Module 15: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman

Full Citation

Pilkey, Dav. Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman: the Fifth Epic Novel. New York: Scholastic, 2001. Print.

Summary

Tra-la-la! In the first book in this series, lovable troublemakers George Beard and Harold Hutchins accidentally used a 3-D Hypno Ring to change their dour principal Mr. Krupp into comic hero Captain Underpants. Now, the boys have used the same rings on their heinous teacher Ms. Tara Ribble in order to change their grades back after their latest crime of using their imaginations led them to getting their grades changed from B's and C's to F's and G's. However, its seems the ring has an opposite effect on women, because when they tell her NOT to become the evil villainous Wedgie Woman, she does! It's up to George, Harold, and Captain Underpants to save the town from the "woothless wevenge" of the wicked Wedgie Woman and her robot minions... if the dreaded spray starch doesn't sideline Captain Underpants first!

My Impressions

Okay, seriously, how is this series one of the most challenged books of the last decade? Yes, there is lots of bathroom humor and a general attitude of disrespect for authority (albeit one that stifles anything resembling  creativity or free expression), but not every book for children can (or should be) Dick and Jane. I didn't really know much about the series other that it was controversial, so I paged through this book in my library's children's section and I almost thought I was going to create a disturbance by my roaring laughter! There is a lot of bathroom humor, to be sure, but there's also a lot of fourth-wall breaking, pop culture references (A rabbi asks George and Harold to stay out of trouble, and the two reply: "Silly rabbi, tricks are for kids!"), and lots of good-natured ribbing at the superhero genre. Illustrations on every page keep the action moving fast, including an entire chapter utilizing a clever "flip-book" effect. I would have no problem with any children of mine reading these books someday.

What Other Reviewers Said

In the fifth "epic novel" about the extraordinary Captain Underpants--"faster than a speeding waistband... more powerful than boxer shorts"--the formidable superhero is under siege by a terrifying new enemy, the merciless bionic-powered Wedgie Woman. Will Captain Underpants overcome his fear of spray starch in time to save the world from the evil schemes of Wedgie Woman? No one knows... except maybe George and Harold, the imaginative fourth-grade troublemakers (imagination is not allowed at Jerome Horwitz Elementary School), who are also the creative minds behind Captain Underpants and Wedgie Woman. You see, it all started (as it usually does) with a comic strip drawn and illustrated by the boys. When their mean teacher Miss Ribble gets her hands on the comic book, their troubles really begin. Fans who have been eagerly awaiting Book 5 in the series, preceded by such gems as Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space and Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants, will heave a sigh of relief at the appearance of Pilkey's latest tongue-in-cheek superhero adventure novel. Goofier than ever, with plenty of boyish drawings and juvenile humor, this lightweight chapter book is the answer to reluctant (and avid) readers' dreams. If descriptions of Wedgie Woman's bionic hair and the "ubrupt" ending of the "happyness" on the planet of Underpantyworld don't turn grade-schoolers into bookworms, what will? By the way, don't let the quotation from Einstein at the front of the book mislead you; this is lowbrow humor at its very finest. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter (1)

Gr 2-5-Fans need not worry. Pilkey's imagination shows no sign of flagging here. When George and Harold's evil teacher announces her departure, she forces the class to write "Happy Retirement" cards for her. Instead, the two boys create a comic book in which they turn Ms. Ribble into the titular "Wicked Wedgie Woman." She sees the book, tells them that they are not allowed to use their imagination in school, and sends them posthaste to the principal. The two friends seize the opportunity to get him to sign a blank card to which they add his protestations of love for Ms. Ribble. Hilarious wedding high jinks ensue (but no marriage). To prevent the villainous woman from retaliating, the protagonists hypnotize her with their 3-D Hypno-Ring. Their plan backfires and a cosmic battle follows, complete with the familiar Flip-O-Rama feature. Among the highlights of this book is an alliterative post-wedding food fight in which, for example, the "creamy candied carrots clobbered the kindergarteners." There is a great deal of laugh-out-loud humor that will appeal to a wide audience. "Captain Underpants" is still one of the best series to get reluctant readers reading.- Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ (2)

 Suggested Activities

Have a special book discussion event for readers and their parents/caregivers where participants will promise to read Captain Underpants or another book from the ALA list above together. Encourage families to discuss what they liked and didn't like about the book in a rational and tolerant manner.

Other Citations

(1) Coulter, Emilie. Rev. of  "Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman." Amazon.com Review. Amazon.com: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman. Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://tinyurl.com/26jzvat>.

(2) Wadham, Tim. Rev. of  "Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman." School Library Journal. Amazon.com: Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman. Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More. Web. 5 Dec. 2010. <http://tinyurl.com/26jzvat>.

Module 14: Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?

Full Citation

Glenn, Mel. Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?: a Mystery in Poems. New York: Lodestar, 1996. Print.

Summary

The murder of English teacher Robert Chippendale sends a shock wave through Tower High. As police detective Harry Balinger and Tower High guidance counselor Angela Falcone try to find the culprit, students and other faculty express their admiration (or lack thereof) for the late teacher. In the process, secrets from Mr. Chippnedale's and other's lives are revealed. And, oh yes, all this is done in free verse poetry. 

My Impressions
 
I had reservations about this one, because I had read a few novels written in free verse in high school. It seemed like most authors just used the format as an excuse to churn out a quick read with little or no real emotion. Not so with Mr. Glenn, who made a good career out of this. The mystery itself gets the short shrift, but in the process the readers get to see the pure and understandable emotions as the people in Mr. Chippendale's sphere of influence try to make sense of it all. I especially like how Glenn's revealing through verse of those students who came to the realization of how "Mr. C"'s encouragement made them take chances in life for greater things.

What Other Reviewers Said

A bored student glances out of the classroom window. There's Mr. Chippendale jogging around the track as he does most days before his English classes meet. Nothing new here, she thinks. Then Mr. C. becomes the victim of a sniper on the school grounds. The police descend; suspects are questioned; the school grieves its toss. At first glance, this may seem to be just another mystery in a market glutted by the likes of Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. However, veterans of YA literature know to expect great things from Glenn. His latest novel breaks new ground as a mystery in poems. Glenn's familiar format from his previous volumes of high school poems (Class Dismissed, 1982, Class Dismissed II, 1986, Back to Class, 1988; My Friend's Got This Problem, Mr. Candler, 1991, Clarion, HS) is in evidence as readers learn how the various members of the school community react to the news of Mr. C.'s murder. A "novel" concept to be sure, this is a great read-aloud and should serve as a powerful model in writing class. More, please, Mr. Glenn! (1)

Mr. Chippendale, a high school teacher, has been murdered. It happened in the morning as he was running on the school track. Someone shot him in the head from the roof of the school building and he was killed instantly. There is now an investigation taking place at the high school to try to find out who it was that took this fatal shot. This story is told entirely in poems, from the poems at the beginning describing how Mr. Chippendale was feeling at the start of his morning run, to poems from the points of view of various students, faculty and people in the neighborhood. Some students though Mr. Chippendale was the best teacher they'd ever had. He made a real difference in the lives of some of his students, encouraging them to be better than they thought they could be, to try harder and set higher goals for themselves. Other students saw him as boring, a lousy teacher who made them feel bad about themselves and never helped them at all. Mr. Chippendale's fellow teachers didn't seem to know him much better than his students did. He and one of the guidance counselors had a brief relationship, but even she feels like they never really had a connection. What could Mr. Chippendale have done to drive someone to murder? I thought the poem aspect was really interesting. It allowed the thoughts of the students and others to wander around the story and their impressions of Mr. Chippendale instead of having to explain things in a linear way. There was much left unanswered, though. I never got a really good grasp on who Mr. Chippendale was, and the secret of who the killer was seemed like it should have been better set up. There should have been more clues pointing to that person. (2)

Suggested Activity

For older readers, this book would be perfect for a teen mystery night. Teen volunteers can take the parts of the different characters and read their parts aloud. The ending can even be withheld long enough for the audience to vote on what they think is the most likely solution. For an added touch, this event could be held in April for National Poetry Month.

