Books that can change the world – #MGGetsReal

Posted on 09/21/2016

TODAY ReaderKidZ welcomes Shannon Wiersbitzky in a guest post about #MGGetsReal:

“…there’s always a kid, sitting on a log, dealing with something tough …write for the kid on the log.” Show up. Sit down on the log too and maybe, just maybe, you’ll change the world…”    Gary Schmidt, two-time Newbery winner.

are-you-there-godAs children, we all read books that talked to questions we weren’t willing to voice out loud. ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET by Judy Blume, is a classic example. When I was young, I remember witnessing the effects of child abuse. A little girl across the hall from me had been burned by an iron, on purpose. I told my parents and they attempted to intervene, but we didn’t really discuss it. Years later I read, WHAT JAMIE SAW, by Carolyn Coman, a middle grade novel that deals with child abuse. This book made me realize that I’d never really processed what I’d seen. The book helped.

Maybe a child will use a book as a way to start a discussion, or maybe they hold itwhat-jaime-saw-by-carolyn-coman close, let the words seep in and settle. Books about tough topics won’t solve every problem, they aren’t a ‘how to’ guide and they don’t provide checklists, but they do add value. That was the idea behind #MGGetsReal. An effort to highlight and bring attention to books about a long list of tough topics. You can find the evolving book list HERE.

If you’ve ever been around a group of kids and talked to them, I mean REALLY talked to them, you’ll realize they deal with tough topics. When I’m fortunate enough to visit middle school classrooms, I often conduct a writing workshop. I’ll share how so many ideas for my own stories come from real life. “Little seeds” I like to call them. Those tiny ideas that can sprout and grow and become something bigger.

I’ll lead the kids through a series of prompts. Prompts designed to get them thinking about where they’re own inspiration might come from. I’m always surprised (when will I stop being surprised?!) at the depth of their answers. Kids who talk about the smell of a military hospital as they walked the hall to visit their wounded brother. Or those who talk about a fire destroying their home and everything in it. Kids who mention a parent who drinks too much or an older sibling who is struggling with drugs.

Judging from the snippets of writing they share when I’m there, they fear what we all fear – losing the people they love, the places they know, and suddenly being alone. This is why books about tough and very real topics matter. Not to provide a sense of false hope, or sugary platitudes, but to help them walk through the emotions of any situation. The anger, fear, guilt, whatever it might be. To know that they aren’t the first kid – the only kid – coping with the topic at hand.

gary-schmidtSo I say to my fellow authors (and remind myself), let’s not be fearful of tackling the tough topics. Yes, we still need fun and hijinks. We also need the stuff that we’re not so proud of. The racism, the violence, the drugs. We need characters dealing with isolation or disabilities, broken homes or homelessness. We need tragedy in all its many forms and flavors. Because kids see, experience and cope with all of it.

This past February I was at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference in New York City and was blessed to hear Gary Schmidt speak. He talked about the fact that there’s always a kid, sitting on a log, dealing with something tough. And he encouraged everyone there to “write for the kid on the log.” Show up. Sit down on the log too and maybe, just maybe, you’ll change the world.

One child at a time, books make a difference.

Catch an INTERVIEW with Kathleen Burkinshaw and Joyce Hostetter, contributing authors to #MGGetsReal at www.thepiratetree.com.

SHANNON WIERSBITZKY is a middle-grade novelist. Her books have been nationally recognized and include THE SUMMER OF HAMMERS AND ANGELS and WHAT FLOWERS REMEMBER. Shannon lives
 in Pennsylvania with her husband, her two sons, and one very fluffy mutt.

