#preK through 6th

[bookishandproud]

More than Words

by Roz Maclean

Book Cover Picture

Genre or category

Texas 2x2 Award Winner

Target Age Group

PreK to 6th grade

Summary

Nathan is a boy who doesn’t talk very much, but through observations of his classmates and the people around him he comes to appreciate the different ways in which people communicate that don’t require speaking.

Justification

I chose this book as it is one of this year’s Texas 2x2 winners, written by an award-winning author/illustrator. The theme of the book, communicating with more than words, I also felt was an important topic to read about, as it addresses the differences between people while also not emphasizing any disabilities or anything, just by acknowledging that some people just communicate differently based on who they are.

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, mood, and theme.

The illustrations of this book were so colorful and whimsical, it was truly like you were seeing the world through a child’s eye, with wonder and imagination. The focus on different types of communication are highlighted so well in each of the images, even with types of communication that are physical like sign language, or one girl that likes to dance. The illustrations do such a great job of capturing each character and showing the reader their differences that they become their own form of communication with their styles and colors becoming and emphasis for the emotion or message a character is trying to convey in their own form of communication. Because the author is also the illustrator, the text of the story was able to be adapted into the illustrations in a way that was really interactive and helped with the flow of the story between characters and places.

 The mood in the story is curious and inquisitive. The main character is observing the world around him, and as he is a child his surroundings are full of color whether that’s because he’s in school with the different colors, symbols, and pictures for his learning environment, or outside on the playground, the mood shows the positivity of being curious but also accepting of the people around him. By using a main character who is already different, but using his curious nature and acceptance, this allows readers, especially readers this age, to become aware of their surroundings and start to not only notice the differences in people around them but accept them with positivity as the mood of the story encourages this. Readers read the book feeling the same inquisitiveness as Nathan and leave the book feeling the same acceptance and comfort in themselves as he feels.

The theme of the book is very important, as it touches on highlighting that other kids and people can be different and not just because they have a disability, but they just are different, which is a crucial message for children in not only accepting more of their world around them but accepting themselves. The author does a great job capturing so many different ways of communicating, be that in writing, singing, dancing, drawing/painting, sign language, and others. The different forms of communication that are depicted really show that communication does not come from just talking, but it is a way of expressing yourself and helps kids understand there’s more than one way to communicate. Although the message can be complex, as there’s so many different ways to communicate, it stays simple enough for children to understand and digest it’s meaning.

Rating: ★★★★

References

Maclean, Roz. (2023). More than words (R. Maclean, Illus.). Henry Holt and Company (BYR).

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: Mexikid by Pedro Martín

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir

Written and illustrated by Pedro Martín.

Genre or Category

Pura Belpré Winner

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 9 years and up, grades 5-9th

Format

Physical, print

Summary

What is a “Mexikid”? Pedro (or Peter, depending on who’s calling) Martín may have the answer! In this lively graphic memoir, Pedro/Peter sets out to tell the story of one wild road trip, wherein he and his family go to Mexico to retrieve his Abuelito who is coming to live with them. However, Abuelito won’t go without a fight! In fact, he has business of own to attend to before settling in the United States. Mexikid will have you laughing and sobbing all in one go! 

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Pura Belpré Winner.” This graphic novel has received many awards, all of which it absolutely deserves! To name a few, it was the winner of both the Pura Belpré Author and Illustrator Awards. It was also a Newberry Honor Book and an Odyssey Honor Audiobook! In addition to these awards and honors, it was also listed “Best Book of the Year” for NPR, Booklist, Kirkus, Amazon, New York Public Library, and the Chicago Public Library. It was also listed in lists for “Best Books of 2023” for Booklist and the New York Times, received “Best Graphic Novel of 2023” for School Library Journal, and was in the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)’s 2024 Notable Children’s Books. It also has many starred reviews in reputable literary review publications.

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations,accuracy, and design and layout.

Illustrations

Mexikid is a graphic novel for younger audiences that utilizes a variety of vibrant colors to bring its story to life! The illustrations are lined with a bold black line, which helps to separate details like clothing, hair, facial features, backgrounds, and objects that the characters interact with. Additionally, the linework comes in handy when diagrams are used to illustrate levels of the earth, maps, and areas within the Winnebago that he and his family drive cross-country. Although the illustrations seem simple, they are highly detailed with shadowing, cross-hatching, and other forms of emphasis that bring out things like texture and movement.

Accuracy

Mexikid is a graphic memoir, which is based on the experiences of the author, Pedro Martín, and his family. In the section titled “Some Of Your Questions Answered,” the author states that he likes to say his stories are “... 100 percent true, 90 percent of the time.” He also says that his heart and his memory like to play tricks on each other, too, which can make it difficult to remember specific details. With the information that he didn’t remember, or didn’t access first-hand, Pedro Martín states that he gathered information from his family and other loved ones who did have those memories, such as the ones of his Abuelita. Although this graphic memoir is based on a true story, the author tried his best to create a sense of authenticity that was real to his own understanding and perspective.

Design and Layout

The choice of text used throughout is incredibly fun to read through because of the way it mimics handwriting, especially handwriting that belongs to a young boy. Not only does this make it engaging, and sometimes easier to read, but it also creates a sense of relatability between Pedro Martín and the reader. Another interesting design choice was the use of less-than (<) and greater-than (>) symbols to let the reader know when characters were speaking Spanish throughout the graphic novel. Although, this is typically for longer pieces of text. Shorter sentences will often be written in Spanish, sometimes with an English translation at the bottom of the page, led by a asterisk (*).

References

Martín, Pedro. (2023). Mexikid: A graphic memoir (P.Martín, Illus.). Dial Books.

Martín, Pedro. (2023). Mexikid: A graphic memoir [Cover illustration] (P.Martín, Illus.). Dial Books. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691514/mexikid-by-pedro-martin/

[saramichielle]

Review of Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara's biography RuPaul

Genre: Biography

Target Audience: Ages 5 to 9

Summary: This biography follows RuPaul from childhood to stardom in adulthood as he learns to express himself and do what makes him happy.

Justification: I chose this biography for the Prek through 6th grade group due to its tasteful depiction of drag queens in a way children can understand.

Evaluation: Sanchez Vegara does a wonderful job depicting Rupaul's life story in tasteful way without any judgmental biases. Her accuracy in presenting his journey through self-expression is a breath of fresh air amidst the negative pushback against drag queens. The author manages to mention the adversity Rupaul faced then and now but keeps the spotlight on the importance of being who you are.

The illustrations that accompany Sanchez Vegara's writing maintain the positive outlook on RuPaul's story. The bright colors and whimsical art style do a fantastic job illustrating the world of drag. Kids are able to see drag queens in a positive light without the bias some people hold against them.

