There are some pretty amazing schools around the world and many are thanks to the vision of some equally amazing people. When most of us think of elementary school, the ones we attended as children or the ones our own children attend, odds are what comes to mind are nicely kept buildings filled with books, computers, brightly decorated classrooms, and a supportive community of children, parents, and teachers. We often don’t realize that while the right to a free elementary education is something we agree all students should have access to, this is often not the case in many places around the world.
Susan Hughes, in her newest book OFF TO CLASS: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World (OwlKids 2011), introduces readers to schools the likes of which will amaze and inspire. There’s the Naning’oi Girls Boarding School (the first school for Maasai girls), the Boat School in Bangladesh (a combination school bus and schoolhouse), and a school that travels with Siberia’s indigeonous Evenk people as they move their herds of reindeer from one grazing area to the next.
ReaderKidZ is pleased to introduce our newest contributor, Kristen Remenar! Children’s librarian, national speaker, mom, and wife to illustrator Matt Faulkner, Kristen brings a wealth of experience and talent. Join us in welcoming her!
He was distraught. “I need a realistic fiction book. No mysteries, not an adventure story, no graphic novels.” It’s a challenge I welcome as a children’s librarian, but this one was coming from my panicked 10-year-old son. His teacher’s requirements for his book report pretty much wiped out most of what my son likes to read.
My son loves his family very much, but he doesn’t want to read about families, or school, or anything to do with relationships, and these are the most common elements in contemporary realistic fiction for kids. So I found books that met the requirements that are funny, or have an irresistible plot twist, or tell a story where the reader wishes he could be there, too.
For the chapter book gang:
Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce (HarperCollins, 2004)
This book will definitely spark some interesting conversation. What would you do if you found a bag full of money? What if you had to spend that money within three weeks before it all became worthless? Anthony and Damian find over 200,000 pounds in a bag by the railway just before England plans to convert all its pounds to euros. Should they tell their dad, or maybe make a few purchases first? This is the book that hooked my son.
The Big One-Oh by Dean Pitchford (Puffin Books, 2007)
Charley Maplewood is a huge fan of comic books, horror movies, and making lists, but not a fan of birthday parties. Birthday parties involve friends, and Charley doesn’t really have any. He wants to celebrate his “big one-oh” with a party that will impress Donna and keep Cougar from making his life miserable, and he knows the cowboy theme his mom has picked out will not cut it. I won’t tell you how Charley pulls of the celebration of the century, but it involves rubber eyeballs, and it made me laugh so hard I snorted. Read by the author, this is fantastic on audio.
Andrew Clements is the king of realistic fiction. Two identical twin boys find that being mistaken for each other can come in handy. When Ray stays home sick on the first day of sixth grade, Jay finds out the school in their new town has mixed up the records and thinks there’s just one boy. Rather than correct the mistake, the twins wonder how long they can take turns going to school as Jay. Just how identical are identical twins?
For the picture book crowd:
Metal Man written by Aaron Reynolds and illustrated by Paul Hoppe (Charlesbridge, 2008)
Devon’s mom thinks “makin’ junk out of junk ain’t a real job” but Devon loves to watch Mitch, the Metal Man, work with his torches and saws to transform junk metal into art. One day, Metal Man asks Devon if he has an idea, and if he wants to “bring it on out to play”. Together they use those tools that draw in boys like magnets to create a star-house. For tool guys, this one hits the nail on the head.
Wink: the ninja who wanted to be noticed by J.C. Phillips (Viking, 2009)
“ ‘Silence is the weapon of the ninja,’ Master Zutsu said. But Wink could not be silent. ‘Look at me!’ he hollered.” I love everything about this book. I love the cut-paper illustrations, I love how hard Wink tries to achieve his ninja dream, and I love that he finds a way to use his magnificent ninja skills without denying his desire to be noticed. Mini-ninjas everywhere will be inspired, especially the less-than-stealthy ones.
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee(Harcourt, 2008)
James and Eamon spend a week with Eamon’s grandparents one summer. The grandparents have planned a week of “nature camp” for the boys, but, like so many of our kids, James and Eamon prefer “quiet meditation” downstairs (they’re playing video games), building a fort with the inflatable mattress, and making stuff with rocks and sticks. The sly humor of the art will draw boys in, and you may find your young reader declaring this Newbery-Honor winner the best book ever.
BEAUTY BESIDE ME, STORIES OF MY GRANDMOTHERS SKIRTS by Seraphine Yazzie, Navajo, is a delightful weaving of images and words that express the pleasure of “being with grandma.” Baje Whitethorne’s watercolors illustrate each page with details that add humor plus cultural information. BEAUTY BESIDE ME is bilingual – both in Navajo and English – which provides an added treat. Not many readers will understand the Navajo, but they will have an unusual opportunity to see and hear Navajo (CD enclosed). What a special way to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, introduce a contemporary vibrant culture, and move beyond the Thanksgiving stereotypes of turkeys and pilgrims. The sharing of time and tasks – learning from one’s grandmother – is an additional pleasure. The tasks may differ – herding sheep, beading necklaces, cooking mutton stew – but the pleasure of “grandma time” is universal.
THE MEMORY BANK by Carolyn Coman and Rob Shepperson. This book is different: unusual and ingenious. Wacky and delightfully reminiscent of the mood and tone of Roald Dahl. Definitely a book for readers who enjoy being challenged to think and to figure out, what kind of story is this? In the World Wide Memory Bank all the memories of children are kept safe. Well – sort of safe. Mom and Dad have dumped little sister, Honey, forever! The lone – and lonely- older sister is determined to face many dangers to find her lost sister, or at least, the precious memories of her. This book will give solace to a child who has lost something beloved.