Other Citations 

(1) Lesesne, Teri S., and G. Kylene Beers. "Book review." Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 40.3 (1996): 232. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2010. 

(2) Luciano, A. "Murder Investigation." Amazon.com: A. Luciano's Review of Who Killed Mr. Chippendale?: A Mystery in ... 31 May 2007. Web. 04 Dec. 2010. <http://tinyurl.com/28hq6f9>. 

Module 13: Rapunzel's Revenge

Full Citation

Hale, Shannon, Dean Hale, and Nathan Hale. Rapunzel's Revenge. New York, NY: Bloomsbury, 2008. Print.

Summary

The classic tale is re-imagined in the Wild West by Shannon Hale, the author of the Newbery Honor-winning Princess Academy, along with her husband Dean and illustrator Nathan Hale (no relation.) Rapunzel lives in luxury with Mother Gothel, who controls the surrounding territory like a dictator with her "growth magic." When Rapunzel finds out the truth of where she came from and rebels against Gothel, Gothel traps her in the forest in a magic tree. The growth magic causes her hair to grow to its famous lengths, allowing Rapunzel to escape, not to mention giving her a rather useful weapon at her disposal, which will come in handy as she teams up with a bandit named Jack to save her birth mother and get her titular revenge on Gothel. 

My Impressions 

A clever retelling of the classic story that utilizes the western setting perfectly. Rapunzel's no damsel in distress here, and readers of all ages will be rooting for her and Jack. The Old West setting turns out to be the perfect setting for the fairy tale, as Rapunzel is able to use her long locks as a whip and a lasso. The graphic novel also turns out to be the perfect format for this story, as it keeps the action running and really sets the up the scenes for this adventure. If you're still on the fence about the value of graphic novels, as I once was, this may just be the book that wins you over. 

What Other Reviewers Said

The popular author of Princess Academy teams with her husband and illustrator Hale (no relation) for a muscular retelling of the famously long-haired heroine's story, set in a fairy-tale version of the Wild West. The Hales' Rapunzel, the narrator, lives like royalty with witchy Mother Gothel, but defies orders, scaling villa walls to see what's outside--a shocking wasteland of earth-scarring mines and smoke-billowing towers. She recognizes a mine worker from a recurrent dream: it's her birth mother, from whom she was taken as punishment for her father's theft from Mother G.'s garden. Their brief reunion sets the plot in motion. Mother G. banishes Rapunzel to a forest treehouse, checking annually for repentance, which never comes. Rapunzel uses her brick-red braids first to escape, then like Indiana Jones with his whip, to knock out the villains whom she and her new sidekick, Jack (of Beanstalk fame), encounter as they navigate hostile territory to free Rapunzel's morn from peril. Illustrator Hale's detailed, candy-colored artwork demands close viewing, as it carries the action--Rapunzel's many scrapes are nearly wordless. With its can-do heroine, witty dialogue and romantic ending, this graphic novel has something for nearly everybody. Ages 10-up. (1)


Gr 5 Up-- This is the tale as you've never seen it before. After using her hair to free herself from her prison tower, this Rapunzel ignores the pompous prince and teams up with Jack (of Beanstalk fame) in an attempt to free her birth mother and an entire kingdom from the evil witch who once moonlighted as her "mother." Dogged by both the witch's henchman and Jack's outlaw past, the heroes travel across the map as they right wrongs, help the oppressed, and generally try to stay alive. Rapunzel is no damsel in distress-she wields her long braids as both rope and weapon-but she happily accepts Jack's teamwork and friendship. While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive. Knowing that there are more graphic novels to come from this writing team brings readers their own happily-ever-after. (2)


Suggested Activities

With Rapunzel taking center stage in theaters this week in Disney's latest animated feature Tangled, now is the perfect time for her to take center stage at your library or in your classroom, too! This article provides some ideas for a Rapunzel-themed display or book discussion time. 

Other Citations 

(1) "Rapunzel's Revenge." Publishers Weekly 255.31 (2008): 63. Vocational and Career Collection. EBSCO. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.

(2) von Wrangel Kinsey, Cara. "Rapunzel's Revenge." School Library Journal 54.9 (2008): 215. Vocational and Career Collection. EBSCO. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.

Module 12: Knucklehead

Full Citation

Scieszka, Jon. Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories about Growing up Scieszka. New York, NY: Viking, 2008. Print.

Summary


Jon Scieszka, the author of favorites such as The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs tells of his childhood growing up in Flint, Michigan. In brief chapters and photographs, Scieszka recounts various adventures in Catholic school, Cub Scouts, and growing up with his five brothers.

My Impressions


Both sweet and irreverent in equal measure, this book will definitely appeal to young readers, especially those with a high tolerance for toilet humor. I wish the book had gone beyond Sciezka's childhood into his early writing days, instead of summarizing it in an epilogue, though.


What Other Reviewers Said


In this arch, glib, unapologetically shamefree outing, Scieszka, who grew up as the second of six sons, has written an autobiography about boys, for boys and anyone else interested in baseball, fire, and peeing on stuff. The format of the book is perfectly suited to both casual and reluctant readers. The text is divided into two- to three-page nonsequential chapters and peppered with scrapbook snapshots and comic-book-ad reproductions. The accessibly irreverent language pushes the boundaries of moderation even as it reflects a sort of skewed wholesomeness. But the real testosterone payoff here is in the stories, which range from losing battles with fractious parochial-school nuns to taking turns “watching” little brothers (wherein the author watched brother number six eat a cigarette butt and charged neighborhood kids to watch him do it again). By themselves, the chapters entertain with abrupt, vulgar fun. Taken together, they offer a look at the makings of one very funny author—and a happy answer to the dreaded autobiography book report. - Thom Barthelmess (1)



Starred Review. Grade 3–6—Just try to keep kids away from this collection. Inspired book design makes the volume look like an old-school comic. The front cover features an elementary-aged Scieszka popping up out of a military tank, surrounded by explosions and bombers, while the back advertises a "Treasure Chest of Fun" and displays chapter titles and excerpts along with nostalgic graphics. Scieszka answers the oft-asked question, "Where do you get your ideas?" with a slew of childhood anecdotes and his family's escapades that have given him plenty of material from which to draw. Born in 1954, the second of six brothers, he writes about Catholic and military schools, buying gifts, chores, and hand-me-downs—all familiar experiences related with a specific Scieszka twist. His mother, a nurse, insisted that her sons use proper terms for anatomy ("rectum" rather than "butt") and bodily functions ("urinate" rather than "pee"), making way for several laugh-out-loud moments. Some stories are just amiably funny, such as wearing recycled Halloween costumes, while others help readers understand more about how the author developed his unique sense of humor. Although it includes the car trip story from Guys Write for Guys Read (Viking, 2005), Knucklehead is aimed at a younger audience. Family photographs and other period illustrations appear throughout. Entertaining and fast-moving, silly and sweet, this homage to family life is not to be missed.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA (2)

Suggested Activities

Have kids make a personal scrapbook using photographs and other memorabilia to tell their own funny or serious personal stories.