Applesauce Weather by Helen Frost, illustrated by Amy June Bates

Posted on 09/18/2016

 

The weather’s changing and Faith is waiting for the first apple to fall from Aunt Lucy’s tree. That tree, in front of what used to be Aunt Lucy’s house, is now the house where Faith and her brother, Peter, live with their parents. Every year, Faith and Peter anticipate their aunt and uncle’s arrival.  But this year is different. It’s their first fall without Aunt Lucy, and no one’s sure whether Uncle Arthur will make the two-hour drive from town. Then, in the dark of night, with “the moon in the sky, half full … a car pulls up – it’s him, all right…”

Divided into eight parts, each introduced with a short poem, APPLESAUCE WEATHER by Helen Frost, is a short, emotionally packed, novel-in-verse.  With soft, shaded pencil drawings by Amy June Bates, this richly told tale of loss and love, is a testament to the enduring strength of family and the power of a good story.

How This Book Was Made by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex

Posted on 09/14/2016

 

Kids love getting the inside scoop. The story behind the story.  HOW THIS BOOK WAS MADE by Mac Barnett and Adam Rex is just that, and more.  This is a book classroom teachers and school librarians will want to add to their collections, not only because its deadpan humor and over-the-top hyperbole invite kids (and adult readers-aloud) into the world of writing and publishing, but also because it’s a lot of good fun. From the flap:

The people who made this book had to brave dangerous animals, an angry mob, unreasonable editorial demands, high seas adventure, traffic, and a tense game of chance where EVERYTHING was on the line. You might even call them American heroes. but they were just doing their jobs. It’s how this book was made.

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With all the writing that’s happening in classrooms these days, why not encourage kids to use How This Book Was Made as a springboard to creating a class innovation based on this “true story.” They could begin, as Mac does, with “At first, this book wasn’t a book. It was an idea.” Then let their imaginations run wild. What obstacles did they, as the writers, face? A tiger features largely in Barnett’s text, as do pirates, an eagle, and ice-cream eating astronauts, but kids will delight in coming up with their own out-of-the-box obstacles. Some might even want to take their cue from Adam’s art and create 3-D illustrations.

Not surprisingly, there’s a story behind the story of How This Book Was Made. To learn more, check out Julie Danielson’s interview with Mac and Adam HERE.

Teachers might pair this book with an older classic on the bookmaking process, HOW A BOOK IS MADE by Aliki, or a book on storytelling, such as AUNT ISABEL TELLS A GOOD ONE by Kate Duke.

Want to read another MacAdam Book? Look for the equally delightful, CHLOE AND THE LION.

 

HUNDRED PERCENT, a perfect book for a middle-grade reader

Posted on 09/11/2016

Recently, I was in the grocery store choosing peaches and standing next to another mom who was also shopping. Beside her stood a very bored, very impatient daughter with braces shining on her teeth, a few powdered-over pimples, and a BIG frown. She was not a happy camper until… a sweaty boy in a soccer uniform sauntered by. Their eyes met. The daughter blushed, stood taller, smiled. The boy picked up a peach … and then …

Oh the drama! In HUNDRED PERCENT, Karen Romano Young captures the voice, the humor, and the angst of a girl beginning her last year of elementary school – no longer a kid, but not quite a woman. Wearing a bra, but not really needing one. Having a “forever” best friend… who no longer speaks to her.

Christine Gouda, our heroine, has a unique, honest, and authentic voice, easily recognized by anyone who is – or was –”in between.” All around her, Christine’s world is changing. In spite of the turmoil, confusion, and drama, she begins to realize that SHE is in control of something important – who she wants to be.

School has begun and it’s the perfect time to kick off the year with Karen Romano Young’s newest: HUNDRED PERCENT. While you’re at it, check out her many other delightful books, including the graphic novels, DOODLEBUG and STUCK IN THE MIDDLE (OF MIDDLE SCHOOL).

What others are saying:

  • “Readers will cheer for the sensitive, brave, fierce Tink as she tries to discover, and ultimately honor, herself.”–Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review
  • “Perfectly captures the emotions of middle schoolers and their evolving friendships and familial relationships.”-School Library Journal, starred review
  • “A lovely, lovely tale full of warmth, humor, and intelligence.”-Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 

Nanobots, Gizmos, and Moving Machines

Posted on 09/07/2016

NANOBOTS by Chris Gall

Nano + (ro)bot = Nanobot … a machine or robot built on the nanoscale. (That’s very very very very small!)