This biography deals with current societal issues without making them the forefront of the book. With drag queens being a topic of debate, it can be hard to depict them without those biases. Sanchez Vegara manages to show them in a kid-friendly way and keep the focus on being yourself. The content is presented in a digestible way that is easy for kids to understand.

Reference

Sanchez Vegara, M. I., & Holmes, W. (2021). RuPaul. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

[grackle-crackle-books]

Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Genre/category: Banned/Challenged Book (5th most challenged in 2019), ALA Rainbow Book List Top Ten 2019, LGBTQ+, Picture Book

Targeted Age: PreK to 2nd graders

Quick plot synopsis: After struggling to find someone special to be his bride, a prince teams up with a knight in shining armor. Together, the two men face a dragon and fall in love with each other.

Why I chose Prince & Knight: Prince & Knight was the fifth most banned and challenged book in 2019. Unfortunately, book banning is becoming more and more rampant, with over 1,500 books challenged in 2021 alone (American Library Association, 2022). Books by and about LGBTQ+ people and/or people of color are by far and away the most censored books in the United States. Prince & Knight celebrates the love story between two men, and shows their wedding. The story allows LGBTQ+ readers the opportunity to see themselves in the fantasy setting, as well as offering non-LGBTQ+ readers a potentially new perspective. Additionally, Prince & Knight is a Top Ten choice from the 2019 ALA Rainbow Book List.

Evaluation:

First of all, Prince & Knight is full of gorgeous illustrations by Stevie Lewis. Her work is characterized by inviting colors, expressive characters, and beautiful depictions of nature. To convey the tone of various scenes, Lewis utilizes color and shadow. Two scenes occur at a long table in the castle. In the first, the prince sits alone in bright light at one end of the table, and his parents sit in shadow at the other end. This conveys the king and queen’s concerns about finding him a bride, as well as the fact that he alone is the focus of their attention. In the second scene at the same table, the prince, knight, king, and queen are gathered at the same end of the table. Natural light floods the entirety of the room. Having met their son’s husband-to-be, the prince’s parents are relieved that he will not have to rule the kingdom alone. The lighting and color express the emotions in both moments, from worry to joy.

Daniel Haack tells the tale of the prince and the knight in verse. Prince & Knight is sonically pleasing, a perfect candidate to be read aloud. Each line rhymes, such as “As the villagers returned, / it became clear to those around / that the prince’s one true love / had at last been found” (Haack, 2018, emphasis added). By using rhyme, Haack evokes the long tradition of fairytales, which were often originally oral narratives. The pleasing rhythm of the story’s language also contributes to its memorability.

Prince & Knight follows a central idea of the importance of being true to oneself. Right at the beginning, we learn that the prince is known to be sincere, and he expresses this quality throughout. Because of his sincerity, he does not waver from what he knows is his true self. The prince does not find love in any of the women he meets, and he refuses to lie to them even at risk of causing disappointment. Later, by staying true to his own beliefs and bravery, the prince goes to fight the dragon and protect his land at whatever cost. His choices in both ventures, courting and protection, earn him his happy ending with the knight. If the prince had strayed from his true self, he likely would not have found his true love.

Do I recommend it?: Certainly! Prince & Knight is a delight— this modern fairytale is beautifully illustrated and written. Readers from any background will love the story of bravery, joy, and true love.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2022, April 4). Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists. Banned & Challenged Books. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

American Library Association Rainbow Book List Committee. (2019, January 28). The 2019 Rainbow Book List. Rainbow Book List. https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1324

Haack, D. (2018). Prince & Knight (S. Lewis, Illus.). little bee books.

[whiteantcrawls]

Resources for Home Schooling

✅The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games. Enjoy the tour! https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/

✅Tour Yellowstone National Park! https://www.nps.gov/…/lea…/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

✅Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover. https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/

✅This Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs.  https://www.farmfood360.ca/

✅Indoor Activities for busy toddlers https://busytoddler.com/2020/03/indoor-activities/…

✅Play games and learn all about animals https://switchzoo.com/

✅Play with fave show characters and learn too https://pbskids.org/

✅Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre with this virtual field trip.   https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

✅This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life. https://www.thechinaguide.com/destinati…/great-wall-of-china

✅Math and Reading games  https://www.funbrain.com/

✅Phonics skills https://www.starfall.com/h/

✅This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/

✅ Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss https://www.seussville.com/

✅300,000+ FREE printable worksheets from toddlers to teens https://www.123homeschool4me.com/home-school-free-printabl…/

✅Geography and animals https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

✅Math practice from counting to algebra and geometry http://www.mathscore.com/

✅Fave kids books read by famous people https://www.storylineonline.net/

✅Crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dot, etc, https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/

✅High school chemistry topics https://www.acs.org/…/hi…/chemmatters/articles-by-topic.html

✅Math and reading games https://www.abcya.com/

✅Math and language games https://www.arcademics.com/

✅Hands on Elem science videos https://www.backpacksciences.com/science-simplified

✅Voice based learning... learn through Alexa https://bamboolearning.com/resources

✅Fun games, recipes, crafts, activities  https://www.highlightskids.com/

✅ClickSchooling brings you daily recommendations by email for entertaining websites that help your kids learn. https://clickschooling.com/

✅Math as a fun part of your daily family routine http://bedtimemath.org/

✅Games to get "into the book" https://reading.ecb.org/

✅Online history classes for all ages preteen through adults https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive

✅Biology  https://www.biologysimulations.com/

✅ Elem Math through 6th grade  https://boddlelearning.com/

✅Educational games K-12  https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome

✅Digital archive of history  https://www.bunkhistory.org/

✅Test Prep for SAT, ACT, etc. https://www.bwseducationconsulting.com/handouts.php

✅Geometry https://www.canfigureit.com/

✅Resources for Spanish practice https://www.difusion.com/campus/

✅Chinese learning activities  https://chalkacademy.com/

✅Music is for everyone https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments

✅Science, Math, Social Studies https://www.ck12.org/student/

✅Grammar practice for middle grades  https://www.classroomcereal.com/

✅Daily free science or cooking experiment to do at home.http://www.clubscikidzmd.com/blog/

✅Chemistry  https://www.playmadagames.com/

✅Reading passages for grades 3-12, with reading comprehension and discussion questions. https://www.commonlit.org/

✅Vocabulary, grammar, listening activities and games in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Latin.  https://conjuguemos.com/

✅35,000 pages of online content on the cultures and countries of the world. https://www.countryreports.org/

