Module 8 Mystery/Series

Module 8 Mystery/Series

July 21-27, 2014

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones

By David A. Adler 

Image Found Here

Bibliography: 

 Adler, D. A., & Natti, S. (1981). Cam Jansen and the mystery of the dinosaur bones. New York: Viking Press.

Summary:

This book is about Cam a her friend Eric who stumble upon a mystery while on a field trip at the local museum. There is action and suspense with a touch of danger when Cam and Eric try and solve this mystery.

Impressions: 

This is a fun book with a realistic mystery. The mystery did not reveal any clues up until the end. I thought it was well done.

Reviews:

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen

"Cam" is short for "camera", a nickname earned because she has a photographic memory. On a field trip to the museum, Cam notes that the Coelophysis skeleton is missing three tailbones. No one believes her, but she and her friend Eric pedal off on their bicycles in an attempt to catch the crooks. The story is quickly paced, and the two friends involve the authorities rather than entirely taking matters into their own hands. The series certainly proves the value of paying close attention to detail; the clues that Cam uses are in the book, but I had to look back to see that they were there. 1997 (orig.

The Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones (Cam Jansen Series #3). (n.d.). Retrieved August 04, 2014, from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystery-of-the-dinosaur-bones-david-a-adler/1100556502?ean=9780142400128

Suggestions for Use:

After reading this book students could test their memory skills by playing memory games. This and other suggestions are found at the resource listed below.

https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/penguin/CamJansenMysteries_TG.pdf

Module 7 Informational Nonfiction/Biography

Module 7  Informational Nonfiction/Biography

July 14-20, 2014

An Egg Is Quiet By Dianna Aston, Illustrated by Sylvia Long

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Bibliography: 

Aston, D. H., & Long, S. (2006). An egg is quiet. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Summary:

This is an informative book about eggs. The story is descriptive and the added illustrations are detailed and labeled so the reader could use this book as a field guide for identifying different types of eggs. 

Impressions: 

I found this book to be interesting, informative and very well written and illustrated. I would highly recommend it especially for a science class that may be studying this subject.

Reviews:

Like the subject matter it describes, this book packages with understated elegance the substantive matter found within it. "An egg is quiet. It sits there, under its mother's feathers... on top of its father's feet... buried beneath the sand," Aston (When You Were Born ) begins, as spot illustrations zero in on a hummingbird, emperor penguin and sea turtle, respectively. The narrative then launches into a kind of survey about the characteristics of eggs, which follows a simple format. In most spreads, different adjectives (colorful, shapely, textured, etc.) complete the sentence, "An egg is...." This repetitive rhythm contrasts with the visual variety of the illustrations. Long's (Sylvia Long's Mother Goose ) skilled use of contrast and compositional balance prevent monotony. For example, a border that resembles a color test pattern runs down the outer edges of a spread of nearly 40 carefully placed "colorful" examples, set against a white background, which dazzle the eye. The main text appears in large, flowery cursive, while a smaller printed typeface serves as labels and brief factual captions. "An egg is clever," in fancy script, for instance, sits alongside examples of camouflage: "An egg might be speckled to resemble the rocks around it." The letters' dramatic curlicues mimic curvy grasses and vines dappled with tiny insect eggs. Long introduces breathtaking color into the final spreads, as a concluding scene "hatches from" this peacefulness, reminding readers of an egg's purpose. This attractive volume pleases on both an aesthetic and intellectual level. Ages 5-10. (Apr.)

Children's Book Review: An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston, Author, Sylvia Long, Illustrator , illus. by Sylvia Long. Chronicle $16.95 (26p) ISBN 978-0-8118-4428-4. (n.d.). Retrieved August 04, 2014, from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8118-4428-4

Suggestions for Use:

This is a great book to use in a science lesson. Listed below is website with links to activities related to this book.
http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/an-egg-is-quiet/

What If You Met A Pirate? By Jan Adkins

Image Found Here

Bibliography: 

Adkins, J. (2004). What if you met a pirate?: An historical voyage of seafaring speculation. Brookfield, Ct.: Roaring Brook Press.

Summary:
This is a very informative book about Pirates. It tells the real story not the commercialized version of pirates. It is very thorough in detail even diagraming a pirate labeling all of the accessories and uses for those accessories. If you love pirate you will really like this book. 

