Module #15:

Scary Stories 

Book Summary: This book contains scary American folktales divided into different themes, such as “THEY EAT YOUR EYES, THEY EAT YOUR NOSE,” and “OTHER DANGERS”.  Although the stories are short, they are well written and suspenseful. The first editions of this title include artwork by Stephen Gammell - a truly gifted artist whose illustrations add depth to each story.  This collection of stories can be enjoyed by all ages.

APA Reference of Book:

Schwartz, A. & Irving, G. (2001). Scary Stories (1st ed.). New York, NY: Random House Audio.

Impressions: As a child, I never read this series. Working at a library, I see these copies get checked-out and checked-in frequently. I finally read this first book in the series and fortunately, I was also lucky to read a copy with the original artwork by Stephen Gammell. This is a collection of folktales that are deliciously creepy and the illustrations give the tale even spookier. Although attempts have been made in censor this book (in fact, newer editions have had the artwork completely redone to more cartoonish and drawn by a different artist), the stories remain the same. Personally, I do not enjoy the new illustrations after looking at the original artwork. The new illustrations do not feel as authentic to the story.

Professional Review:

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, collected by Alvin Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Lippincott, 1981, 111 pp. $8.25. Schwartz has gained a reputation for high quality collections of American folklore. This compilation features ghosts, witches, and haunted houses. Do you remember the story of the teen couple parked by the roadside listening to the news of an escaped murderer who wore a hook where his left hand once was? How about the babysitter who kept getting telephone calls from a scary stranger? These are the tales for which campfires are made. Gammell's haunting illustrations add to the appeal.

Abrahamson, D. (1983). Scary stories to tell in the dark National Council of Teachers of English.

Library Uses: These stories can be read at a Halloween storytime, as well as displayed during Banned Books Week at the Library. 

Module #14:  

Castles: Old Stone Poems

Book Summary:  This is a children’s picture book, but it can be enjoyed by teens and adults.  Sixteen castles from around the world are beautifully illustrated and their histories are written about in verse.

APA Reference of Book:

Lewis, J., Dotlich, R., & Burr, D. (2006). Castles: Old Stone Poems. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong.

Impressions: The illustrations in this book are beautiful; my favorite was the Tower of London and Anne Boyle being lead to have her head chopped off, and Bran Castle in Romania. The poems are history lessons on their own, which is great - you get to read poetry and look at some of the world’s most historic castles.

Professional Review:

Lewis. J. Patrick & Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Castles: Old Stone Poems, illus, by Dan Burr. Boyds Mills Wordsoug. 2006.  $18.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-380-1, Gr 4-8-European power struggles are chronicled in all bt three of these 16 castle- connected poems. A legendary Castle in the Air. Hearst's California abode and the Himeji in Japan further expand the definition of fortress. Luminous oil paintings transport students to bygone realms of grandeur. Extensive explanatory notes and a 1O-century time line are valuable springboards for further study.

Wysocki, B. (2007). Castles: Old Stone Poems. School Library Journal, 53(4), 59.

Library Uses: This would be a great selection to include at storytime during National Poetry Mo

Module #13: 

The Storm in the Barn

Book Summary: The Storm in the Barn is a graphic novel, part historical fiction, and supernatural thriller at the same time. Writer and illustrator Matt Phelan earned the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction for this book set in Kansas during the Dust Bowl.  In this tale, young Jack Clark witnesses the devastation that the drought has brought to his town in Kansas - from the menacing dust clouds that everyone takes shelter from, to his sister’s illness, to the rise of superstitions among the townsfolk. Jack stands up, faces, and defeats his biggest fear:  a dust demon that has been denying his town precious rain.

APA Reference of Book: Phelan, M. (2009). The storm in the barn (1st ed.). Somerville, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Impressions: I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I liked how author/illustrator Matt Phelan included a supernatural element in a historical fiction story. Although it is still fiction, one can feel the anguish a severe drought and dust storms brought to the townsfolk and Jack’s life.