✅K-5th Science lessons  https://mysteryscience.com/

✅Tons of free classes from leading universities and companies https://www.coursera.org/

✅Free printable K-8 Reading and Math activity packs (available in English and Spanish) https://www.curriculumassociates.com/supporting-students-aw…

✅Digital learning content for preschool through high school https://www.curriki.org/

✅A wide range of math content from middle school through AP Calculus. https://deltamath.com/overview

✅Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing. https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/…/learnathome.html

✅3 Free Weeks of Maker Stations to keep your children creating at home! Each challenge includes simple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet. bit.ly/freemakerstations

✅Classes for older teens or adults https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lp/t1/freemo…

✅Online homeschool platform & curriculum for Pre-K to 12th grade. All main subjects are covered, plus extra curriculum courses.  http://discoveryk12.com/dk12/

✅Printable board games, activities and more for phonics and reading all using evidence-based methods. Can be customized to any student's needs including creating flashcards for other subjects. https://dogonalogbooks.com/printables/

✅K-8 online math program that looks at how a student is solving problems to adjust accordingly and build a unique learning path for them. https://www.dreambox.com/at-home

✅Engaging reading game for grades 2-8 that combines strategy, engagement, and imaginative reading passages to create a fun, curriculum-aligned literacy game. https://www.squigglepark.com/dreamscape/

✅Higher level math series... online video series with detailed solutions to more than a thousand publicly-released College Board SAT Math, Subject Test Math Level 1, and Subject Test Math Level 2 problems.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQoCpvYRYRkRRvsObOPHaA…

✅Foreign languages  https://www.duolingo.com/

✅Interactive video earth science based curriculum supplement. https://www.everyday-earth.com/

✅A safe research site for elementary-level readers. They are offering -- free 24/7 access USERNAME: read (case sensitive) PASSWORD: read (case sensitive) https://www.facts4me.com/

✅Resources for AP students including live reviews, live trivia, and study guides! https://app.fiveable.me/

✅Educational brain breaks to help students review essential literacy and math skills, while getting in some exercise. Find over 900 videos to help your child keep learning at home and burn off some extra energy. Our site is best used for ages 4-8. https://fluencyandfitness.com/register/school-closures/

✅Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. https://www.gonoodle.com/

✅7,000 free videos in 13 subject areas  https://hippocampus.org/

✅Carmen Sandiego videos, stories, and lessons for all subject areas https://www.carmensandiego.com/resources/

✅Math Videos with lessons, real life uses of math, famous actors https://www.hmhco.com/math-at-work

✅Entertaining & educational videos for all levels and subjects https://www.izzit.org/index.php

✅Online education program for toddler through high school... https://www.khanacademy.org/

✅Free Printables for PreK-2nd Grade https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/…/Lite…/Price-Range/Free

✅Free printables library with activities for children 0-6 https://www.littlesparkcompany.com/printables-library

✅Free at-home kids yoga lesson plans  https://littletwistersyoga.com/online-store/

✅Magic Spell is a carefully crafted spelling adventure.  https://brainbox.games/

✅Resources for AP students https://marcolearning.com/

✅Enter your math problem or search term, press the button, and they show you the step-by-step work and answer instantly. 2nd grade through college. https://www.mathcelebrity.com/online-math-tutor.php

✅Elem Math games, logic puzzles and educational resources https://www.mathplayground.com/

✅Poetry and music  https://www.thewell.world/mindful-mu…/mindful-poetry-moments

✅3D printing projects and Coding projects, involving math and other K-12 subjects https://www.instructables.com/…/EdgertonCent…/instructables/

✅Introductory and intermediate music theory lessons, exercises, ear trainers, and calculators.  https://www.musictheory.net/

✅Scads of free resources, games, learning resources, and lesson plans for teaching personal finance  https://www.ngpf.org/

✅Improve your typing skills while competing in fast-paced races with up to 5 typers from around the world. https://www.nitrotype.com/

✅Illustrated recipes designed to help kids age 2-12 cook with their grown-ups. Recipes encourage culinary skills, literacy, math, and science. https://www.nomsterchef.com/nomster-recipe-library

✅Online curriculum that builds better writers.  https://www.noredink.com/

✅80+ do at home science activities https://elementalscience.com/…/n…/80-free-science-activities

✅Daily lessons and educational activities that kids can do on their own https://www.superchargedschool.com/

✅Adaptive curriculum in Math and ELA for Grades K-8 https://www.scootpad.com/

✅Novel Effect makes storytime a little more fun for kids (and grown-ups too!) As you read out loud from print books (or ebooks!) music, sound effects, and character voices play at just the right moment, adjusting and responding to your voice. https://noveleffect.com/

✅Quick & easy at home projects curated for kids 2 and up https://www.kiwico.com/kids-at-home

✅Teaches students how to write a paragraph through interactive online tutorial http://www.paragraphpunch.com/

✅PreK-12 digital media service with more than 30,000 learning materials https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/

✅Curricular content hub specifically designed for K-3 students. https://pebblego.com/free-pebblego-capstone-interactive-acc…

✅Science and math labs and simulations  https://phet.colorado.edu/

✅An online physics problem and video bank designed for conceptual, standard, honors or AP1 physics.  https://www.positivephysics.org/home

✅Prodigies is a colorful music curriculum for kids 1-12 that will teach your kids how to play their first instrument, how to sing in tune & how to understand the language of music! 21 for free  https://prodigiesmusic.com/

✅Free videos from around the world from grade 3-12 https://www.projectexplorer.org/

✅QuaverMusic is offering free access to general music activities to all impacted schools, including free student access at-home https://www.quavermusic.com/info/at-home-resources/

✅For students to practice and master whatever they are learning. https://quizlet.com/

✅ReadWorks is an online resource of reading passages and lesson plans for students of all levels K-12.  https://www.readworks.org/

✅Critical Thinking resources for K-6 students https://marketplace.mythinkscape.com/store/redtkids

✅Music Based Spanish Learning  https://rockalingua.com/

✅Science simulations, scientist profiles, and other digital resources for middle school science and high school biology https://sepuplhs.org/

✅The Shurley English program for grades K-8 provides a clear, logical, and concrete approach to language arts.  https://www.shurley.com/

✅Sight reading and sight singing practice exercises. https://www.sightreadingfactory.com/

✅Music practice transformed  https://www.smartmusic.com/

✅Spellingcity is free right now with code VSCFree90 https://www.spellingcity.com/

✅Kid-friendly workouts — choose from Strength for Kids, Agility for Kids, Flexibility and Balance for Kids, Warm-Up for Kids, Cooldown for Kids, Stand Up and Move for Kids, OR create your own custom kid workout. https://app.sworkit.com/collections/kids-workouts

