unit for kids.  It would be fun to have the kids write their own poems about animals.  This would tie in very well with the curriculum for 2nd and 3rd grade students.

Reviews:

School Library Journal 5/1/2006 PreS-Gr 3-Free-verse poems about 14 individual dogs sprawl across oversize spreads accompanied by large oil illustrations. The poems and paintings together delightfully capture each distinct personality in few words and with broad strokes of the brush. The fonts change often and reflect the poet's words-rising and falling, sometimes in bold type, growing larger and smaller and dancing over the pages. The format allows for plenty of white space, emphasizing the postures and personalities of the pups and helping the playful fonts to stand out. The overall result is an entertaining visit with some very appealing canines, and a book that perhaps could serve as an inspiration in the classroom for young poets trying to describe their own pets. One wishes that the breeds were listed somewhere, but all in all, this title is still a real treat.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.  Booklist 5/1/2006 Gr. 2-4. Dogs of all sizes and shapes take center stage in this picture book by the authors and illustrator whose first collaboration, Painting the Wind (2003), also displayed an affinity for the canines among us. Each spread features a dog (or two or three) and a succinct poem written from the canine perspective. Presented in a variety of fonts and type sizes that reinforce the meaning of the words, the poems offer odes to the various pleasures of life--sleeping in the sun and chasing balls--many of which aren't limited to dogs. One animal offers a tribute to his own needle-shaped nose: If something is closed, I open it. / If it is perfect, I tear it apart. / I love my work. / I love my nose. Dominated by multiple shades of brown and gray, the book's palette is not wildly colorful, but the paintings capture the individuality of each animal, as well as the mischief and movement young dog lovers find so irresistible. --Abby Nolan Copyright 2006 Booklist

References:
www.mackin.com


Bibliography:

MacLachlan, P. and Charest, M.  (2006). Once I ate a pie.  New York: New York. Harper Collins.

Module 8- July 25-July 31 39 Clues by Gordan Korman

 The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan






Summary:
Minutes before she died Grace Cahill suddenly changed her will, left her family an impossible decision: "You have a choice - one million dollars or a clue."
Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family's secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what's important: hunting clues or uncovering what really happened to their parents. The 39 Clues books set the story and the website and game allow kids to participate in it. Kids visit the website - the39clues.com - and discover they are lost members of the Cahill family. 

Read it Again?
Yes, this was a fun and exciting book.  I am looking forward to reading more of the series and discovering the clues.  I went onto the website and had fun exploring the website and looking for the clues.

Library Use:
This would be a fun after school program for students.  The book could be read in book circles and discussed weekly.  The students could then explore the website under adult supervision to learn more about the 39 clues and the series.  This book would also be a fun book to have students read and then write stories using their own clues.

Reviews:

Booklist 10/15/2008 In a bold leap forward in marketing strategy, this first book in the 39 Clues series introduces readers to what promises to be a sensational mix of reading, online gaming, card-collecting, and even a grand-prize sweepstakes. The premise of the book: Grace Cahill, matriarch of the world's most powerful family, dies and leaves behind a challenge to her descendants. They can either inherit one million dollars, or forgo the money and receive the first of 39 clues that will lead them on an around-the-world adventure in search of, well, that's a secret. But it's an earth-shattering secret, and with 10 books planned for the series (each by a different author), it had better pay off in the end. Riordan, who has plotted the main arc for the series, gets the ball rolling nicely with likable brother-and-sister heroes, a cast of backstabbing relatives, and a smattering of puzzles and clues to decipher in the quest for the ultimate secret. Whether this intriguing book represents the first major event in a shifting world of publishing, or is simply a clever money- and attention-grabbing ploy remains to be seen, but it will be fascinating to see what kids make of it. (Library edition does not include game cards).--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2008 Booklist

School Library Journal 11/1/2008

Gr 4–7—When their beloved Aunt Grace dies, Dan, 11, and Amy, 14—along with other Cahill descendants—are faced with an unusual choice: inherit one million dollars or participate in a perilous treasure hunt. Cahills have determined the course of history for centuries, and this quest's outcome will bring the victors untoward power and affect all of humankind. Against the wishes of nasty Aunt Beatrice, their reluctant guardian since their parents' deaths, Dan and Amy accept the challenge, convincing their college-age au pair to serve as designated adult. Pitted against other Cahill teams, who will stop at nothing to win, the siblings decipher the first of 39 clues and are soon hot on the historical trail of family member Ben Franklin to unearth the next secret. Adeptly incorporating a genuine kids' perspective, the narrative unfolds like a boulder rolling downhill and keeps readers glued to the pages. As the siblings work together to solve puzzles and survive dangers, they develop into well-drawn individuals with their own strengths and personalities. Supporting Cahill cast members come across as intentionally exaggerated caricatures, adding to the tale's breathless fun. The book dazzles with suspense, plot twists, and snappy humor, but the real treasure may very well be the historical tidbits buried in the story. Part of a multimedia launch including a Web site, collectable game cards, and a 10-title series (penned by different authors), this novel stands solidly on its own feet and will satisfy while whetting appetites for more.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

References:
www.mackin.com
www.amazon.com

Bibliography:

Riordan, R. (2008). 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones. New York: New York. Scholastic.