Other Citations


(1) Barthelmess, Thom. "Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka." Booklist 105.1 (2008): 92. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.

(2) Whitehurst, Lucinda S. Rev. of Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Almost True Stories of Growing up Scieszka. School Library Journal. Amazon.com. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://tinyurl.com/38eqsux>.

Module 11: Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

Full Citation

Floca, Brian. Moonshot: the Flight of Apollo 11. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2009. Print.


Summary


The story of Apollo 11 and the first moon landing, from lift-off to the first steps to the return to earth, is recounted with colorful illustrations and free-verse poetry.

My Impressions


This book is a perfect demonstration that "non-fiction" doesn't have to mean "reads like a textbook." Floca instead captures the feelings and the little moments that went into the historic first moon landing. The moon landing tops my list of historic events I regret not being born early enough to see, but this book helped me feel like I was there. Floca leaves an author's note at the end filling in the rest of the details.

What Other Reviewers Said


Grade 2–5—Large in trim size as well as topic, this stirring account retraces Apollo 11's historic mission in brief but precise detail, and also brilliantly captures the mighty scope and drama of the achievement. Rendered in delicate lines and subtly modulated watercolors, the eye-filling illustrations allow viewers to follow the three astronauts as they lumber aboard their spacecraft for the blastoff and ensuing weeklong journey ("…there's no fresh air outside the window;/after a week this small home will not smell so good./This is not why anyone/wants to be an astronaut"). They split up so that two can make their famous sortie, and then reunite for the return to "the good and lonely Earth,/glowing in the sky." Floca enhances his brief, poetic main text with an opening spread that illustrates each component of Apollo 11, and a lucid closing summary of the entire Apollo program that, among other enlightening facts, includes a comment from Neil Armstrong about what he said versus what he meant to say when he stepped onto the lunar surface. Consider this commemoration of the first Moon landing's 40th anniversary as a spectacular alternative for younger readers to Catherine Thimmesh's Team Moon (Houghton, 2006).- John Peters, New York Public Library (1)

Forty years after NASA’s Apollo 11 mission first landed astronauts on the moon, this striking nonfiction picture book takes young readers along for the ride. The moon shines down on Earth, where three men don spacesuits, climb into Columbia, and wait for liftoff. On a nearby beach, people gather to watch the rocket blast the astronauts into space. The astronauts fly to the moon, circle it, land on it, walk on its surface, and see “the good and lonely Earth, glowing in the sky.” After flying back to the orbiter, they return to Earth and splash down, “home at last.” An appended note discusses the mission in greater detail. Written with quiet dignity and a minimum of fuss, the main text is beautifully illustrated with line-and-wash artwork that provides human interest, technological details, and some visually stunning scenes. The book’s large format offers plenty of scope for double-page illustrations, and Floca makes the most of it, using the sequential nature of picture books to set up the more dramatic scenes and give them human context. The moving image of Earth seen from the moon, for instance, is preceded by a picture of a lone astronaut looking up. A handsome, intelligent book with a jacket that’s well-nigh irresistible. - Carolyn Phelan (2)

Suggested Activities


Take your own "trip" to the moon as a library or classroom. You can buy astronaut foods such as freeze-dried ice cream at various stores. (Here in North Texas, at least, you can find it at Fry's Electronics.) For older readers, be sure to check out The Dish (rated PG-13 for some strong language), the hilarious and heart-warming story of a small Australia town that played a crucial role in ensuring that TV viewers world-wide could see the first images of the moon landing.


Other Citations

(1) Peters, John. Rev. of Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11. School Library Journal. Amazon.com. Web. 13 Nov. 2010. <http://tinyurl.com/35qkj22>.

(2) Phelan, Carolyn. "Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11." Booklist 105.12 (2009): 80. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Nov. 2010.

Module 10: Boxes for Katje

Full Citation


Fleming, Candace, and Stacey Dressen-McQueen. Boxes for Katje. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. Print.


Summary 


In 1945, as Europeans begin to deal with the devastation left by World War II, Katje, a girl from the Dutch town of Olst, receives a package with soap, new socks, a chocolate bar, and a note from Rosie Johnson in Mayfield, Illinois. Rosie sent the package through the Children's Aid Society, which was working to help children in Europe. When Katje writes Rosie back, it begins a correspondence that changes both Olst and Mayfield in exponential ways.

My Impressions


I've failed three times to get through this story without crying. It's a brief and beautiful story about the power of compassion and friendship. The illustrations perfectly bring the time and places to life. This historical fiction picture book (inspired by a true story from the author's mother) would be perfect for a variety of classroom activities, from an elementary lesson on charity to a high-school history classroom.


What Other Reviewers Said


Amidst the deprivations of life in post-WWII Holland, young Katje receives a care package from an American girl. Katje writes a thank-you note to Rosie, who, when she hears about Katje's generosity with the handful of gifts, begins recruiting friends and neighbors to help send bigger and bigger packages to Katje, who shares the bounty with her friends and neighbors. Fleming has carefully shaped her story so that Katje's heartfelt letters unintentionally inspire further gifts from Rosie (a clothing drive at Rosie's church results from Katje's innocent mention of how the box of food made everyone so happy they forgot about the holes in their shoes). The opening endpapers show Rosie's Indiana neighborhood in 1945; closing endpapers feature the same scene two years later, each yard overflowing with color--from the tulip bulbs Katje's community sends to express their gratitude. First-time illustrator Dressen-McQueen keeps the sentimentality of the story at bay with artwork that matter-of-factly presents Katje's poverty and Rosie's relative prosperity while, like the text, emphasizing their similarities: the secure warmth each experiences at home and their desire to help others. Reflecting the story's theme about friendship's ability to bridge long distances, the multimedia illustrations often overlay a scene from Katje's hometown with one of the girls' handwritten letters and a snapshot-like picture of Rosie's home. An author's note provides further information on the actual events that inspired Fleming's story. (1)


K-5 This well-written story set in post-World War II Holland is based on events that really happened. Charities such as the Children’s Aid Society encouraged American students to send boxes of needed items to Europe to offset the devastation left by the war. In this story, Katje, a young girl in Olst, Holland, is one of the lucky recipients. Rosie of Mayfield, Indiana, sends a box filled with a cake of soap, wool socks, and chocolate to her. Katje, in appreciation, writes a letter of thanks. This leads to the beginning of a correspondence, which in turn eventually triggers an outpouring of help from the people of Mayfield. Katje and her friends and family survive the harsh winter in large part due to the kindness of Rosie and the Mayfield community. The warm-colored pencil and oil pastel pictures complement the story reflecting the architecture, dress, and emotion beautifully. The story itself would be an excellent starting point for a discussion on the importance of giving and sharing. It shows that one person truly can make a difference. This is also a good book to read for Thanksgiving or even as a reminder during the study of war of the toll war takes on people in general. Recommended. - Bridget Slayden, Educational Reviewer, Fordland, Missouri (2)

Suggested Activities


Have children think of examples of "Katjes" today, both around the world as well  in their own hometowns. With the holidays fast approaching, now is the perfect time to implement a class-, school- or library-wide food and clothing drive for a local homeless shelter or community outreach.

