One Minute Booktalks
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