Impressions: 

This book was very informative giving a timeline of showing the history of Pirates and the various types of pirates. It has great illustrations and a great deal of text to thoroughly cover everything about pirates. I thought it was done well.

Reviews:

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen

"Cam" is short for "camera", a nickname earned because she has a photographic memory. On a field trip to the museum, Cam notes that the Coelophysis skeleton is missing three tailbones. No one believes her, but she and her friend Eric pedal off on their bicycles in an attempt to catch the crooks. The story is quickly paced, and the two friends involve the authorities rather than entirely taking matters into their own hands. The series certainly proves the value of paying close attention to detail; the clues that Cam uses are in the book, but I had to look back to see that they were there. 1997 (orig.

The Mystery of the Dinosaur Bones (Cam Jansen Series #3). (n.d.). Retrieved August 04, 2014, from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mystery-of-the-dinosaur-bones-david-a-adler/1100556502?ean=9780142400128

Suggestions for Use:

After reading this book you can play a memory came and have the students test how well their memory is by having them close their eyes and try to list things in the room. This was an idea along with several others found from the resource listed below.

https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/penguin/CamJansenMysteries_TG.pdf

Module 6 Historical Fiction

Module 6 Historical Fiction

July 7-13, 2014

Tomas and The Library Lady by Pat Mora

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Bibliography: 

Mora, P., & Colón, R. (1997). Tomás and the library lady. New York: Knopf.

Summary: 
This was an interesting book about a boy and his family who were migrant workers from Texas who traveled to Iowa during the summers. It told the story of a librarian who influenced this boy and family during their stay in Iowa. It also shed light on the family life of this time period.

Impressions: 

I found this book beautifully illustrated and well written I like the historical elements and the personal perspective it brought. I love seeing how the librarian made such a difference for this boy and his family.It is a great story.

Reviews:

Tomas and the Library Lady

Pat Mora. Ill. by Raul Col-n.

Based on the life of Tomas Rivera, former chancellor of the University of California at Riverside, this book demonstrates the value of reading and books and portrays a positive image of migrant farm workers and their families. In spite of the yearly move from Texas to Iowa to pick fruit and vegetables, Tomas's family shows an appreciation of learning as they listen toTomas read. A librarian's compassion further encourages Tomas to read all types of books and share what he discovers within them. CU: Students can retell their own family stories, just as Tomas and his grandfather did. Children could be encouraged to visualize images from their reading just as Tomas created images in his mind from the words he read. SC

Teachers' choices for 1998. (1998). Reading Teacher, 52(3), 271

Suggestions for Use:

This book has been used by some librarians to introduce a summer learning program that will encourage students to read and learn new things over the summer.

Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Ryan

Image Found Here

Bibliography: 

Ryan, P. M., & Selznick, B. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride: Based on a true story. New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary:

 This book was about Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt and their friendship. They once had a dinner together at the white house that ended up with a flight around Washington D.C. 

Impressions: 

This book was beautifully illustrated and enjoyable to read. I found it an interesting look at Eleanor Roosevelt's personality and her friendship with Amelia Earhart both renowned women of their time.  

Reviews:

 In this sparkling picture book based on a true incident, Ryan (Riding Freedom, with Selznick) proves that Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt truly were "birds of a feather." Friends in real life, America's First Lady invited the "First Lady of the Air" to dinner at the White House in 1933. Eleanor, inspired by Amelia's descriptions of Washington viewed from her plane at night, accepts the pilot's offer of an after-dinner flight over the capital. Before dessert can be served, and over the protests of the Secret Service agents, the two are off to the airport and up in the sky, thrilling to the brilliance of the city below. Hewing closely to documented accounts, Ryan's inviting text adds drama and draws parallels between the two protagonists with fictional touches: she places them alone together in the plane (an author's note explains that in fact they were accompanied by two male pilots) and adds a final scene in which Eleanor takes Amelia for a zippy ride around the city in her brand-new car. Selznick's illustrations, black-and-white graphite accented with touches of purple pencil, both capture the vibrancy of his subjects and evoke the feel of a more glamorous era. A brief but compelling slice from the lives of two determined, outspoken and passionate women. Ages 5-9. (Oct.)

Roback, D., & Brown, J. M. (1999). Forecasts: Children's Books. Publishers Weekly, 246(39), 105.

Suggestions for Use:

 This book would be great for researching one of these ladies for a biography report.