Other Citations

(1) Brabander, Jennifer M. "Boxes for Katje." Horn Book Magazine 79.5 (2003): 596. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010.


(2) Fleming, Candace. "Boxes for Katje (Book)." Library Media Connection 22.6 (2004): 56. Computer Source. EBSCO. Web. 7 Nov. 2010.

Module 9: The London Eye Mystery

Full Citation

Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. Oxford: David Fickling, 2008. Print.


Summary

Ted knows almost everything there is to know about the weather. It's interacting with other people that he doesn't always get. When his aunt "Hurricane" Gloria and cousin Salim blow through London en route to relocating to New York from Manchester, Ted finds a kindred spirit in his cousin. The family takes Salim to the London Eye, where Ted and his sister Kat are given a ticket by a shady character which they in turn give to Salim. Salim goes in, his car goes up... but when it touches the ground again, Salim doesn't get out. Feeling responsible, Ted and Kat take it upon themselves to find Salim.

My Impressions

When it comes to mystery stories. I can always give or take the mystery. Its the characters and their surroundings that appeals to me, from Sherlock Holmes to Hawaii Five-0. All that to say that this novel is a very satisfying, well-written story with appealing characters. I was cheering for Ted the whole time as he learned in many ways to open himself to the world around him. The other family members are all fully-fleshed out as well. As for the mystery itself, it unfolds in a very believable way, something I especially appreciated given that it was an "amateur detective" story, a sub-genre that often lends itself to stretches of credibility. The payoff, both in the plot and of the character arcs, is very satisfying.

What Other Reviewers Said

When Ted's cousin Salim visits London, he insists on riding "The London Eye," an immense observation wheel. A stranger gives Salim a free ticket; Salim enters a passenger capsule; 30 minutes later, when the capsule returns from its rotation, Salim has vanished. What follows is an intricate mystery, related from the unique point of view of 12-year-old Ted, who has Asperger's Syndrome. Ted is a brilliant but literal thinker who sees things in things in terms of mathematical probabilities. His brain, though differently wired, is as efficient as a computer. It is precisely the logical mind needed to solve the mystery, and it saves Salim's life. This is a well-constructed puzzle, and mystery lovers will delight in connecting the clues, but what makes this a riveting read is Ted's voice. He is bright, honest, brave and very funny about his "syndrome" (his teacher has given him a cartoon code for recognizing the five basic emotions). The message, grippingly delivered, is that kids, even differently abled ones, are worth paying attention to. (Fiction. 9-14) (1)

A 12-year-old Londoner with something like Asperger's syndrome narrates this page-turner, which grabs readers from the beginning and doesn't let go. As Ted and his older sister Katrina watch, their visiting cousin Salim boards a "pod" for a ride on the London Eye, a towering tourist attraction with a 360-degree view of the city--but unlike his fellow passengers, Salim never comes down. He has vanished. At the outset Ted explains that he has cracked the case: "Having a funny brain that runs on a different operating system from other people's helped me to figure out what happened." The tension lies in the implicit challenge to solve the mystery ahead of Ted, who turns his intense observational powers on the known facts, transforming his unnamed disability into an investigative tool while the adults' emotions engulf them. Dowd ratchets up the stakes repeatedly: is a boy in the morgue Salim? Has he drowned? Been kidnapped? Katrina and Ted work together to solve the puzzle, developing new respect for each other. The author wryly locates the humor as Ted wrangles with his symptoms (learning to lie represents progress) but also allows Ted an ample measure of grace. Comparisons to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time are inevitable--this release was delayed when Mark Haddon's book (from the same publisher) became a bestseller--but Dowd makes clearer overtures to younger readers. Just as impressive as Dowd's recent debut, A Swift Pure Cry, and fresh cause to mourn her premature death this year. Ages 8-12. (2)

Suggested Activities


Older readers will definitely want to check out Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, another British mystery featuring a protagonist on the autism spectrum. The London Eye Mystery is the better of the two in my opinion but of course, there is always room for a healthy debate.

Other Citations

(1) "THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY." Kirkus Reviews 75.24 (2007): 1294. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 31 Oct. 2010.

(2) "The London Eye Mystery." Publishers Weekly 254.48 (2007): 70. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 31 Oct. 2010.

Module 8: The City of Ember

Full Citation

DuPrau, Jeanne. The City of Ember. New York: Random House, 2003. Print.

Summary

In the city of Ember, the sky is black and light is provided by lamps. The society that has been living underground for more than 200 years, but longer and more frequent blackouts and dwindling supplies are keeping the citizens on edge. 12-year-old Lina Mayfleet makes a discovery that may provide the answer to Ember's troubles, but no one in the city, especially the mayor, wants to hear it. With the help of her old friend and classmate Doon Harrow, Lina uncovers a disturbing secret and searches for the ultimate solution for Ember: escape.

My Impressions

I saw the 2008 film version when it was in theaters, so I was already somewhat familiar with the story. However, this did not limit my enjoyment of this clever and exciting story in the slightest. DuPrau's narrative style, utilizing the underrated third-person point-of-view to flip between Lina and Doon's stories, keeps the story engaging and will keep young readers guessing.

What Other Critics Said

This promising debut is set in a dying underground city. Ember, which was founded and stocked with supplies centuries ago by "The Builders," is now desperately short of food, clothes, and electricity to keep the town illuminated. Lina and Doon find long-hidden, undecipherable instructions that send them on a perilous mission to find what they believe must exist: an exit door from their disintegrating town. In the process, they uncover secret governmental corruption and a route to the world above. Well-paced, this contains a satisfying mystery, a breathtaking escape over rooftops in darkness, a harrowing journey into the unknown and cryptic messages for readers to decipher. The setting is well-realized with the constraints of life in the city intriguingly detailed. The likable protagonists are not only courageous but also believably flawed by human pride, their weaknesses often complementing each other in interesting ways. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers clamoring for the next installment. (Fiction. 9-13) (1)

Unlike the rundown dystopia of Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue, the darkness of Ember is essentially literal. Its people, by and large, are honorable and civilized; its governance is democratic if quasi-theocratic; its economy frugal but fair. But there is no natural light in Ember, and the blackouts of its antiquated electrical grid are coming more and more frequently: "running out of light bulbs, running out of power, running out of time--disaster was right around the corner." So thinks Doon, a curious twelve-year-old who, along with his spirited schoolmate Lina, determines to save the city. On a deliberately limited canvas, first-novelist DuPrau draws a picture of a closed society, all of its resources taken from vast but emptying storerooms, with no travel possible beyond the lights of the city. The writing and storytelling are agreeably spare and remarkably suspenseful, and rather than bogging down in explanations of how Ember came to be and how it functions, DuPrau allows the events of the story to convey the necessary information. There's a contrivance or two in keeping the narrative moving, but even the device of a hidden letter, complete with missing words, is used with such disarming forthrightness that readers will be eagerly deciphering it right alongside Doon and Lina. The two protagonists are good sorts, distinctively if not deeply etched, and fans (note: there will be many) will be pleased to know that while Doon and Lina's mission is triumphantly concluded, there's plenty of room for a sequel. (2)

Suggested Activities

Have readers form a group of "Builders" designing their own underground city (or a city underwater, on the Moon, etc.) How would they design the city? What supplies would they need?

