February is Black History Month — the perfect time to read these new children's books about civil-rights activists as well as the winners of this year's Coretta Scott King Awards:
The Piper's Son
Melina Marchetta
Melina Marchetta's brilliant, heart-wrenching new novel takes up the story of the group of friends from her best-selling, much-loved book Saving Francesca - only this time it's five years later and Thomas Mackee is the one who needs saving.
Watch a video of the author Melina Marchetta
James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can
remember is his first name.
Watch the book trailer video
Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
(Winnie-The-Pooh Collection)
~ David Benedictus
Illustrated by Mark Burgess
This is a companion volume that truly captures the style of A. A. Milne-a worthy sequel to The House at Pooh Corner and Winnie-the-Pooh.
Return to The Hundred Acre Wood: writing the Winnie-the-Pooh sequel Would AA Milne approve of his successor? David Benedictus recounts his long journey towards the Hundred Acre Wood.
Watch the videos about the book and Jim Dale as he reads from the book
Using Picture Books to Help Kids Deal With Situations and Feelings
Books are great for children for a variety of reasons, but one excellent thing is that books can be found to read to help out in just about any situation.
Books are often thought of as something to read at bedtime or on a rainy day. Books can offer much more than that though. Board books, picture books and readers can be utilized to help children understand different situations, learn about the world, learn how to deal with their emotions, and offer comfort when needed.
The 2010 Newbery Medal winner is When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, published by Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House Children's Books.
This is a new award, introduced in 2010. Everyone is welcome to vote once for each award between now and January 15 at http://bit.ly/4uok4d
Katherine Paterson, both a two-time Newbery medalist and two-time National Book Award-winner, replaces Jon Scieszka as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, a two-year position created to raise national awareness of the importance of lifelong literacy and education.
“It is, I don’t have to say, an honor and a thrill," says Paterson. "I cannot fill Jon’s shoes, but I can follow in his footsteps, seeking to alert our nation to the importance and delight to be found in literature for young people.” more » » »
Fantastic Mr. Fox
~ Roald Dahl
Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Format: Paperback 96 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0142410349
Released: August 16 2007
Publisher: Puffin
Ages: 9-12
Themes: animals
Price: $7.50
In the tradition of The Adventures of Peter Rabbit, this is a "garden tale" of farmer versus vermin, or vice versa. The farmers in this case are a vaguely criminal team of three stooges: "Boggis and Bunce and Bean / One fat, one short, one lean. / These horrible crooks / So different in looks / Were nonetheless equally mean." Whatever their prowess as poultry farmers, within these pages their sole objective is the extermination of our hero--the noble, the clever, the Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Our loyalties are defined from the start; after all, how could you cheer for a man named Bunce who eats his doughnuts stuffed with mashed goose livers? As one might expect, the farmers in this story come out smelling like ... well, what farmers occasionally do smell like.
This early Roald Dahl adventure is great for reading aloud to three- to seven-year-olds, who will be delighted to hear that Mr. Fox keeps his family one step ahead of the obsessed farmers.
When they try to dig him out, he digs faster; when they lay siege to his den, he tunnels to where the farmers least expect him--their own larders! In the end, Mr. Fox not only survives, but also helps the whole community of burrowing creatures live happily ever after. With his usual flourish, Dahl evokes a magical animal world that, as children, we always knew existed, had we only known where or how to look for it.
Fiction Activities
Vocabulary List for Fantastic Mr. Fox
Lesson Plans for Fantastic Mr.Fox
Fantastic Mr. Fox A matching game to reinforce characters in
this popular Roald Dahl novel. http://www.quia.com/custom/2198main.html
Reading Quiz http://www.puiching.edu.hk/~pc-ckc/fox.htm
Novel Study http://www.tlt.ab.ca/projects/Div1/Grade3/fantasticfox/foxy.html
Vocabulary PowerPoint FantasticMr. Fox
EThemes http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000553.shtml
Rainbow Journey Two http://www.e-magine.education.tas.gov.au/n-touch/surftherainbow/projecttwo/fox.htm
Lesson Plans http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading48/lesson_plans_for_fantastic_mr.htm
Vocabulary Exercises Activity1 http://www.shorncliss.qld.edu.au/000884.asp
& Activity 2 http://www.shorncliss.qld.edu.au/000885.asp
Fantastic Mr. Fox NovelStudy http://www.tlt.ab.ca/projects/Div1/Grade3/fantasticfox/foxy.html
Novel Study http://www.lgsd.k12.nf.ca/imc/PrimaryNovels.asp
Buy the book - amazon
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When You Reach Me (Hardcover)
~ Rebecca Stead (Author)
Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.
A 10-Year-Old’s Marching Orders for the Upcoming School Year
" ... kids function best when they're real clear about exactly what's expected of them ..."