Professional Review:

Matt Phelan The Storm in the Barn; illus. by the author 203 pp. Candlewick 9/09 isbn 978-0-7636-3618-0 $24.99 (Intermediate, Middle School) Illustrator Phelan’s graphic novel debut brings 1937 Kansas, wracked by drought and hardship, to life, adding a supernatural twist that fits well with the extremities of the Dust Bowl. Populated with Phelan’s trademark loose-lined, sparely sketched, emotive characters, this is the story of eleven-year-old Jack, who hasn’t seen rain since he was seven. Exploring an abandoned barn, Jack encounters a mysterious, threatening figure with a face of rain and a bag that flashes lightning. The minimalist approach to text complements the measured, masterful panel pacing; whole spreads are wordless, forcing the reader to slow down and follow the visual details of the action. Phelan’s use of color is simply stunning; his palette of sepias, dusty browns, and charcoal grays perfectly evokes the desolate landscapes of the Dust Bowl and makes the occasional pop of color—memories of green fields, stylized depictions of folktales, the angry blood-red of a “rabbit drive”—that much more striking. The emotional landscape is equally well developed: an older sister who suffers from “dust pneumonia” and reads Ozma of Oz aloud, between coughing fits, to her younger siblings; a father who too easily dismisses his son, who never had an opportunity to prove himself on the farm, as useless. The potent subtext informs both Jack’s climactic showdown with the rain figure and the book’s tender, triumphant resolution. Claire E. Gross

Gross, C. E. (2009). The Storm in the Barn. Horn Book Magazine, 85(6), 683-684.

Library Uses: Graphic novels are a great way for reluctant readers to get excited about reading. I would recommend this book to a child who likes history or supernatural stories, but may not be an avid reader. 

Module #12:  

One Beetle Too Manny

Book Summary: One Beetle Too Many is a biographical picture book about the life of Charles Darwin. The illustrations, by Matthew Trueman, are unique and created using earthy colors; they portray Darwin from curious young man to curious old man.  We are told and shown about his voyage on the Beagle and the discoveries he made. This book also includes information on Darwin’s great work On the Origin of Species and the challenges he faced due to information some viewed as sacrilegious.

APA Reference of Book:

Lasky, K. & Trueman, M. (2009). One beetle too many (1st ed.). Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Impressions: This is a wonderful book for grade school students looking for information on Charles Darwin, but it can also be enjoyed by teens and adults alike. The text is informative without being dull.  The illustrations add to the wonder of discovery that filled Darwin’s life. This book also contains a bibliography a great source of added resources for those students needing to find additional information.

Professional Review:

One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin. By Kathryn Lasky. Illus. by Matthew Trueman. Jan. 2009. 48p. Candlewick, $17.99 (9780763614362). 576.8. Gr. 3–5. Darwin’s legendary five-year voyage to South America aboard the HMS Beagle forms the centerpiece of this informative picture book for confident readers. Lasky begins with Darwin’s childhood as a poor but remarkably curious student; he landed his spot as the naturalist on the Beagle more due to his enthusiasm than any standing in the scientific field. With clarity and style, Lasky recounts the puzzling things that he found on the trip, explores the questions he began asking, and hints at the conclusions he would arrive at, both in terms of biology and geology. Trueman’s skillful blend of inks, watercolors, pencils, gouache, and collage nicely capture Darwin’s fascination with the natural world, with fanciful scenes of Darwin peering through ferns, exploring islands, and even riding a giant turtle. With only a quick rundown of the hullabaloo surrounding the publication of The Origin of Species, the focus here is clearly on Darwin’s travels, and this accessible jaunt will easily situate the man as a natural adventurer in kids’ minds before he becomes just another stuffy old scientist. —Ian Chipman

Chipman, I. (2009). One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin. Booklist, 105(9/10), 68.

Library Uses: This book can be used as part of an Earth Day Display or a science display dealing with animals, insects, and plant life. 

Module #11:

Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up

Book Summary: This is an information book on a subject not commonly talked about, but undoubtedly wondered about. Albee teaches a history lesson on how humans have dealt with and managed human waste before sewers were invented. This book also addresses the serious issue of disease spread through contamination and other vectors. The book also includes a list of resources for further study.

APA Reference of Book:

Albee, S. & Leighton, R. (2010). Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up (1st ed.). New York: Walker & Company.

Impressions: I love to read books on unusual subjects and I had to read this book when I saw the title. It is a great book for everyone: it’s very informative, without being boring, and has humor while not being sensational.  This is a fast read, as you cannot put the book down once you start reading. The best part is that you can skip around chapters and still learn a lot from it. 