✅A collection of hundreds of free K-12 STEM resources, from standalone models and simulations to short activities and week long sequences of curriculum materials. https://learn.concord.org/

✅Course sets (Levels 1–5) that combine and thoroughly cover phonics, reading, writing, spelling, literature, grammar, punctuation, art, and geography—all in one easy-to-use, beautiful course.  https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/

✅At home OT, PT, and ST resources designed to build skills in children through movement and play. https://www.theottoolbox.com/

✅Science projects that can be completed with or without Internet access https://sciencespot.net/Pages/classhome.html

✅Keyboarding practice  https://www.typingclub.com/ or https://www.typing.com/

✅Next Generation Science video game focused on middle school where students directly engage in science phenomena as they solve problems. https://www.tytoonline.com/

✅Short videos and readings that answer various burning questions for students. There are vocabulary challenges and comprehension questions. http://wonderopolis.org/

✅Math practice  https://xtramath.org/#/home/index

✅K-5 curriculum that builds deep understanding and a love of learning math for all students  https://www.zearn.org/

✅A quick start resource to help families pull together a plan for surviving the next 1-2 months at home with their kids, but it can also be a time of slowing down and enjoying kids as they learn. Preschool through 8th grade  https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/learning-at-home-everyth…

✅450 Ivy League courses that you can take https://www.freecodecamp.org/…/ivy-league-free-online-cou…/…

✅Spelling 1-4 grade https://www.spellingtraining.com/

✅2,500+ online courses from top institutions  https://www.edx.org/

✅22 languages to learn  https://www.memrise.com/

✅Learn to code https://www.codecademy.com/

✅Miscellaneous games for all subjects k-8  https://www.funbrain.com/

✅Phonics and learning to read https://readingeggs.com/

✅PreK - 5 games for all subjects  https://www.turtlediary.com/

✅Online digital coloring pages  https://www.thecolor.com/

✅Every course you could possibly want to homeschool preschool - 8 https://allinonehomeschool.com/

✅Every course you could possibly want to homeschool for high school https://allinonehighschool.com/

✅Phonics worksheets for kids  https://www.funfonix.com/

✅Free stories online ages 3-12  https://www.freechildrenstories.com/

✅National Geographic Young Explorers is a magazine designed specifically for kindergarten and first grade students. Children can listen to the magazine being read to them as they follow along with the highlighted text. https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html

✅Learn all about earthquakes https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/

✅Learn all about the periodic table  https://www.chemicool.com/

✅Farmer's almanac for kids... Date, weather, moon phase, etc. https://www.almanac.com/kids

✅Guide to gardening for kids  https://web.extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/

✅Website allows students to play basic games to reinforce math skills and compete against the computer or others  https://www.mangahigh.com/en-us/

✅Space science for kiddos  https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

✅Math Games, Logic Puzzles and Brain Builders https://www.mathplayground.com/

✅Games, quizzes and fact sheets take kids on a journey through time. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/

✅NGAkids interactives offer an entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history. https://www.nga.gov/education/kids.html

✅News and more for kids  https://www.youngzine.org/

✅Randomly generates 356,300,262,144 story starters https://thestorystarter.com/

✅Immerse yourself in cryptography  https://www.cryptoclub.org/

✅Math games galore  https://gridclub.com/

✅Tons of science experiments that you can do at home https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/

✅An interactive way to learn history   https://www.mission-us.org/

✅Just explore, have fun, and learn some science along the way. https://thehappyscientist.com/

✅Interactive games based on the book series https://www.magictreehouse.com/

✅Work on the 8 parts of speech  https://www.grammaropolis.com/

✅Learn all about cells  https://www.cellsalive.com/

✅All sorts of learning here if you dig in https://www.google.com/earth/

✅Scratch draws students of all types into coding and lays a foundation for future learning.  https://scratch.mit.edu/

✅A wonderful, endlessly detailed way to get kids engaged in the world of art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/

✅Tests kids’ geography skills. Using images from Google’s Street View, it plops players down in the middle of the street and asks them to figure out where they are. https://www.geoguessr.com/

✅Allows students to type in any city, state, or country to view an archive of historical photographs and other documents. It’s a unique way to help them learn about history.   http://www.whatwasthere.com//

✅Short videos about numbers that help kids explore complex math topics and make math more fun.  https://www.numberphile.com/

✅A human visualization platform that allows students to explore the human body in really cool ways. https://human.biodigital.com/login?returnUrl=/dashboard

✅Helps kids learn to appreciate the arts by providing them with the opportunity to play games, conduct investigations, and explore different forms of art. https://artsology.com/

✅Lets kids play instruments online. Instruments include the guitar, piano, pan flute, drums, and bongos. https://www.virtualmusicalinstruments.com/

✅Crafts, activities, bulletin board designs, and finger plays for early education teachers and parents to use with kids. http://www.preschoolexpress.com/

✅A large selection of fun songs to help teach preschool and kindergarten students https://www.songsforteaching.com/preschoolkindergarten.htm

✅Resource section includes free flashcards, coloring pages, worksheets, and other resources for children, teachers, and parents.  https://supersimple.com/

✅Life skills curriculum for students in grades K-12. Their resources include strategies for teaching social and emotional skills. https://www.overcomingobstacles.org/

✅Coding for ages 4-10  https://www.kodable.com/

✅No need to travel to one of the Smithsonian’s zoos or museums — this website brings your child everything from live video of the National Zoo to the Smithsonian Learning Lab right to their screen https://www.si.edu/kids

✅Cool Kid Facts gives your child access to educational videos, pictures, quizzes, downloadable worksheets, and infographics. They can use these to learn about geography, history, science, animals, and even the human body.   https://www.coolkidfacts.com/

✅This interactive website, hosted by the U.S. Government Publishing Office, allows your child to see the ins and outs of the U.S. government by taking a series of learning adventures with none other than Benjamin Franklin. https://bensguide.gpo.gov/

✅This NASA initiative covers a wide range of topics including weather, climate, atmosphere, water, energy, plants, and animals.  https://climatekids.nasa.gov/

✅Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Kids can send Dr. Universe any question they may have about history, geography, plants, animals, technology, engineering, math, culture, and more. https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/

✅Your child can play games, learn fun facts, and find out how to turn coin collecting into a hobby.  https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids

✅From rainbows to tornadoes and winter storms to tsunamis, meteorologist Crystal Wicker breaks down the fascinating world of weather. http://www.weatherwizkids.com/

✅Kids Think Design explores careers in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, book design, product design, film and theatre, architecture, animation, and environmental design. http://www.kidsthinkdesign.org/