Other Citations 

(1) "THE CITY OF EMBER (Book)." Kirkus Reviews 71.10 (2003): 749. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 24 Oct. 2010.

(2) Sutton, Roger. "The City of Ember (Book)." Horn Book Magazine 79.3 (2003): 343. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 24 Oct. 2010.

Module 8: The Lightning Thief

Full Citation

Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Miramax /Hyperion for Children, 2005. Print.


Summary 

The Greek gods are alive and well and living in the modern-day United States. That's what Perseus "Percy" Jackson finds out the hard way when he is attacked by his math teacher, one of Hades' Furies, while on a field trip. The eleven-year-old soon finds himself whisked off to Camp Half-Blood in Long Island, a camp for children whose parents are gods, which Percy finds out he is one. When Zeus' lightning bolt is stolen and Percy is targeted as the number-one suspect, he, fellow camper Annabeth, and satyr Grover set out on a cross-country quest to prevent World War III.

My Impressions

I've heard a lot about this book being called a "American Harry Potter", and on the surface, it is rather true. Like Harry, Percy soon finds he has a big reputation preceding him, and has to set out on a epic quest with his two friends. However, the clever conceit of the Greek gods living and interacting with our society keeps things fresh and appealing. As someone who grew up devouring the Greek myths, it was especially fun playing "Spot the Creature" as Percy went against various figures from the Minotaur to Medusa.

What Other Reviewers Said

A clever concept drives Riordan's highly charged children's book debut (the first in a series): the Greek Gods still rule, though now from a Mt. Olympus on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building, and their offspring, demigods, live among human beings. Narrator Percy Jackson thinks he's just another troubled 12-year-old, until he vaporizes his math teacher, learns his best friend, Grover, is a satyr and narrowly escapes a minotaur to arrive at Camp Half-Blood. After a humorous stint at camp, Percy learns he's the son of Poseidon and embarks on a quest to the Underworld with Grover and Annabeth (a daughter of Athena) to resolve a battle between Zeus and Poseidon over Zeus's stolen "master" lightning bolt. Without sacrificing plot or pacing, Riordan integrates a great deal of mythology into the tale and believably places mythical characters into modern times, often with hilarious results (such as Hades ranting about the problem of "sprawl," or population explosion). However, on emotional notes the novel proves less strong (for example, Percy's grief for his mother rings hollow; readers will likely spot the "friend" who betrays the hero, as foretold by the Oracle of Delphi, before Percy does) and their ultimate confrontation proves a bit anticlimactic. Still, this swift and humorous adventure will leave many readers eager for the next installment. Ages 10-up. (1)

Gr 5-9 --An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move. (2)

Suggested Activity

Percy Jackson's exploits provide the perfect introduction to the Greek myths. Read the original stories and compare how heroes such as Hercules and Percy's namesake Perseus handled things.

Other Citations

(1) "The Lightning Thief." Publishers Weekly 252.28 (2005): 207. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

(2) Lothrop, Patricia D. "The Lightning Thief." School Library Journal 51.8 (2005): 134. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 20 Oct. 2010.

Module 7: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Full Citation


Lyga, Barry. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Boston: Graphia, 2007. Print.


Summary


Donnie is a gifted high-schooler who's having a terrible time of it both at school, where he is relentlessly bullied, and at home, with his pregnant, high-strung mother and "step-fascist." He sees his only out of this miserable life is his graphic novel, Schemata, about a schoolteacher with superpowers. When he befriends, Kyra another loner who dubs him "Fanboy" (and he dubs her "Goth Girl" in return), he finds he might have to be the superhero in real life.

My Impressions


I'll come right out with it and admit this book made me very uneasy at first. When the narrator started fantasizing about taking the school hostage, I was sure the book was headed in a very tragic direction. Instead, the author chose to make it a very emotional and quite entertaining at times story about one teen loner's journey into understanding those around him better. As an author myself, I loved Donnie talking about his own creative process in creating Schemata, and I wish it was real. With bullying tragically making the news once again, this is a timely read for teens and adults about how one person handles it.   


What Other Reviewers Said


6-8 9-12 This novel will strike a timely chord with any student who feels bullied or ostracized. 15-year-old Fanboy is a comic book infatuated genius who lives with his divorced and pregnant mother and the “step-fascist.” The only good thing going for him is the graphic novel he is creating. When classmates pick on him for no apparent reason, he creates “The List,” and daydreams of a school shooting. It is not until he meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, that he starts to learn how to act around others. The loneliness and pain are captured so vividly that his daydreams become understandable, which contrasts well to his discovery that he isn’t so hated and that other people have needs, too. Kyra’s intense issues added to the novel, and the lack of bloodshed was a pleasant surprise. It was disappointing to this reviewer when Kyra and Fanboy blackmailed the assistant principal, and “The List” was never addressed. However, the believability of the characters and the topic will
be a sure hit with readers and definitely provide food for thought. Librarians should be aware of strong language. Recommended. - Spencer Korson, Media Specialist, Bullock Creek High School & Middle School, Midland, Michigan (1)

Gr 9 Up -On good days, Fanboy is invisible to the students at his high school. On bad ones, he's a target for bullying and violence. When a classmate is cruel to him, Fanboy adds him to "The List" and moves on. His only real friend, Cal, is a jock who can't be seen with him in public. Their love of comics, though, keeps them close friends outside of school. Reading comics and writing his own graphic novel, Schemata, are the only things that keep him sane. He dreams of showing his work to a famous author at a comic-book convention and being discovered as the next great graphic novelist. When Goth Girl Kyra IMs him with photos of him being beaten up, he's skeptical. Why does she care what happens to him? He learns, though, that she's as much an outsider as he is. The two form a tentative friendship based on hatred of their classmates, particularly jocks, and her interest in Schemata. Fanboy is a rule follower, but Kyra is a rebel with a foul mouth. She teaches him to stand up for himself, and gives him the confidence to do it. Lyga looks at how teens are pushed to their limits by society. Though he toys with such concepts as teen suicide and Columbine-like violence, the novel never turns tragic. His love of comics carries over into all three teen characters, breathing animation into a potentially sad but often funny story. This is a great bridge book for teens who already like graphic novels. By Stephanie L. Petruso, Anne Arundel County Public Library, Odenton, MD (2)

Suggested Activity


Team students up to draw and write a short graphic novel that details what happens next for the characters.

Other Actvities

(1) Korson, Spencer. "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl." Library Media Connection 25.7 (2007): 81. Computer Source. EBSCO. Web. 10 Oct. 2010.

(2) Petruso, Stephanie L. "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl." School Library Journal 52.11 (2006): 141. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 10 Oct. 2010.

Module 7: No More Dead Dogs

Full Citation


Korman, Gordon. No More Dead Dogs. New York: Hyperion for Children, 2000. Print.


Summary


"... the dog always dies. Go to the library and pick out a book with an award sticker and a dog on the cover. Trust me, that dog is going down."


