The Twilight Companion
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Young Adult, Ages 13-18 | No Comments
The Twilight Companion: The Unauthorized Guide to the Series by Lois H. Gresh. New York, NY: St Martin’s Griffin, 2008.
Booktalk: Whether you’ve read the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer doesn’t matter. This book is about more than the series. Instead, the author tells us about vampires, werewolves, mental telepathy and so many other things you are just dying to learn.
Note for an adult sponsor: This book is loaded with discussion questions so nothing will become stale—not even a vampire’s dinner. What’s great about this book is that it can lead to reading the Twilight series or other horror books or films. A romantic quiz, werewolf quiz, and several vampire quizzes are included to keep the atmosphere spicy.
Looks
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Young Adult, Ages 13-18 | No Comments
Looks by Madeleine George. New York, NY: Viking/Penguin Group, 2008.
Ages 13-18
Realistic fiction
Booktalk: Have you ever wanted revenge? What if someone at school makes fun of you? What if a friend betrays your trust? Meghan Ball is obese; Aimee Zorn is anorexic. They don’t seem likely friends. And they aren’t friends until a popular girl and boy belittle them. Now they want revenge.
Note for adult sponsor: This open-ended novel is one of the best books about bullying because it also covers eating disorders, family dysfunction, and school cliques. Meghan has been a friend with Cara Roy since grade school, but when Meghan gains weight, Cara drops their friendship. Aimee Zorn is the anorexic new girl who is a poet. When Cara plagiarizes Aimee’s poem, Aimee wants her poem back. Meghan and Aimee plot to humiliate Cara and the basketball star and bully, J-Bar. Also highly recommended as a group read because of the probing questions (without answers) the author offers.
Dinothesarus
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | All Ages | No Comments
Dinothesaurs: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian. New York, NY: Atheneum, 2009.
All Ages
Read-aloud
Booktalk: Who likes dinosaurs? Maybe you wouldn’t want to meet one, but most of us love reading about dinosaurs. This book, Dinothesaurs, has a poem for every type of dinosaur. Want to learn more? Then listen.
Note to adult sponsor: The bold illustrations were created on a paper bag with a variety of media, providing an entertaining collage. The humorous text provides a playful look at each type of dinosaur with helpful pronunciations. The back lists a glossary, list of dinosaur museums and fossil sites and a selected bibliography. Could also be useful for all types of older readers, especially reluctant readers. For a Web site with dinosaur activities and coloring pages, trywww.ivyjoy.com/coloring/dinosaur.shtml
Harry Houdini for Kids
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Children, Ages 9-12 | No Comments
Harry Houdini for Kids: His Life and Adventures with 21 Magic Tricks and Illusions by Laurie Carlson. Chicago, IL: Chicago Review Press, 2009. Ages 9-12.
Biography. Magic.
Booktalk: Who was Harry Houdini? He was the world’s most famous magician. He could escape from anything: handcuffs, locked jail cells and even tightly bound boxes thrown into a river! Of course, Houdini never told the secret of these tricks. But Houdini did share some of his easiest tricks and these tricks are revealed in this book.
Note to adult sponsors: Harry Houdini (born Eric Weiss, 1874-1926 in Budapest, Hungary) lived a rag-to-riches story through his magic. He was also a movie star, aviator, illusionist and American spy. Book contains many sidebars with magic tricks, timeline and resource list. Try www.akahoudini.org for images, facts, and games.
The Double-Daring Book for Girls
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Children, Ages 9-12 | No Comments
The Double-Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchana & Miriam Peskowitz. Illustrations by Alexis Seabrook. New York: HarperCollins, 2009. Ages 9-12.
Nonfiction.
Booktalk: Everything a girl wants to know is in this book. Learn board games, arts and crafts, slumber party games, and even how to start a mother-daughter book club. Now you will never be bored again!
Note to adult sponsor: IArticles about cowgirls, dancers, and Calamity Jane are intertwined within illustrations and explanations of activities of board games, arts and crafts, and athletics. f you like this “daring” book for young girls, then the author’s other young girl books.
10 Kings and Queens Who Changed the World
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Young Adult, Ages 13-18 | No Comments
10 Kings and Queens Who Changed the World by Clive Gifford; David Cousens, illustrator. New York: Kingfisher, 2009. Ages 9-16.
Graphic novel. Biography.
Booktalk: What king married and beheaded some of his wives? (Henry VIII of England.) What queen loved hunting and bearbaiting? (Elizabeth I of England.) Which queen wore a back brace for 18 months as a child? (Catherine the Great of Russia.) Just who are these people and how did they rule? Well, sometimes they can be a royal pain. Whatever occurs, these 10 kings and queens are never boring.
Note to adult sponsor: This colorful book gives multi-pages biographies of these selected royalty: Hathshepsut, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, Henry VIII, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent, Elizabeth I, Louis XIV, Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great with some other selected kings and queens. Great for any library collection. Try to complete “10 Best” series.
Tricking the Tallyman
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Children, Ages 9-12 | No Comments
Tricking the Tallyman by Jacqueline Davis and S.D. Schindler, illustrator. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009.
Ages 7-10
Read-aloud
Booktalk: Phineas Bump has come to a small town many, many years ago to do one thing. He needs to find out exactly how many people live in this town. The United States government has sent him on this journey. But no one trusts him. Find out how he tricks the townspeople after they trick him!
Note to adult sponsor: In 1790 the first United States census was taken and many people were suspicious of telling any personal information. They thought they would have to pay more taxes. Actually, the US government needed these numbers to figure out how many Representatives each state sends to the House of Representatives in Washington, DC. Sadly, in 1790 the Native Americans were not counted at all and slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person. The text has a humorous story, but includes an author’s note to explain the census process. Judy Freeman has a free Reacher’s Theater script under “Related Websites.” Also, include one of the many activities from TeacherVision, www.teachervision.fen.com/american-colonies/teacher-resources/6606.html
The Underneath
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Children, Ages 9-12 | No Comments
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt; drawings by David Small. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008.
Ages 8-12
Fantasy
Booktalk: A pregnant calico cat has been abandoned by the side of the road. She meets a dog that has been abused. Together, they make a life, teaching the kittens not to venture from underneath the house. The owner of the house, Gar Face cares only about himself and capturing the King Alligator. If Gar Face discovers the kittens, he will use the kittens as alligator bait!
Note to adult sponsor: This beautiful Southern gothic tale needs to be discussed chapter by chapter. Three separate stories occur, but are blended into a satisfying ending. Gar Face owns the abused dog, Ranger, but the reader discovers that Gar Face has also been abused. Like Captain Ahab, Gar Face is obsessed with capturing the alligator—even if he must use animals as bait. In spite of the horrifying abuse presented within the text, love and sacrifice are the main themes.
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 | Young and Restless, Age 2+ | No Comments
Orangutan Tongs: Poems to Tangle Your Tongue by Jon Agee. New York, NY: Hyperion Books, 2009.
Ages 5-8
Read-aloud
Booktalk: Anyone know what a tongue twister is? That’s when your tongue gets twisted when you say words very fast and they sound like—well, nonsense. Here are some tongue twisters for you.
Note to adult sponsor: Tongue twisters are used by speech pathologists to help children enunciate. More tongue twisters are available on this Web site: indianchild.com
Welcome Readers!
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 | Carol Littlejohn | No Comments
Welcome to Carol Littlejohn’s Book Clubbing website.
The purpose is to encourage reading and to develop lifelong readers. I would love to hear your comments about books, book clubs and reading activities for all ages. Let’s discuss!