Module 8- July 25-July 31 Qwerty Stevens Back in Time by Dan Gutman

 





                       Qwerty Stevens Stuck in Time with 
                       Benjamin Franklin by Dan Gutman




Summary:
After accidentally sucking Benjamin Franklin into the twenty-first-century of  New Jersey with his Anytime Anywhere machine, thirteen-year-old Qwerty Stevens and his best friend almost wind up stuck in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 when they try to send him back. This is a great book that blends fact and fiction into  time-travel packed with twists and turns along with great characters.

Read it Again?
Yes, this is a fun book with all kinds to twists and turns about time travel and the fun exploration of history.  It would be fun to do activities and research on time travelers.

Library Use:
This could book could be used in a unit about Benjamin Franklin and would be fun to do a mystery book club and read alouds with for 4th and 5th grade students.  It would be fun to have book scavenger about time travel.  I would also like to have students write their own stories about time travel and award a winner for the best story.

Reviews:

Horn Book Guide 4/1/2003 Qwerty, who discovered the Anytime Anywhere Machine in The Edison Mystery, accidentally causes the device to bring Benjamin Franklin into the twenty-first century. Qwerty and his friend Joey then travel back in time to witness the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The writing is breezy, but much of the novel's historical information is didactic, while its overdrawn villain seems straight out of a B-movie. Copyright 2003 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.  Booklist 9/15/2002 Gr. 4-7. In this funny sequel to Gutman's Qwerty Stevens Back in Time: The Edison Mystery (2001), Qwerty accidentally sets Thomas Edison's secret "Anytime Anywhere Machine" into action once again. The machine first transports Benjamin Franklin into Qwerty's bedroom, then returns him, along with Qwerty and his pal Joey, back to eighteenth-century Philadelphia. Franklin emerges as a colorful character with original opinions, a keen appreciation of modern technology, aphorisms for all occasions, and manners that charm even twenty-first-century women. Franklin's juxtaposition to the modern world, and particularly his visit to Qwerty's seventh-grade classroom, provides a great deal of humor as well as some thought-provoking moments. Less amusing but certainly instructive is the boys' quick trip to colonial Philadelphia. It provides an accessible, unusually human fictional portrayal of the approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, complete with a snappish Adams and a snarling Jefferson. In an appended section, Gutman separates some of the historical facts in the book from its fictional framework. --Carolyn Phelan

References:
www.mackin.com


Bibliography:
Gutman, G. (2002). Qwerty Stevens back in time: The edison mystery. New York: New York. Simon & Schuster. 

Module 7- July 17-24 Bodies from the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii by James Deem

 


       Bodies from the Ash by James Deem






Summary:
Pompeii was destroyed by the Vesuvius Volcano in AD 79.  The entire city was destroyed and buried under several feet of ash.  It wasn't until a 100 years later that Pompeii was uncovered by archeologists and the excavations of Pompeii began. The book discusses how excavation revealed buildings and jewelry as well as  the remains of Pompeii residents preserved by volcanic ash.


Read it Again?
Yes, this was a great informational book.  Deem did a great job of telling the story and investigating the story of Pompeii.  It had a lot of great pictures and illustrations which really made the story come to life.   

Library Use:
This is a good book for students to use if they are studying Pompeii.  It gives a lot of great details and information about the bodies discovered in Pompeii and what is being done to preserve the plaster casts.


Reviews:

School Library Journal 12/1/2005

Gr 4-8-In A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and within 24 hours, ash, pumice, and volcanic rubble had covered, and annihilated, the city of Pompeii. It was not until the 18th century that workers began to uncover the remains of this nearly forgotten, except in legend, city and its inhabitants. In this well-researched account, Deem retells the story of this devastating eruption, combining a lively text with photographs of the bones and artifacts that have been unearthed through the years. In 1863, an excavator discovered a fascinating way to study human remains. As bodies covered in hot ash and enveloped by volcanic material decayed, spaces were left around the skeletons. After the hollow areas were filled with plaster, the surrounding debris was chipped away, resulting in detailed plaster casts that preserved "imprints of the people's dying moments," showing their facial expressions and body positions as well as their clothing and possessions. Deem explains how scientists have used these molds and other evidence to piece together the life styles and final moments of some of the victims, and conveys these heart-wrenching tales. Dramatic photographs of the casts capture the horror of this event and help readers to envision day-to-day life in this civilization. With incredibly engrossing images and narrative, this is a powerful and poignant piece of nonfiction.-Jodi Kearns, University of Akron, OH Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. 

Booklist 11/1/2005

Gr. 5-8. On August 24, 79 C.E., the long-silent Mt. Vesuvius erupted, and volcanic ash rained down on the 20,000 residents of Pompeii. This photo-essay explains what happened when the volcano exploded--and how the results of this disaster were discovered hundreds of years later. A tragedy this dramatic demands an affecting text, but this one begins rather ploddingly with the events of August 24 and 25, and moves through the rediscovery of the city and the surrounding areas, with progressively more being learned. What the text lacks in excitement is made up for by the enormous amount of information Deem offers, some of which was acquired in on-site research. The excavations and body preservation techniques are explained in detail; everyday life in the city and the later tourist activity centered in Pompeii are also highlighted. But the jewels here are the numerous black-and-white (and some color) photographs, especially those featuring the plaster casts and skeletons of people in their death throes. The horizontal format, with pages looking as though they were partially bordered in marble, makes an attractive setting for the art. Excellent for browsers as well as researchers. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2005 Booklist

References:
www.mackin.com


Bibliography:
Deem, J. (2005).  Bodies from the Ash. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.