Practically Paradise

Robert Sabuda – winner of Sydney Taylor Book Award visits Practically Paradise

Practically Paradise — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:25:52 +0000

Artist Robert Sabuda joins us in Practically Paradise today. Robert Sabuda and Michael J. Rosen’s pop-up creation extraordinaire (AKA book) Chanukah Lights is the 2012 Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards, Younger Readers category. Have you had a chance to hold this book in your hands? If not, be sure to view this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2SKhAIh7J8&feature=colike

The Sydney Taylor Book Awards were announced at the mid-winter meeting of the School, Synagogue and Community Center Division of the Association

of Jewish Libraries. The Sydney Taylor Book Award honors new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. The award memorializes Sydney Taylor, author of the classic All- of-a-Kind Family series. The winners will receive their awards at the Association of Jewish Libraries convention in Pasadena, California this June.

Candlewick Press, 2011. Ages: 4-8 (and up!) ISBN: 978-0763655334 Publisher’s description:

From a pop-up master and an acclaimed poet and author comes a glorious celebration of the true spirit of Chanukah. Inspired by Michael J. Rosen’s reverent poem, Robert Sabuda’s striking pop-ups depict each night’s menorah in a different scene, using imagery such as desert tents, pushcart lanterns, olive trees, and a final panorama of skyscrapers. Sure to be a treasured family heirloom, this stunning collaboration showcases the spirit and resilience of a people in search of home.

In the press release Barbara Bietz, Chair of the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee, said: “From the shtetl to skyscrapers, the white pop-up scenes against a background of deep rainbow colors illuminate Jewish life for the eight nights of Chanukah. Together, children and adults will marvel at the stunning scenes that magically unfold with each turn of the page.”

More information about the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour can be found at The People of the Books blog (the Association of Jewish Libraries blog). Today, Michael Rosen is being interviewed by Liz Burns. In the interview with Michael Rosen, the comment is made that “in no uncertain terms Robert told me that he was not designing a pop-up of a family standing around candles, or opening presents.”

Diane: Tell us what messages you did want to send families as they shared this book. Historically you researched “place” for Chanukah Lights, what’s the backstory in your selection of scenes?

RS: I’ve always loved history, so any book that uses history to excite, explore or educate makes me happy! Hopefully the readers of Chanukah Lights, both young and grown-up will agree. The selection of scenes was a fluid, thoughtful process that took place over a period of months with the author Michael J. Rosen. I’ve known Michael for a long time and we are very attuned to each other’s creative processes. He would suggest some “places” to explore and then I would expand on them. I remember him mentioning Jews in search of new homes crossing the ocean and immediately realized that a “place” could be the ship carrying them.

Diane: Pop-ups are not the only technique you’ve used to illustrate. In 2007, I wrote about your illustrative techniques of stained glass in your version of Arthur and the Sword; however, you have been called the Prince of Pop-Up’s and the master of all Paper Engineers. Could you explain to readers how your design team works together to create the visual experience of your pop-ups?

RS: Of course any book for young readers begins with the story or manuscript and it’s the same for a pop-up book. But unlike a picture book, with a pop-up book I never sketch out what the pop-ups will look like. I have to start designing them right away in 3-dimensions. I dive right in! Cutting and folding the paper to try and create a visually exciting experience.

Diane: How many people do you involve in your research?

RS: For a book like Chanukah Lights my main research came from the author Michael J. Rosen! Since I’m not Jewish, Michael made me aware of the subtleties, complexities and joy of one of the world’s oldest religious faiths. It was very important to him that the book be about the joy of a community spreading it’s wings and taking flight around the world and establishing roots. The visual work is (usually) not too difficult for me, but I wanted to make sure that I got the historical essence right.

Diane: How do you decide what project interests you?

RS: That is the $64,000 question! Sometimes I have an idea that’s been percolating for a very long time and who knows if I’ll ever get around to it? Then other times the stars seem to align, like with this book, and everything falls in place. I know the author, the subject is exciting and the publisher is willing to try something new for a very traditional subject.