✅This educational website hosted by the Smithsonian Museum takes a deep dive into ocean life. https://ocean.si.edu/

✅Brainscape offers over a million flashcard decks for every subject, entrance exam, and certification imaginable.  https://www.brainscape.com/

✅The Theta Music Trainer offers a series of online courses and games for ear training and music theory. https://trainer.thetamusic.com/en

✅Banzai exposes students to real-world financial dilemmas to teach them the importance of smart money management. https://www.teachbanzai.com/

✅Innerbody explores the 11 bodily systems in depth. With interactive models and detailed explanations, this website will help them learn more about the internal mechanics of the amazing human body.https://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html

[savingformore]

FREE Publishing Kit for PreK-6th Grade Teachers

FREE Publishing Kit for PreK-6th Grade Teachers

PreK-6th Grade Teachers, you can publish a ‘book of kindness’ for FREE with your class. The free kit has everything you need to promote kindness in your class, motivate your students to do their best work, build upon their reading and writing skills and create a treasured keepsake. The publishing kit infuses your lessons with hands-on-fun and guides your students through the writing process. It…

[gumcky]

Join us for Lava Lava Luau VBS every other Saturday this summer from 10am to noon CST!! The fun starts Saturday, June 4th at GUMC for ages PreK through 5th/6th grade.

The first Saturday of each month is also MEN-istry mornings! Men of all ages, come by this Saturday, June 4th, at 7:30am cst for a time of fellowship.

[piyokosworldproblems]

Thank you to the person I hate the most. Part One.

Due to my job and current relationship status, I drive a lot. I don't think I'm the only one, but if I'm stuck in a car by myself from more than an hour things get topical and deep.

A part of me feels like it'll always be stuck in the past. I find myself reaching for acceptance that I don't need and closure from people who have well forgotten the past.

But one person in particular, other than myself, cannot forget.

I find it funny how parents know best. I mean, not all the time, but they have a pretty good idea from their own past experiences.

For their own privacy, we will call them...

Asshole.

Sorry, no, that's not appropriate.

We will call them...Bertha?

Is that better?

Bertha was, in fact, a girl.

(I don't know why I said was, she still is but I'm too lazy to make changes.)

Now, Bertha and I were really okay friends. You know those people who just make their way into your life without you acknowledging it was happening and then they suck on like a leech.

Yeah. That was Bertha.

Bertha came in around 4th grade.

Now I went to a Private Catholic school when I was a smol Piyoko. I don't know if this is true for all, but my school had a maximum of 86 students for PreK through 8th grade. I think the smallest class was a few grades below me who had 6 students (2 boys and 4 girls and you best believe there was some crazy drama!) Anyways, basically with a small class and being stuck together for years on end, the class cliques were already established at a young age.

I was what was referred to as a Floater. I didn't have any specific friends and I would just hang out with whoever was available at that time. I never cared for them much. I considered myself friends with a few but I knew I wasn't well liked by my fellow peers either, but that was just for different reasons. I'm what you call a brutally honest person.

In other words, I can be a real bitch.

Off topic.

So Bertha joined in 4th grade. This was odd since new students normally didn't join that late, but it does happen.

Bertha was greeted by most of the popular people in my class (I should say there was about 18 of us.) Bertha was fine. I don't remember much about her back then since we did not talk much. I just remember she had terrible handwriting and had a hard time spelling.

Which there's nothing wrong with. Just a few things I remember.

In fact, the reason we did begin to interact was that I was put in the "Specialized Math Course" designed to help the stupid people with math. Getting off topic a little more, they set this up in the library basement like far back where the nuns used to stay. It was crazy! For people who believe in the paranormal, they'd probably say that part of the school was haunted.

Bertha and I had frequent conversations in that basement. Mostly about how we hated math and that we weren't trying that hard anyway since stupid people math was fun and we got free candy. Half the time I don't think we did any math.

Through 5th and 6th grade, Bertha and I were kinda friends. I hate to admit fully that we were ever friends, so I'll say she was a girl who had a lot of cool stuff I wanted and I was someone who would talk to her.

My mom hated Bertha. She told be Bertha was a troublemaker and a bad influence. I know some peoples parents prefer kids calling them by their first names, but my mom was a firm believer that it was rude to do so.

The only kid that got away with calling my parents by their first name was Vio. To this day I still don't know why.

One day Bertha wanted to join Science Olympiad and asked me to do events with her. And I was like pfffffft sure, I got time to waste.

What up nerds, that's right, I was in Science Olympiad and you best believe I only did it for the free shirt.

This was a whole day that my mom drove us around to events and spent the day with her. At the very end after dropping Bertha off, she looked me in the eyes and said, "Do you seriously like this girl,"

Again, for my own pride, I'll never admit to being besties with her. But against my will, she kept me close and told me a lot of things. I never told her anything since her big mouth couldn't keep shut, but I did (*baby barf*) enjoy somewhat of the time with her.

She always had good snacks at her place.

Now before you scroll away thinking, "Oh Bertha was just a kid ya know, I don't see why you hate her."

Here's the thing I say to you.

Bertha was manipulative. She surrounded herself with me to make sure that it was only her.

Just Bertha. (DDLC fans ehhhhh?)

She could be social to anyone she wanted but once I tried to talk to anyone else she'd flock to my side and talk about all the fun times we had.

Bertha was so freakin' nosey about everything. I never liked to open up about anything, so she'd attempt to pry it out of me.

I hate saying I was a victim or whatever, but in that time I had a bus driver who was manipulative in a sorta rapey, child molester way. I was a very naive child and I thought he was just an overly generous, lonely, old man.

Bertha didn't ride my bus. Bertha didn't know that bus driver. But for some reason, Bertha made a statement to the principal about how he had come onto her.

Omg, why would she do that?!

Because Bertha enjoyed the attention.

Bertha fed off others attention.

Bertha was an attention seeker and any chance she would pounce on it.

Going into 7th grade, I noticed this. I became a little more self-aware and aware of those around me. I began choosing friends. Better friends. I stopped talking to Bertha as much.

Saying this again, I was naive. Very, very, stupidly naive.

I never had a phone. I never had an iPod. I barely was able to use a computer.

Basically, I had zero knowledge of it and only assumed that everyone on the internet was good people.

She says as she rants on Tumblr.

Part One.

<3 Piyoko

[bookishandproud]

The Mystery of the Monarchs

by Barb Rosenstock, Illustrated by Erika Meza

Book Cover Picture

Genre or category

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Target Age Group

PreK to 6th grade

Summary

Since he was a child, Fred Urquhart loved insects, monarch butterflies specifically. Over the course of his life, Fred and his wife, Norah, develop ways to track monarch butterflies to discover their migration patterns.