So says football player Wallace Wallace to his eighth grade English teacher about the assigned material, Old shep, My Pal, who in return gives Wallace detention until he writes a "proper" report. The trouble is, Wallace can't lie and that's really how he feels, so he's left with nothing to do after school then hang around the drama club, and it just so happens that their latest production in a dramatization of Old Shep written by the teacher. Wallace gives the teacher advice to improve the play, winning the hearts of the drama club while horrifying the drama club president, Julia Roberts-wannabe Rachel Turner. Can Wallace Wallace find out who's sabotaging the play and finally get his report written?


My Impressions


That quote above made me know I had to get the book right away, having just read Sounder for a class module on Newbery winners a few weeks before. It was a very clever premise, but the execution didn't quite follow through. Still, it's very funny and the main characters are very appealing (I especially loved the little sub-plot about the English teacher finding his inner rock star), making it a very light and entertaining read for middle-schoolers.


What Other Reviewers Said

This was one of the funniest books I have ever read! The main character, Wallace, an eighth grader and a football player, is well known for never telling a lie. His English teacher, Mr. Fogelman, assigns the class to write a book review of his favorite book, Old Shep, My Pal (1951). Wallace doesn't lie but says he thinks the book is awful; besides, you know that the dog will die before starting page one "because the dog always dies." This makes Mr. Fogelman angry and he gives Wallace a detention. Wallace is to write and turn in a good review. Detention ends up meaning that Wallace cannot play or practice football until the proper "review" is written, and the detention must be served with the drama club, which is directed by Mr. Fogelman. Not only is Wallace extremely honest, he is very stubborn. The next review he writes is still not acceptable, so he must continue coming to the drama club practices as part of his "detention." Middle school kids will enjoy this book because it is so typical of their language, actions, and ideas. It would make a good book to read aloud to a class. Recommended. (1)

Gordon Korman's multigenre novel (part mystery, romance, epistolary fiction, and drama) No More Dead Dogs traces the unwonted directorial debut of its eighth-grade protagonist Wallace Wallace. After being suspended from the football team as punishment for writing a scathing review of his English teacher's favorite childhood book Old Shep, My Pal, the boy with a truth-telling fetish must learn to play politics or kiss his athletic career good-bye.... The joke upon which the title turns is Wallace's unhappy realization of a particular leitmotif in American literature: the sacrifice of countless dogs (e.g., Old Yeller, Sounder, Bristle Face). This becomes a metaphor for the premature loss of innocence, which the drama kids (believing they have intuited the source of Wallace's angst) chant in unison at rehearsal: "No more dead dogs." The fact is, while the book packs plot, it lacks witty follow-through of this amusing premise. We have no idea why Wallace initially champions the dog cause (other than a refusal to cater to the taste of his teacher); in fact, the book has nothing to do with the title theme whatever. Instead, No More Dead Dogs refocuses its attention on the travails of the president of the drama club, Rachel Turner, as she struggles to preserve the authority and artistic integrity of her theatrical mentor, Mr. Fogelman. Rachel, incidentally, is a girl with a bizarre fixation on Julia Roberts who writes obsessively to the star for counsel. There are other problems with No More Dead Dogs. The book is filled with jokes aimed at an adult audience rather than one comprised of middle schoolers (e.g., one character spews a bountiful supply of mixed metaphors that the author must explain, uncommon as they are in the parlance of kids: "It's the icing on the gravy," "by any stretch of the means," "If the cake fits, eat it"). These are jokes that desperately wish to be funny but the book produces only one that would be considered genuinely amusing to its demographic. Wallace Wallace is relentlessly pursued throughout the story by a Mephistopheles-like ex-best friend named Cavanaugh who refers to the protagonist repeatedly as "Jackass Jackass." Even as I write that, I laugh--in a juvenile, David Spade sort of way. In my opinion, No More Dead Dogs had serious potential to be a much better book than the writing produced. - S. Graber. (2)

Suggested Activity


Have kids share endings of books or movies they didn't like. How would they change it? Have them write or act out their all-new "alternate ending."

Other Citations

(1) Clarke, Jo. "No More Dead Dogs (Book Review)." Book Report 19.5 (2001): 60. Computer Source. EBSCO. Web. 10 Oct. 2010.

(2) Blasingame, James, et al. "Books for adolescents." Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 46.2 (2002): 178. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 10 Oct. 2010.

Module 6: Frindle

 Full Citation


Clements, Andrew, and Brian Selznick. Frindle. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Division, 1996. Print.

Summary

Nicholas Allen has always known how to stir up a little good-natured mischief at Lincoln Elementary School. When Nicholas starts fifth grade, however, he finds he just might have met his match in one Mrs. Lorelei Granger, the fifth-grade English teacher who treats the dictionary like a sacred text. It's a comment Mrs. Granger makes in class one day about how it's the people who determine what what words are acceptable for common use that gets Nick's greatest scheme yet going. Soon kids all over the school start calling their pens frindles, causing a sensation all over the small town of Westfeld, New Hampshire, and soon all over the country...

My Impressions 


From the title, I thought this was going to be a fantasy story. Finding out instead that it's a sweet realistic (well, everything in this story could happen) school story made me enjoy it just as much, if even more. I loved following both the young boy who has no malevolent intentions learning probably one of the largest scale object lessons of all time and the stern but loving teacher who is his biggest cheerleader and guide, even if neither of them know it yet. This would be a great story to read aloud in a class. Clement's avuncular tone and the illustrations by Caldecott-winner Brian Selznick (The Invention of Hugo Cabret) keep the proceedings light-hearted the whole time.

What Other Reviewers Said

Can you imagine finding the word frindle in one of this century’s newest dictionaries? I think that might have happened if Andrew Clements’ book Frindle had won a Newbery award five years ago. Few young readers can resist identifying with fifth-grader Nicholas Allen, who coined a new word for pen- frindle- and managed to give his dictionary-loving teacher, Mrs. Granger, a new challenge. Like countless readers who have honored this book with numerous state awards, I am amused by Nick’s efforts to pursue getting this “new” word included in the dictionary. The author manages to tell a tale in which students respect their language arts teacher but are willing to assume consequences for minor acts of defiance. Eventually Mrs. Granger and Nick come to an understanding that has positive lifelong mutual benefits for the class as well as for readers who realize the power of language. This book makes a great read-aloud. In addition, it is an easy sell to elementary-school children, who readily recommend it to their friends. They always ask if there are more books like Frindle. – Judy Moburg (1)


The author has created a fresh, imaginative plot that will have readers smiling all the way through, if not laughing out loud. Nick, a champion time-waster, faces the challenge of his life when confronted with the toughest teacher in school, Mrs. Granger. Always counted on to filibuster the impending test or homework assignment away, Nick has met his match in "Dangerous Grangerous," who can spot a legitimate question in a second and has no patience with the rest. In answer to "Like, who says that d-o-g means the thing that goes 'woof' and wags its tail? Who says so?" she replies, "You do, Nicholas. You and me and everyone in this class and this school and this town and this state and this country." And thus is born frindle, Nick's new name for pen, promising and delivering a classic student-teacher battle along the lines of — but far funnier than — Avi's Nothing But the Truth (Orchard). The battle assumes the proportions of a tall tale, and although outrageous and hilarious, it's all plausible, and every bit works from the premise to the conclusion. The brisk narration is rapid-fire, and Nick is one of the most charming troublemakers since Soup. The merchandising future of this one is too terrible to contemplate; the cutting-edge gift this Christmas has got to be a frindle. (2)

Suggested Activity

Have young readers think of other things in their lives that in their opinion could use new or better names. Then have them write a definition down and include an illustration if possible. Combine the pages together to create your own dictionary!