Diane: Each of your pop-up books has a page that moves uniquely and captures readers so dramatically, that they gasp with surprise and delight. The ship emerging from the pages of Chanukah Lights is one such page. Do you find yourself favoring one page over another while you are creating?

RS: Not really. Some pages just seem to naturally develop the way I envision them (since I have been doing this for a long time) but then others are very challenging. I never really know which pop-ups will be easy to create and which ones will be troublesome!

Diane: Do you envision one such page first and develop the rest of your pages around this?

RS: No, I tend to envision designing the book like it’s a movie. I want to create a strong beginning, some powerful moments in the middle and then a big ending. All within 8 pages! My mother was a dance teacher when I was a boy so I think that has influenced my working process. Sometimes I feel like the pages are a stage and it’s my job to create a fantastic show on it!

Diane: How much does the “wow” factor matter?

RS: In a pop-up book the “wow” factor matters a lot. I don’t have 32 pages, like in a picture book, to transport my reader to a new place. I have to get it done a lot quicker with so few pages. A pop-up book is really a book filled with magic. The tricks don’t have to be big, but they do need to make you say “wow!”

Diane: Which page is your wow page in Chanukah Lights?

RS: I don’t like to pick out individual pages in my books. It’s almost like saying a parent saying they have a favorite child! But there are times when I’m so happy that a pop-up I’ve worked on for a long time actually functions, to me that IS magic. In Chanukah Lights that would be the ship which was extremely difficult to design.

Diane: Years ago at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians conference, you shared about people in Ecuador (I believe) assembling your pop-up’s. I was impressed with the need for every pop-up page to close and the amount of testing or engineering of the design. We sat in the hotel lounge (taking medicinal cognac for my sore throat) and chatting about your pop-up collection and the beauty and simplicity of a single white paper being folded and used for pop-ups. I shared how my youngest son created his own pop-up books and marionettes based upon the the way he saw your books move.

I still love your book Cookie Count and share it with my students. Your gingerbread house and the twirling cookies still excite me every year when I open to read and count. My students cannot afford to collect pop-up books, so I bring in my collection. Do you have any suggestions for librarians who want to share pop-up books with students?

RS: When I first started making pop-up books librarians would come to my book signing and tell me how much they enjoyed my books but that they could not circulate them in their own collections. It made me sad at the time but things have changed since then. Many librarians started using my books at story time, especially Cookie Count, and decided that they would find a way to make them accessible to their readers. Some keep them behind their desks for specific readers they know will enjoy them and some actually just circulate them knowing (thankfully) that if the book gets loved to tears they can justify getting a new one.

Diane: Interviews with Robert Sabuda can be found all over the internet.* If fact, there is so much openly shared, what new secrets can we uncover about your vision, creative drive, and hopes for the future?

RS: Wow, my vision? I’m just putting one creative foot in front of the other and hoping that each book works out! I don’t have a grand plan, really. I’m just so grateful to be able to create something I love and have it shared with the rest of the world. I don’t think I could ever stop being a book maker even when I’m really old.

Diane: What are you working on now?

RS: I’ve just finished Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid which will be published in October 2012. And I’m off to India in May (for the second time) for the India Book Festival!

I read in Hadassah Magazine that “Chanukah Lights is created with 201 pieces of paper, 647 folds, and 392 dots of glue—in 187 minutes! ” AMAZING!

Thank you for participating. Chanukah Lights is a beautiful heirloom title and I’m happy that I can share in the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour to tell others about it.

Interviews and Internet Links:

These two questions were thought of after I’d emailed Robert again on Tuesday. I’ll update answers if I get a response. Thanks. Diane

Diane: Do you ever participate in SKYPE sessions to schools?

RS: Unfortunately my schedule only allows me to do conferences or large scale book events.

Diane: The FAQ on the RobertSabuda.com website mentions you are too busy to accept ideas of pop-up books. I wonder if you know of any Asian artists who might create a pop-up book conveying the movement and excitement of the Asian festivals like Dragon Boat Racing, Chinese New Year, Diwali, etc.? Have you ever experienced Chinese New Year and the lion dance? Unfortunately I can’t visualize a way to convey the smoke arising from the thousands of firecrackers, but it would be fun.