Justification

I chose this book as it is a Bluebonnet Award Nominee and a Junior Library Guild Selection. The book includes helpful migration maps at the end and useful information about lifecycles of butterflies as well as how the scientists, with the help of regular people, tagged and tracked butterflies across the Americas.  

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, tension, and theme.

The illustrations throughout the book were very colorful, using a mix of techniques and were a great way to establish the characters and the different scenarios. The illustrations were especially helpful when the story went through the different methods in which the main character, Fred, tried to tag butterflies in order to track their migration patterns. The art in the book does a great job of reinforcing the author’s writing by showing specifically what the author is talking about, for example, the inclusion of a map illustration shows readers just how far the butterflies were being tracked and reinforces the wonder of the story and just how many people across the country were working with the scientists in their project. The book included a lot of negative space on some of the pages that could have been filled with more background or illustrations, however, overall the pictures and use of space really highlighted that butterflies were the main topic of the book and with some of the illustrations representing quite a few people in them, the negative space helps to draw your eye to the characters and what is taking place to really get the message of the story.

Although a children’s book doesn’t seem like it would have a lot of tension, the tension in this book primarily comes from the story of Fred and his wife trying to figure out the best way to tag and track Monarch butterflies. Throughout the story you see Fred try and fail to track any butterflies and their migration patterns to discover where they fly, and the way the illustrations detail every method used along with the writing describing what is happening, the tension builds up as the reader waits to know what happens and if he is successful. Even as they receive help from people all over the Americas, the tension doesn’t necessarily build, but it plateaus as Fred and Norah actually embark on an adventure to follow the butterflies and discover just exactly where they go. By the end of the book, the tension is relieved, and the reader is left with a hopeful and sweet feeling.

The tone of the book is written in a very friendly and helpful manner. The author does not present information in a way that’s condescending to the reader. The tone is also straightforward but not overly simplified for the age group the book is written for. The author presents the story in the tone of the main character, who has a love for butterflies, so that sentiment is translated across the text and illustrations to interest the reader in the same capacity to get them to keep reading and learning about this story and butterflies in general. Although throughout the story the tension builds, but the tone remains optimistic enough to keep the reader moving and knowing that there has to be a happy ending, especially through the repeated trial and error the characters go through on their quest for information.

Rating: ★★★★

References

Rosenstock, B. (2022). The mystery of the monarchs (E. Meza, Illus.). Knopf Books for Young Readers.

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: What You Need to Be Warm by Neil Gaiman

What You Need To Be Warm

Written by Neil Gaiman. Illustrated by Yuliya Gwilym, Nadine Kaadan, Pam Smy, Daniel Egnéus, Beth Suzanna, Marie-Alice Harel, Petr Horácek, Chris Riddell, Bagram Ibatouilline, Benji Davies, Majid Adin, Richard Jones, Oliver Jeffers, Oliver Jeffers, and Benji Davies.

Genre or Category

Poetry or Novel in Verse

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 4-8 years, Preschool to 3rd grade

Format

Physical, print

Summary

What do you need to stay warm? Everyone has their own definition of what it means to be warm, including the means of staying so. In the wake of civil unrest and tragedy around the world, Neil Gaiman provides a poem of welcome, which has been illustrated to show the different facets of humanity in moments of vulnerability. 

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Poetry or Novel in Verse.” What You Need To Be Warm is a book featuring a single poem that is divided into twelve stanzas, which is written in free verse. Although it hasn’t received any awards, it does have glowing reviews from multiple literary review publications, such as Publishers Weekly,  Booklist, and School Library Journal. There are also many notable illustrators, including those with less notoriety, that collaborated with Gaiman on this book, which showcases a variety of art styles. Most importantly, this book was created to benefit the UNHCR, or UN Refugee Agency, which is dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for people affected by conflict and persecution. 

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, theme, and mood.

Illustrations

What You Need To Be Warm is an incredibly emotional picture book that captures the essence of belonging in the midst of tragedy. In that sense of belonging, it also incorporates different aspects of warmth, such as body heat, warm food and beverages, fur, and textiles. In order to capture the feeling of warmth, including turmoil and loss, the illustrations gravitate towards a selection of colors that are representative of this. The only colors used in these illustrations are black, grey, white, and orange.The monochromatic scale ranging from black to white creates a sense of emptiness while the bright orange illuminates the pages and draws attention to the objects of warmth in question.The illustrations themselves also vary from artist to artist, which captures desires of a more simple time versus the current, more bleak reality. 

Theme

Although this picture book addresses multiple societal issues in its visuals, the stanzas of the poem itself go on to discuss what it means to be warm and what it means to belong. These ideas are expressed both through the text and in the illustrations, which both mention and show family members, friends, and communities. Outside of the poem, the thirteen illustrators that contributed towards the visuals in the book provide their own interpretations of the stanzas that they were assigned, which provide a diverse range of understanding and recognition of these concepts.

Mood

The mood of What You Need To Stay Warm can be challenging to articulate, because it attempts to create balance between tragedy and hope. What sticks out the most is its sense of nostalgia, which yearns for when we were warm and the lives we lived previously. In one way, the mood is melancholic because of how it approaches subjects like war and displacement. In another, the mood is hopeful because of how it addresses goodwill and kindness amongst strangers. It is also incredibly sobering. These moods are dictated by illustration and the poem itself, which has been interpreted by so many different people.

References

Gaiman, Neil. (2023). What you need to be warm (Y. Gwilym et al., Illus.). Quill Tree Books.

Gaiman, Neil. (2023). What you need to be warm [Cover illustration] (Y. Gwilym et al., Illus.). Quill Tree Books. https://www.harpercollins.com/products/what-you-need-to-be-warm-neil-gaiman?variant=41073292312610

[krispydreamerking]

"IT'S OFFICIAL".

“IT’S OFFICIAL”.

Lewiston, Maine Superintendent; to become, six (6th) to seventh (7th) largest business Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in State of Maine on completion of the new Mr. Robert Conner’s PreK through K8 elementary School in 2019.

It is estimated that with combined facility teachers, Educational Education Technicians, child facilitators, cafeteria staffing, Medical staff, Security, Janitorial, Team…

[blogdccollaborative]

I See the President!

 Submitted by: Katie Greer, Programming and Marketing Intern, DC Collaborative  Images provided by: Greta Schorn, Amidon Bowen Elementary School October 20, 2016

AHFES Feature: President Lincoln’s Cottage

As part of our Arts and Humanities for Every Student program, on October 17th, Amidon Bowen Elementary School was able to go to President Lincoln’s Cottage for their interactive program entitled: I See the President.