As imagined by Chris Gall, creator of the illustrated children’s books turned Netflix animation series, Dinotrux, NanoBots are not just tiny robots created “late one night, deep down in a musty basement” by a great inventor, interior-nanobotsthey’re also amazing machines, equipped with special powers. “Sticky spilled juice? Crumbs in the cracks? No problem.” MechanoBots can hammer, rivet, and weld. SeekerBots “love meeting strange new creatures.” And the wide-eyed, red HeloBots, stick together, flying in great swarms, like tiny bees, ready to help.

Their inventor is proud of his NanoBots. He can’t wait to share them with everyone! In fact, he’s sure they’ll take the world by storm and win the contest for the Best New Invention.

But there’s a problem – a GIANT robot that towers over the NanoBots, making them feel very small indeed.

Fortunately for the NanoBots, all is not as it seems. Big Bot isn’t doing so well. He falls from his chair and his head is ready to come off. Big Bot needs help! Enter the NanoBots to save the day!

These boy and girl high-tech and tiny super heroes are sure to make their way into the hearts of kids. Don’t miss this first, in what I have to believe will be a series, of NanoBot adventures.

the-robot-book-by-bobby-mercer

Older readers inspired by nanobots and interested in making robots of their own, should check out THE ROBOT BOOK, by author and physics teacher Bobby Mercer. This book, for grades 4 and up,  will help kids learn the basics of simple robotics. With photographs and step-by-step directions, kids will soon be building gizmos, moving machines, and hacking their old toys in order to repurpose and give them a new robot life.

Back to school: First day

Posted on 09/04/2016

Two new books have recently hit store shelves and both are excellent additions to classroom, home, and library back-to-school collections: SOPHIE’S SQUASH GO TO SCHOOL by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf (Schwartz and Wade, 2016) and SCHOOL’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson (Neal Porter Books, 2016).

Fans of Wherever You Go, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler, will remember Miller’s first book, Sophie’s Squash, the adorable story about a tender relationship between young Sophie and her best friend, Bernice, a yellow squash.

In the follow-up, Sophie’s Squash Goes to School, Miller has outdone herself. It’s the first day and Sophie’s understandably nervous. “Kids were everywhere. Talking. Laughing. Bouncing.” Though her mother and father try to assure her that she’ll make lots of friends and have tons of fun, Sophie isn’t convinced. The chairs are uncomfortable, the milk tastes funny, and no one appreciates her two best (squash) friends, Bonnie and Baxter. Worse, Steven Green seems anxious to please. He hovers around Sophie, offering up his best friend, Marvin a stuffed frog he’s had since Marvin was a tadpole.

Although Sophie insists on keeping to herself and playing with only her two squash friends, Steven is always nearby. He seems friendly enough, but Sophie’s not having any of it. When it’s her turn to show-and-share, Steven helpfully chimes in with an interesting fact about squash. Will Sophie’s heart begin to soften just a tiny bit? After all, Bonnie and Baxter will soon return to their garden bed for a long winter’s nap.

Sophie’s more than proved herself as an expert at growing (literally) new friends, but will she be able to figure out how to grow human friendships? Lovely language and illustrations pair with a rich story that kids will adore.

School's First Day of School

When it comes to first days at school, we think of the children. Will they like the other kids? Will they have fun? What will they learn?

In SCHOOL’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, School is the one who doesn’t know what to expect. He’s never had students in his rooms or on his playground before.  Janitor is quick to reassure…  “Don’t worry – you’ll like the children.” But the “school thought that Janitor was probably wrong about that.”

By the end of the day, School’s (accidentally) had a fire alarm, learned about shapes in the Kindergarten class, and even heard a funny joke in the cafeteria. The first day jitters have calmed and things are looking up. Can Janitor invite all the kids – especially the little freckled girl who drew School’s picture –back the following day?

Kids and teachers will enjoy this unique twist on the first day of school.

Do you have some back-to-school favorites? Share them in the comments!

A book that celebrates true believers.