Other Citations

(1) Warrell, Beth, et al. "It Should Have Won a Newbery!." Book Links 11.5 (2002): 15. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.

(2) Watson, Elizabeth S. "Frindle." Horn Book Magazine 72.6 (1996): 732. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.

Module 5: Mr. Maxwell's Mouse

Full Citation


Asch, Frank, and Devin Asch. Mr. Maxwell's Mouse. Toronto: Kids Can, 2004. Print.


Summary


When Mr. Howard Maxwell receives a promotion at work, the cat forgoes his usual baked mouse at the Paw and Claw Restaurant and orders a raw mouse, no killing necessary. However, this turns out to be a mistake as the little mouse proves to be quite a handful.

My Impressions


I'm a cat person, but even I was cheering for the mouse in this clever story about brains besting brawn. I re-read the book several times just to look over the lavish illustrations, and I'm sure many young readers will do the same.


What Other Reviewers Said


This father/son team has concocted a delicious cat-and-mouse tale in which small outsmarts large. Every day, Mr. Howard Maxwell, a proper and pompous cat, orders baked mouse at the Paw and Claw Restaurant until the day of his promotion to Vice Manager of Efficiency Control, when he chooses a raw mouse for his entrée. When the dish arrives, the white mouse, reclining on rye toast, engages Mr. Maxwell in conversation (despite his mother's admonitions not to fraternize with his food), employing one rose after another to delay his demise: sprinkling salt, ordering a glass of wine, and requesting a prayer. The mouse deviously creates a catastrophe that enables him to escape and free all the other mice. The computer-generated art is stylishly elegant, dramatically colored in dark hues of slate and black, and handsomely designed with the text printed in white on black sidebars. Effective telescopic perspectives zoom closer as the mouse gets nearer to being eaten. Visually stunning, the period setting (1930s England?), captivating illustrations, and tongue-in-cheek dialogue create a delectable tail, er, tale of one-upmouseship to be savored. (Picture book. 5-8) (1)

K-Gr 3-- A clever game of cat and mouse is presented with delicious humor by this father/son team. Mr. Howard Maxwell, a dapper, pompous feline, lunches daily on baked mouse at the stuffy Paw and Claw restaurant, but today is different. Promoted to Vice Manager of Efficiency Control at Taylor, Bentwell and Nipson, he celebrates by ordering raw mouse instead. The entrée arrives "stretched out on a single slice of rye toast as if sunning itself on a sandy beach" and proceeds to engage its prospective nemesis in conversation, a wily plan to escape its fate. Mr. Maxwell falls into the trap, is tricked into cutting into his own tail, and the mouse gets away, freeing the other mice awaiting consumption and creating mayhem in the restaurant as well. Recuperating in the hospital, Mr. Maxwell receives a note that reads, in part: "I'm sure you would have taken similar measures had you found yourself in my position … I bear you no ill will and can only imagine that you feel the same." Readers will relish the formal language as a tongue-in-cheek counterpoint to a very funny, if macabre, story. In keeping with the black humor, dark but lush illustrations, rendered in Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter, depict an Edwardian setting with the staid, elegant restaurant interior just begging to be thrown into chaos. White text against glossy black panels perfectly suits the mood, and atop his mustard brown toast the little white mouse glows with cleverness. A truly scrumptious treat. (2)

Suggested Activities


Play "Restaurant" with a twist. Have a box of animal masks; after picking a mask, the reader playing "Mr. Maxwell" has to order accordingly.


Other Citations


(1) "MR. MAXWELL'S MOUSE (Book)." Kirkus Reviews 72.16 (2004): 802. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 30 Sept. 2010.


(2) Orlando, Marie. "Mr. Maxwell's Mouse (Book)." School Library Journal 50.9 (2004): 154. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 30 Sept. 2010.

Module 4: When You Reach Me

Full Citation


Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb, 2009. Print.


Summary 


It's 1978, and twelve year old Miranda is dealing with a few issues. Her best friend Sal has been totally avoiding her since he was mysteriously punched, there's a mysterious "laughing man" hanging around, and to top it off, she starts receiving mysterious notes that seem to be written from the future. As the note-writer implores her to tell him/her everything about her sixth grade year, Miranda talks about her family (her mother's getting ready to go on the $20,000 Pyramid), her friends (her issues with Sal as well as her new friends Annemarie and Colin), and her school life.


My Impressions


This is a book that definitely requires multiple readings. The first time I read it, I was so caught up in the central mystery that I missed the greater theme of a girl growing up and learning that people aren't always what they seem. Stead puts in lots of great detail of the era, such as the $20,000 Pyramid as well as Miranda's favorite book (and fellow Newbery winner!) A Wrinkle in Time. 

What Other Reviewers Said

Gr 5-8-Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. When she receives a series of enigmatic notes that claim to want to save her life, she comes to believe that they are from someone who knows the future. Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls "the laughing man" and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics. Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets-in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers. (1)

A science-fiction tale firmly rooted in reality, When You Reach Me is the written correspondence between Miranda, a latchkey kid growing up in New York City during the 1970s, and the time traveler she has yet to meet. In order to prevent a tragedy Miranda must tell the truth about her sixth-grade year. "You won't be yourself when you reach me," Miranda writes to the mysterious stranger, "but you will get the job done." Rebecca Stead successfully reveals two important portals to the future--time travel and preadolescence. "It's kind of a special time," says Stead, when kids realize, "life is so much more complicated than I thought--and it's not all about me." Like the heroine of her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, Miranda struggles just as much with immaturity as she does with the laws of physics. With issues ranging from her mom's embarrassing wardrobe to her sudden estrangement from her friend Sal, Miranda learns that growing apart is part of growing up. "A lot of my strongest memories about friendship come from the making and the breaking and the discovering," says Stead. Like all preadolescents, she said, Miranda discovers the "ability to look at people from a slightly wiser point of view." (Ages 10-14) (2)

Suggested Activities


Have kids discuss other favorite books, movies, and TV shows that feature time travel. How are they alike? How are they different?

Other Citations

(1) Augusta, Caitlin. "When You Reach Me." School Library Journal 55.7 (2009): 93. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.

(2) "When You Reach Me." Kirkus Reviews 77.22 (2009): 16. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.

Module 4: The Wheel on the School

Full Citation


DeJong Meindert. The Wheel on the School. New York: Harper, 1954. Print.

Summary


For years, migrating storks have avoided the roofs of the small Dutch fishing village of Shora, and Lina, the town's only school-girl wonders why. Inspired by her teacher's encouragement and a town elder's stories, Lina and her schoolmates Jella, Auka, Pier, Dirk, and Eelka, begin search for wagon wheel to place on every roof in town for the storks to nest. In the process, they get to know other figures around the town.

My Impressions


The first three or so chapters of this fairly obscure Newbery winner really drew me in. I wasn't really familiar with life in Holland beyond the old legend of the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike, and the book did a really good job of painting a mental picture for me. (Maurice Sendak's brilliant-as-usual illustrations might have also played a role in that.) The story meandered near the end, but still it would make a great pick for young readers because it shows children being resourceful while also learning that there's often more to the adults in their lives than they think.