Professional Review:

Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up Sarah Albee, illus. by Robert Leighton. Walker, $15.99 paper (176p) ISBN 978-0-8027-2077-1 With candid humor, this book spotlights an important aspect of history, discussing human waste, from prehistoric times to the present. Featuring; photographs, reproduced images, and cartoons, Albee's exposé explores the spread of diseases, the history of plumbing, and cultural attitudes toward excrement and hygiene, along with delightfully uncouth anecdotes (French courtiers Lised the "feathers attached to the neck of a dead goose" to wipe their behinds). Descriptions of stinky I Kch-century London and the plight of the great unwashed throughout rime should leave readers grateful for their porcelain thrones and glad to have taken the down and dirty ^—^but informative—journey. Ages 8-12. (May)

Poop Happened! A History of the World from the Bottom Up. (2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(18), 51.

Library Uses: This book is a great source of information on the history of human waste disposal, sanitation, hygiene, and disease. Good for research as it contains additional resources one can consult.

Module #10:  

Tomas and the Library Lady

Book Summary: Tomas and the Library Lady, by Pat Mora and illustrations by Raul Colon, is a lovely picture book.  Tomas, the son of a farmworker, discovers the library in the new town his family has moved to. While his family works, he discovers new worlds inside books and makes a new friend in the library lady.  Back home, Tomas delights his family by reading stories from his new library books.

APA Reference of Book:

Mora, P. & Colón, R. (1997). Tomás and the library lady (1st ed.). New York: Knopf.

Impressions: The first thing that grabs your attention about this book is the artwork. The illustrations are beautifully done, in earth-tone colors, by Raul Colon. This is a wonderful story of a young boy who discovers a love for books, reading, and storytelling. Reading the reviews, I discovered that this is a fictionalized story of the author’s childhood and life growing up.

Professional Review:

Pat Mora's Tomas and the Library Lady (Illus. by Raul Colon. Random House, 1997) is based on a true incident that happened in the young life of Tomas Rivera, famous writer, educational leader, and university president at the University of California at Riverside. Tomas, the son of migrant farm workers, goes to a public library in Iowa in search of more stories like Papa Grande tells. Until Tomas must return to Texas at the end of the summer, his love for stories and books is nurtured by "the library lady."

Brodie, C. S. (2003). Tomas and the Library Lady. School Library Monthly, 19(9), 48-51.

Library Uses:

This would be a good book to use and display during Hispanic Heritage Month, as it tells the story of a farmworker family traveling from town to town. It is also a great book about family time and sharing stories.

Module #9:  Where’s the Big Bad Wolf?

Book Summary: This is a new take on the “Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs” story, written and illustrated by Eileen Christelow. In this picture book, a mystery has the locals trying to discover who wants to harm the three little pigs.  Although Detective Doggedly has a feeing the big bad wolf is behind all the strange occurrences, he has to follow all the clues to find the real culprit.

APA Reference of Book: Christelow, E. (2002). Where's the big bad wolf? (1st ed.). New York: Clarion Books.

Impressions: This story had me wondering who was behind the mischief and I was pleasantly surprised when, at the end of the story, we find out that indeed the big bad wolf has been pulling the wool over the three little pigs, and everybody else’s, eyes. This is a picture book with fun, colorful illustrations created by the author and includes additional dialogue bubbles as the characters talk to each other.

Professional Review:

Three little pigs get some real bad advice from a wolf in a real goofy sheep disguise in this comical whodunit. The three little pigs are having their homes blown dowry--and escaping by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins--and Detective Doggedly believes it might be the work of the shiftless, no-account neighborhood wolf, the infamous BBW. But the only character found at the crime scenes is a newcomer to town: Esmeralda the sheep. Sure, kids will note, Esmeralda their foot, for her disguise is pretty transparent. She has also been giving the pigs construction ideas: straw is good, twigs are good, and cardboard's not bad. Two cows suggest a brick house, which foils the wolf and ends in his unveiling and incarceration. Short-term incarceration, that is, as he's soon back, this time tricked out as a horse, with more self-serving recommendations: "Pick peas after midnight, when everybody is asleep. They'll taste sweeter." So what if there are a few inexplicable here--How did the wolf con his way into that hospital bed?--this is good clownish fun, and the rough-and-tumble art keeps the farce bubbling. (Picture book. 4-7)

Where’s the big bad wolf? (Book). (2002). Kirkus Reviews, 70(14), 1028.

Library Uses: A great introduction to mystery books for elementary school readers.  This is also a great variation on the classic three little pigs theme.