Posted on 08/31/2016

 

Children are natural activists. They care passionately about issues like the environment and what they see as injustices in their world. It would be hard to find a more inspirational figure for them to read about than Pete Seeger in Anita Silvey’s comprehensive middle grade book LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, (Clarion, 2016). Many people know Seeger as a folk singer who was popular around the world in the second half of the last century, but he was so much more than that. As a key figure in so many of the key political movements in our country during his lifetime, he used his songs and lyrics as acts of defiance and support, and was often persecuted for them. With photographs, interviews, and tremendous details, Silvey tells the story of Seeger’s life and brings his personality and spirit alive for the reader.

ReaderKidZ:  This is a wonderfully comprehensive book, Anita, but it’s not an overwhelming length for youngPete Seeger readers. I learned so many things about Pete Seeger I never knew. In the afterword, you said it took eight years to write. How much of that time was research and how much actual writing time? How did you know what to put in and what to leave out?

Anita Silvey:  With Let Your Voice Be Heard, I began with an extended period of research. An amazing number of books, interviews, video clips, and recordings of Pete exist. It took me five drafts to get the story arc that I needed. My research overwhelmed me – and my readers — in initial drafts. The book runs about 15,000 words, and I could have used that many for any one year of Pete’s life. Ultimately, this book tells the story of Pete as a social activist – for Unions, Freedom of Speech, Civil Rights, Peace, and the Environment.

ReaderKidZ:  Seeger was involved with every important social movement that took place in our country in the last century, from the early farm worker’s unionization, to Joseph McCarthy’s witch hunt of supposed Communists in the 1950s, to the Civil Rights movement, to protest of the Vietnam War. I can’t think of another artist or musician or public figure who maintained such a consistent presence in so many historical milestones, can you?

AnitaSilvey180pxAS:  You have summed up the contents of Let Your Voice Be Heard quite well. Every time I write a book, I initially have a story that I think I will tell – and then I find the one I write. So I thought for Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall I would focus mainly on her chimpanzee research but ended up detailing her relentless crusade to save all creatures great and small. I thought Pete’s life would focus on his music – but realized that his greatest contributions came in the causes he supported. I cannot think of another 20th and 21st century figure who stood on the right side of history in so many movements.

ReaderKidZ:   I hope you’re going to make many school visits so children can learn him from your book. Children are born activists. How do you hope to see it being used in schools, and what “message” would you like it to leave children with?

AS:  On my website there is an excellent Teachers’ Guide for anyone to use in the classrooms that gives a lot of ideas about how to extend this book. I have tremendous respect for children and believe they can find their own inspiration and messages in a book. But all of my books celebrate true believers – those who often found in childhood a love or passion and made it the focus of their lives. Pete stayed true to his beliefs, worked tirelessly and long, never compromised, and never gave up. That life model should be an inspiration to children – and the adults who read this book.

ReaderKidZ:  The story about Seeger’s concern over the pollution of the Hudson River and the building of the Clearwater sloop is a story in itself. “What can a sailboat do?” sounds like a title to me. Do you have any plans to write another book about any of the fascinating subplots in this book? The so-called “red diaper babies,” maybe?

AS:  I don’t have any follow up books in mind at this point. I wish someone would write a book on the “red diaper babies” though, a great subject. Right now I am thinking about orangutans and Borneo for my next book, Queen of the Orangutans.

ReaderKidZ: :  It’s wonderful that you got to talk to Pete in person. Was he what you expected? Did he say anything you didn’t include? Did he read any part of your manuscript before he died? What about his family – did they ask to see it before it was published?

AS:  I talked to Pete many times, and he met and exceeded every expectation. I would call with a short list of questions, and we would be on the phone for three hours. He was also interested in questioning me. One day he asked me if American publishers were bringing in enough international books to encourage children to think of themselves as world citizens. A very good question. He sang to me on the phone too!

I was just sorry that he died before I had something to show him. But recently Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Pete’s niece-in-law, wrote to say that she was sure Pete would love the book. I hope so.

It’s a wonderful book. Thanks for talking to us, Anita Silvey.