What Other Reviewers Said

"This is so much more than the story of a group of school children trying to bring storks to their Dutch fishing village on the North Sea. It is a story of people - people everywhere. It is a story of how important people are, irregardless of their age, physical condition, or how they make a living. It encourages us to go beyond what we see on the surface. It shows us that when we help others and care about others, good things will come to us. The children originally wanted to lure storks to their little village because the storks were said to bring good luck. Little did they know that storks would send good fortune ahead in the form of new-found friendships, help for others, and a community that came closer together than it had been before. Miendert DeJong does a masterful job of telling the story and providing strategically planted links as the events take place and unfold. I am an elementary teacher in Cabarrus County, NC. I have read this book to my children each year for many years. When I ask my new class if anyone has heard of the book, no one raises a hand. By the time we finish, the children feel like they have been right there with Lina and the boys. They have also grown to realize that Janus was far from being the mean old man that they met at the beginning. They realize that he just needed to be needed. Each time I read the book, I see more and I learn more. Don't read this story just once. You will be walking over a hidden treasure." (1)

"Frankly, the book didn't sound very interesting when I finally managed to get the title right. When I picked it up, though, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was illustrated by Maurice Sendak, and that the wheel in the book goes on top of the school to attract storks. Storks are definitely more interesting (to me, anyway) than schoolbuses - which are no where to be found in this book, my mind just sticks wheels and buses together because of the preschool song - the wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, ad nauseum. Anyway, I found The Wheel on the School a gentle and interesting if not overly exciting read. It reminded me a bit of Roller Skates in this respect - and like Roller Skates, DeJong's story does an excellent job of portraying a community of interesting characters and a time and place that is unfamiliar to most of us.... For kids (and adults) that have the patience for this story - it is a bit long, especially compared to some of the other winners - there is a lot to enjoy. DeJong shows a fine understanding of environmental relationships (and how cool would it be to have storks on your roof?), community and family interactions, and how kids think. I'm glad I read The Wheel on the School, and I wouldn't mind reading some of DeJong's other books - a couple of the others won Newbery Honors, and several more are also illustrated by Sendak." (2)

Suggested Activities


Have children work together in groups of four to six to identify a problem in their own community, then have them do a creative project (like a picture or a diorama) to illustrate what their solution to the problem would be. It can be a real problem with realistic solutions, or totally silly, just as long as they are showing creative and critical thinking.

Other Citations


(1) "Each Time I Read This Book, I Love It More." Rev. of The Wheel on the School. Amazon.com. 7 Sept. 1999. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. <http://www.amazon.com/Wheel-School-Meindert-Dejong/dp/0064400212>.


(2) D., Sandy. "The Wheel on the School." Rev. of The Wheel on the School. Web log post. The Newbery Project. 31 Mar. 2008. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. <http://newberryproject.blogspot.com/2008/03/wheel-on-school_31.html>.

Module 3: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Full Citation


Taback, Simms. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat. New York: Scholastic, 2000. Print.


Summary


Joseph, a Jewish man living in early 20th century Poland, notices that his overcoat is getting worn, so he uses the material and makes a vest. When the vest gets worn, he takes that and makes a scarf. When that gets worn... find out for yourself!

My Impressions


My first impression when I opened the book was "The book is damaged!" Then I realized it was just part of the story; the overcoat becomes a vest through specially cut holes in the pages. This is just one example of the cleverness that went into this book. If you don't take time to check out the illustrations in this Caldecott winner, you'll be missing half of the fun. Taback adds little details to each page through his drawings as well as some photographs. The story itself, based on an old Yiddish folk song, is simple and memorable for any little kid. It's definitely one to enjoy over and over.


What Other Reviewers Said


As in his Caldecott Honor book, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, Taback's inventive use of die-cut pages shows off his signature artwork, here newly created for his 1977 adaptation of a Yiddish folk song. This diverting, sequential story unravels as swiftly as the threads of Joseph's well-loved, patch-covered plaid coat. A flip of the page allows children to peek through to subsequent spreads as Joseph's tailoring produces items of decreasing size. The author puts a droll spin on his narrative when Joseph loses the last remnant of the coat button and decides to make a book about it. "Which shows... you can always make something out of nothing," writes Taback, who wryly slips himself into his story by depicting Joseph creating a dummy for the book that readers are holding. Still, it's the bustling mixed-media artwork, highlighted by the strategically placed die-cuts, that steals the show. Taback works into his folk art a menagerie of wide-eyed animals witnessing the overcoat's transformation, miniature photographs superimposed on paintings and some clever asides reproduced in small print (a wall hanging declares, "Better to have an ugly patch than a beautiful hole"; a newspaper headline announces, "Fiddler on Roof Falls off Roof"). With its effective repetition and an abundance of visual humor, this is tailor-made for reading aloud. All ages. (1)


"Joseph had a little overcoat. It was old and worn. So he made a jacket out of it and went to the fair." So begins this adaptation of a Yiddish folk song (a newly illustrated version of a book Taback first did in 1977). The text is simple to the point of prosaicness — nowhere near as inventive and jazzy as the illustrator's riff on There Was an Old lady Who Swallowed a Fly — but the art sings with color and movement and humor and personality. Taback employs die-cuts with the same effectiveness and cleverness as he did in There Was an Old Lady to tell the story of resourceful Joseph, a farmer/tailor of Yehupetz, Poland, who recycles his worn overcoat into ever-smaller elements (jacket, vest, scarf, tie, handkerchief, and button). Taback incorporates detail after detail of Jewish life — the Yiddish newspaper the Morning Freiheit; references to Sholom Aleichem and other writers and philosophers; Yiddish proverbs and Chelm stories — to create a veritable pageant of pre-WWII Jewish-Polish life. (In fact, the book is as much a tribute to a vanished way of life as it is a story, but the tribute only enriches the tale.) Broad comedy plays an important part of the pageant: Joseph looks so unhappy and gets such expressively reproachful looks from his animals when his garments become "old and worn"; in contrast, he is all smiles when, each time, he makes something new out of the old. (The exceptionally clever cover design — which incorporates die-cuts to show first a distressingly full-of-holes and then a jauntily patched overcoat — echoes this satisfying pattern.) Double-page spreads employ a mixture of painting and collage to somewhat surreal but delightful effect, such as the one in which Joseph is standing in a field covered with photographs of fruits and vegetables of every kind, from watermelons to jalapeno peppers. In the end, Joseph loses his button, his last bit of overcoat; left with nothing, he makes one more item — this book. Don't you lose it: clever, visually engrossing, poignant, it's worth holding on to. (2)


Suggested Activities 


Have kids think of their own examples of things old and seemingly worthless that can be used again. They can make a book out of their own drawings or magazine clippings illustrating just how far they can go to make "something out of nothing."

Other Citations


(1) Rev. of "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat." Publisher's Weekly. "Amazon.com: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (Caldecott Medal Book) (9780670878550): Simms Taback: Books." Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & More. Web. 13 Sept. 2010. <http://tinyurl.com/2a4lj8e>.

(2) Parravano, Martha V. "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat." Horn Book Magazine 76.1 (2000): 68-69. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 12 Sept. 2010.