Melissa Sweet’s passion for whimsical fun is evident to any lucky reader who takes the time to enjoy the games, discussion guides, and projects she’s made available on her colorful website. Click HERE to enjoy an interactive game of Concentration. Or, how about clicking HERE to test your skills by playing a hyper-linked quiz game?
To compliment Balloons Over Broadway: the True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy’s Parade, enjoy the 10-page Activity Kit provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click HERE to access the kit, which includes three different kinds of puppets, a puppet box for storing the finger puppet parade troupe, and much more! Have fun dramatizing the magical, unforgettable world created by Tony Sarg, puppeteerextraordinaire!
This month, as we enter a season of holidays and celebrations, ReaderKidZ celebrates Family. At no time in our history have American families been more varied or culturally-diverse than they are today. All colors, all combinations, all coming together to forge strong connections that will help our children grow and thrive. One celebration that has cut across boundaries for the past 85 years is the Thanksgiving Macy’s Day Parade in New York City. This month, you’ll meet Melissa Sweet and her wonderful new picture bookBalloons Over Broadway, the story of the extraordinary birth and growth of the parade that’s watched by more than fifty million people every year. Sweet, a Caldecott Honor Winner, tells the story of Tony Sarg (“rhymes with aargh”), a marionette maker who fell in love with puppets at the age of six. In a starred review, School Library Journal said, “Rich in detail, the gouache, collage, and mixed-media illustrations are a stand-out, capturing the charm of the period and the awesome-inspiring balloons. This one should float off the shelves.”
I grew up in New Jersey in a neighborhood filled with kids. We all raced around town on our bicycles (decked out with banana seats and moustache handle bars), and often ended up at Percy’s candy store. A nickel or a dime would buy a big handful of penny candy. I always got red licorice twizzlers as long as shoelaces. Percy’s store was where I bought Archie and Veronica comic books, too.
As a kid I liked making things and selling them to our neighbors. They all were kind enough to buy whatever it was I was selling—potholders, Christmas ornaments or tissue paper flowers. But my most successful “business” was a donut delivery route–sort of like a newspaper route, but instead I delivered donuts. On Saturday afternoons, I would go around to all the neighbors, take their donut order and collect 25cents for the delivery charge. Then, early on Sunday morning I rode my bike to the bakery and stuffed my bicycle baskets with bags of donuts. After I got home, my family dove into our bag of cinnamon crullers. It was the best morning of the week and I made at least $4.00, which seemed like a ton of money back then.
Now I live in Maine and I ride my bike as often as I can. Everyday I go to my studio to work on my books. I have 2 rescue dogs, Rufus and Nellie, who are always there with me. I still love to make things (though I don’t ask my neighbors to buy them!). Even after all this time being artist, sometimes feel like I’m just beginning, just warming up.
Did you have a best friend? Who was it and why were you best friends?
My best friend Janie lived across the street. We did everything together. Janie had a trampoline and I thought that was the best thing a kid could have. She didn’t have any pets but I had 3 dogs. We both loved bouncing back and forth between our houses. Her father owned a delicatessen in town and whenever we went there we could have any snack we wanted! Her father always called me “apples” because my cheeks were (and are) pretty rosy.
What were your favorite things to do when you were young?
I had tons of art “kits”—paint by number, colorforms, a spirograph—you name a kit, I had it. My parents had to stock on up on them to keep up with me.
Do you have a special place where you write your books?
My place of choice, at any time, is my studio. I have everything I need in there—my favorite books, art supplies, music and time. There is a big green chair I curl up in to do my writing. That’s often where I get ideas for new books, and it’s where I take a nap!
I’m thrilled you are reading BALLOONS OVER BROADWAY. My family always watched the Macy’s Day parade with the huge balloons bobbing through New York City, but I never thought about who actually made the balloons.
When I first learned about Tony Sarg as a puppeteer and illustrator, I found out he was the man who also invented the Macy’s parade balloons. I had a million questions! When did that happen? Why—was he hired to do it or was it for fun? And how did he make them? I knew I had to do a book about him, but since no one had written about him before, I had to piece together the story of his life.
During the time I was researching and writing, I decided to make toys and puppets, just like Tony Sarg did. I’ve always liked to make things and I have a lot of materials in my studio–children’s blocks, fabric, old toys and bits of things to play with. That turned out to be the best thing I could have done because it helped me think about his life as puppeteer might have been like. Everything you see in Balloons Over Broadway are the things I made (only there were about 10 times more that I could not fit in the book!).
Writing does not come easily to me. I never thought I would write a book until I wrote CARMINE. I’ve learned that if I edit and keep going, slowly the story begins to unfold.
Then it starts to get exciting. I really believe that making pictures and playing with materials helps me know what to write about. Writing and making art should be fun, so I like to “play” in the studio as much as I can.
That’s one thing I love about Tony Sarg– he had so much fun doing what he did–he didn’t worry if something didn’t work or turn out as he planned. He’d just try again. I like to think that now people will know him and be inspired to try to make things—just for the fun of it.
the Boat School in Bangladesh (a combination school bus and schoolhouse), and a school that travels with Siberia’s indigeonous Evenk people as they move their herds of reindeer from one grazing area to the next.