Exchanging and Respecting Ideas 

The Story: Lincoln commuted daily from the Cottage through downtown Washington to the White House. Along the way, Lincoln encountered front line soldiers, escaped slaves living in contraband camps, wounded soldiers, and Washington residents. These people influenced Lincoln and his ideas on the Civil War and emancipation. Lincoln’s desire to exchange ideas with those around him is a model to young minds as they learn to respect others’ ideas. In this program, students take on the role of the people Lincoln interacted with on his commute and analyze their first-hand accounts to write a fable that teaches their classmates an important lesson.

View the Curriculum Materials from I See the President here. 

President Lincoln’s Cottage Other AHFES Offerings

Lincoln’s Hat is designed for students PreK-3rd grade. In this program, students will discover Lincoln’s habit of storing his ideas inside his signature hat, and a hands-on activity provides students a place to keep their own ideas.

View the Curriculum Materials here.

Lincoln’s Toughest Decisions: Debating Emancipation is designed for students 6th-12th grade. This award-winning program puts students in the role of President Lincoln’s closest advisors where they will use touch screen monitors to explore historical documents and recreate the heated discussions that President Lincoln had with his Cabinet over emancipation.

View the Curriculum Materials here. 

Quick Links

President Lincoln’s Cottage

President Lincoln’s Cottage AHFES Feature Page

AHFES Online Catalogue

Amidon Bowen Elementary School

[grackle-crackle-books]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

Genre/category: Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2021-2022, Newbery Honor Award Honoree 2020, Horror, Novel

Targeted Age: 3rd to 6th graders

Quick plot synopsis: Seven young foxes want seriously scary stories from the Storyteller. Only one kit is brave enough to hear the whole tale of Mia and Uly, who face rabid foxes, human hunters, hungry alligators, and domestic violence.

Why I chose Scary Stories for Young Foxes: Heidicker’s novel appears on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2021-22, in addition to being a 2020 Newbery Honoree. Included with the story are illustrations by Junyi Wu. Scary Stories for Young Foxes is organized as interconnected short stories, each separated by updates on the seven little foxes listening to Mia and Uly’s adventures.

Evaluation:

First and foremost, the visual design of Scary Stories for Young Foxes is impeccable. The interludes between stories are printed with white text on black paper to distinguish them from Mia and Uly’s stories. The final page is also black, reads “Sleep tight, little foxes.”, and is juxtaposed with bright red endpapers (Heidicker, 2019). Along with the design, Junyi Wu’s illustrations add to the scary mood of the novel. Each piece of artwork appears to be done in charcoal pencil, with ample texture created via hatching technique. Each story is headed by a full page illustration, and smaller pieces appear throughout as well. Wu’s artwork shows long shadows, frightening foxes, and fearful young kits. These support the moods of the novel, as well as the fact that it is a horror book.

Both the main characters, Mia and Uly, are dynamic and go through considerable growth during the story. Mia, who is separated from her family first by illness and then by a human, is forced to learn that the world is not always comforting. Uly, who grew up with cruel sisters and only three legs, learns to face his abusive father and conquer his numerous fears. Their stories begin separately, but intertwine as the plot develops. Together, Mia and Uly help each other face their own struggles, past and present. The villains and dangers they face feel realistic, from Uly’s father to hungry alligators. There is possibly one exception: the human enemy that Mia faces is Beatrix Potter. The beloved children’s author’s presence feels a little inexplicable. But, she is truly horrifying through Mia’s eyes and fits into the story.

Of course, when talking about horror it’s important to talk about tension. Good horror stories require good tension, and Scary Stories for Young Foxes does the job. It maintains tension throughout, without becoming tiring. This is achieved through the pacing of frightening events. When Uly is swimming for shore, Mia’s increasingly frantic encouragements heighten the fear of the scene. This climaxes in Uly getting grabbed by an alligator and making a daring escape (Heidicker, 2019). In between horrors, the readers are given respites in the form of happier scenes and the interludes. The little foxes in the breaks help with the tension as well, constantly needing the Storyteller to remind them to be patient.

Do I recommend it?: Definitely! Scary Stories for Young Foxes is the perfect middle grade horror novel, and it is probably my favorite book I’ve reviewed for this blog so far. Kids who read this novel will find that it is satisfying and has a hopeful ending.

Citations:

Heidicker, C. M. (2019). Scary Stories for Young Foxes (J. Wu, Illus.). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR).

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: This Is How We Do It by Matt Lamothe

This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World

Written by Matt Lamothe.

Genre or Category

Informational or Biography

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 3-7 years, Kindergarten to 3rd grade

Format

Physical, print

Summary

What is your name? Where do you live? What do you eat for lunch? This informational book follows the everyday lives of seven children around the world and the different ways that they ��do’ things like eating, sleeping, and learning. Throughout the book, the reader may find themselves represented or may find how they are similar or different from other kids around the world. 

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Informational or Biography.” To date, This Is How We Do It has received four awards: the 2017 Booklist Editors’ Choice Best Book of the Year, the 2017 Amazon Best Book of the Year, the 2017 Parents’ Choice Award Winner, and was a Junior Library Guild Selection. It was also the recipient of many glowing reviews from across different literary review publications,which have praised its ability to showcase the concept of mirrors and windows, which allow readers to see themselves and others represented, which is important for emotional and social development. It was also listed on the Read On Wisconsin! State Reading List between 2018 and 2019.

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating illustrations, design and layout, and style, and accuracy.

Illustrations

Although their purpose is to provide information to the reader that is comprehensive and easy to digest, informational books can be fun! This Is How We Do It creates a learning environment for the reader that is both fun and playful through various illustrations that are maintained in a single style, though the illustrations themselves do not sacrifice the informational integrity of the writing. The illustrations are simple, yet have an incredible attention to detail which help to flesh out texture and other colors (i.e. a bruised banana). The color is also plentiful, though most of the colors used are muted and do not strain the eye. The illustrations of the children and their families are based on real people, too, who can be seen in photographs towards the end of the book.

Design and Layout

This book follows the lives of seven different children, which could pose a problem when it comes to formatting and keeping each story separate. However, the layout of the book is clean and creates sections where each child is able to exist freely in the space provided. Typically, these spaces are evenly-sized boxes that show a variety of images, such as a child’s portrait, their home, or a spread of clothing or food. What child and their country is represented in each box also varies and tends to change from page to page, which allows the reader’s eye to wander and take in more information without feeling locked into a pattern.

Accuracy

Accuracy is important for an informational book like This Is How We Do It, because it tells the story of seven children. It also includes seven countries and seven cultures. This can be daunting for any writer on any single subject dealing with humanity, much less seven. The author, Matt Lamothe, states that he gathered his information from seven real children and their families around the world, which was facilitated through email and messaging apps. A guide with detailed instructions on what information Lamothe needed was created, which included personal narratives and photos. The photos were used as references. Although these are real people, Lamothe states that they cannot represent entire countries or cultures, which is important when considering the politics of representation in media.

References

Lamothe, Matt. (2017). This is how we do it: One day in the lives of seven kids from around the world (M. Lamothe, Illus.). Chronicle Books.

Lamothe, Matt. (2017). This is how we do it: One day in the lives of seven kids from around the world [Cover illustration] (M. Lamothe, Illus.). Chronicle Books. https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/this-is-how-we-do-it

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Marlon Bundo and Jill Twiss

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo Written by Marlon Bundo and Jill Twiss. Illustrated by E.G. Keller.

Genre or Category

Banned or Challenged Book

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 2-7 years, grades 1st-3rd grade.

Format

Physical, print

Summary

Marlon Bundo, a lonely bunny, has his life changed forever on one Very Special Day. On this particular day, he meets another bunny that he falls in love with.

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Banned or Challenged Book.” This book has both been banned and challenged. According to its data regarding book challenges and bans, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo made the “Top Ten Most Challenged Books” in both 2018 and 2019. The reason for it’s banning and challenging is because of the LGBTQIA+ content, which is shown through the romantic relationship between the characters Marlon Bundo and Wesley. 

Despite the challenges and bans, this title has had a mixed response, though mostly positive. Its publishing prompted donations towards The Trevor Project, AIDS United, the A21 Campaign, and Tracy’s Kids. It has also raised awareness regarding same-sex marriage and the attitudes and policies related to it.

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating tension, theme, and tone.

Tension

This is a light-hearted picture book that discusses the complexities of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically in relation to intolerance. This is used to create tension in the story between Marlon Bundo, Wesley, and the antagonist. Tension is created in this story through the use of different text sizes, adjectives, facial expressions, and capitalization. All of these are tools used to emphasize tense moments. This tension is eventually resolved and the story continues with a happy ending.

Theme

A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo has a theme focused on LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, though it does delve into topics related to advocacy and democracy. Although this book is a comedic and political satire, it does handle this theme with care and discusses it consistently throughout the book. It also makes the topic of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity more accessible to children, using relatively simple concepts related to marriage and age-appropriate language.

Tone

Being that this story is comedic and political satire, it is clear that the authors are against anti-LGBTQIA+ intolerances and policies, including the political figures that support them. In fact, this book was published in response to the policies supported by Mike Pence, the “Grampa” of Marlon Bundo. In contrast, the authors are enthusiastic towards LGBTQIA+ inclusion and provide a hopeful tone towards the end of the story.

References

Bundo, M., Twiss, J. (2018). A day in the life of Marlon Bundo (E. Keller, Illus.). Chronicle Books.

Bundo, M., Twiss, J. (2018). A day in the life of Marlon Bundo [Cover illustration] (E. Keller, Illus.). Chronicle Books. https://www.chroniclebooks.com/cdn/shop/products/9781452173801-350.jpg?v=1618348716

[youngreaderreviews]

Book Review: The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha

The Cat Man of Aleppo Written by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha. Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu.

Genre or Category

Caldecott Medal book OR Newbery Medal book

Target Age Group

PreK-6th grade

Recommended for ages 4-8 years, grades PreK-3rd grade.

Format

Physical, print / Audio (VOX Book)

Summary

Aleppo is Alaa’s home, which he treasures dearly despite the ongoing war in Syria. Many of his neighbors flee, Alaa stays to help those in need- both human and animals alike. Alaa may be an ambulance driver, but he’s also the caretaker for Aleppo’s many cats. In his journey to take care of these cats, Alaa does even more good for his community and makes some friends along the way.

Justification

This book was chosen because it fulfills the category “Caldecott Medal book OR Newbery Medal book.” In 2021, The Cat Man of Aleppo received honors for the Caldecott Medal, which is an award that recognizes outstanding American picture books for children. This specific award is gifted to the illustrators of the books that are awarded and honored. In addition, this title also received the 2020 Middle East Book Award, which recognizes youth literature that contributes towards meaningful understanding of the Middle East. It has also received a glowing review from Kirkus Reviews. 

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating setting, accuracy, and mood.

Setting

The setting is established quickly in the first few pages, which is explicitly stated by Alaa himself and in the narrative written by the authors. Without this, the reader can still tell where the story is located based on the context clues provided by the illustration, which is not always easy. The clothing seen on the background characters, the architecture, and the presence of different foods and spices tells us that the setting is in the Middle East, which is helpful to the reader if they aren’t familiar with Aleppo or Syria. Additionally, showing Alaa in a war-torn environment emphasizes how he feels and why.

In reference to VOX books specifically, which is the version being reviewed, the different sound effects used throughout the readalong helps to immerse the reader. Not only are there sounds of people, but there also sounds from vehicles, animals, and conflict. One thing to note is the use of a cat’s meow to signal when the page is being turned. Although the meows are delightful, they remove the reader from the immersive effects.

Accuracy

Although this book does not include a bibliography for works about Alaa, it does include a list of art references, which the illustrator used to design the backgrounds and characters seen throughout this book.  In order to guarantee accuracy, the illustrator utilized memoirs, videos, photos, and other forms of media. It is also stated that the cat sanctuary in the book is based on two separate cat sanctuaries, which were blended together. It should be noted that interviews were conducted with Alaa Aljaleel himself, which is why there is a lack of bibliographic information.

Mood

There are many different moods that are explored throughout this book. At some points it is fearful, other times it is lonely, but it ends on a hopeful note. The mood is shaped both by the writing and the illustrations. The writing helps the reader through using descriptive language and the illustrations show different forms of body language, while also showing mood through a variety of color schemes. 

In reference to VOX books specifically, which is the version being reviewed, the audio present in the readalong helps emphasize the mood of this book. These sounds also influence the mood of the reader because of the immersive effect it has. The mood can also be seen through the speech of the narrator, whose energy and tone changes throughout the story.

References

Latham, I., Shamsi-Basha, K. (2020). The cat man of Aleppo (Y. Shimizu, Illus.; R. Faragallah, Narr.) [Audiobook]. G.P. Putnam's Sons. VOX book. Listening Library.

Latham, I., Shamsi-Basha, K. (2020). The cat man of Aleppo [Cover illustration] (Y. Shimizu, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons. https://images4.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9781984813787