RS: As far as an Asian paper engineer goes, Sam Ida is your man! You can easily do a quick google search on him.

Science Fiction loses author John Christopher

Practically Paradise — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:56:31 +0000

Rest In Peace John Christopher (Christopher Samuel Youd). Christopher’s series, The Tripods, was a popular pick for me to put in students’ hands for three decades to introduce them to science fiction. My students loved his work. Although the Tripods trilogy was released in the 60’s, I didn’t discover the series until the prequel was released in 1988.

As a new school librarian, in 1989 I faced my first challenge when 5th grade teacher Carl asked me to pull a number of science-fiction titles to introduce to his students. He mentioned to me that these might turn his students into avid readers of science-fiction, or might cement in their minds that reading was boring. What pressure?! As I searched, I discovered the prequel and the trilogy. Success! I remember students writing to me years later about their love of reading, especially science fiction and fantasy.

Sheila Ruth has reposted her reviews of John Christopher’s books on her blog Wands and Worlds: Fantasy and Science Fiction for Children and Teens http://www.WandsAndWorlds.com

Here’s the Tor obituary: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/02/john-christopher-1922-2012

Gail Gauthier’s tribute to John Christopher can be found at http://blog.gailgauthier.com

Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal

Practically Paradise — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:08:08 +0000

I almost missed this book while I was in such a hurry to get outside and enjoy the sunshine and 65 degree temps in Tennessee. Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal has appealing illustrations created using charcoal on paper and digital collage. Unusually for me, I didn’t care as much about the story as I did for its instructional applicability. What? Yes, this story does have a family journeying into the great outdoors on a camping trip and exploring nature and it’s a sweet story.

BUT…. the best part is the author’s use of a huge number of prepositions and verbs. I was so impressed with the variety of prepositions that I had to run upstairs to the fourth grade hallway and show my teachers. Prepositions in action. Descriptive Phrases! In a story. Ms Anne D. my High School English teacher would have loved this author. Hmm? Maybe I need to get outside more myself?

The Book Faerie reviews Into the Outdoors at Journey of a Bookseller and warns the reader that not all outdoor animals (like bears) are our friends.

Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore describes Into the Outdoors.

Kirkus Reviews says Into the Outdoors is “An effervescent celebration of an overnight camping trip, with all the prepositions highlighted.”

Cindy Mitchell (or was it C. Peterson) writes on Kiss the Book “Great illustrations and a simple text that expresses a love for the outdoors.”

Joshua Whiting on the Granite Media page notes “The fun perspective changes and unwritten visual counterpoint of the bear, fox, and other creatures participating in the outdoor adventure will send young readers looking in the illustrations for more details. This is a deceptively simple book that rewards careful attention and repeated readings /viewings, and makes this reader want to go on a family adventure in the wild.” Aha! I totally missed that part about the perspective. Good call, Joshua!

I’d describe the illustrations, but I believe Sal does it so well in this review on Sal’s Fiction Addition:

“There is so much to see and appreciate about the charcoal on paper artwork, with the artist’s addition of collage elements. My eyes darted from one delightful image to the next. I know that young readers will do the same. Her use of light is inspiring and nowhere better than in the gentle glow of the night lantern that radiates from the tent in the forest’s darkness. “

Want your own copy? Be sure to order from Random House / Alfred A. Knopf ISBN: 978-0-375-96958-4

Have you ever seen this fine print on the verso page? “Random House Children’s Books supports the First Amendment and celebrates the right to read.” WOW, Random House Children’s Books, you are a supporter of intellectual freedom and I tip my hat to you.

Nonfiction Monday on Tuesday iScience

Practically Paradise — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:03:52 +0000

I’m so fortunate to have some of Norwood House new iScience titles in our collection. They demonstrate the scientific inquiry method in complex ways but are easily understood by students. In fact, I find the students understand the titles better than the teachers and are willing to listen to each read aloud. The students don’t care whether the title is on level A, B, or C.

Perhaps this is because the students come to books with the unfailing belief in their own ability to understand and learn; they do not limit themselves. Teachers on the other hand often glance at the amount of text and dismiss titles without trying them. They’ll say “That’s too hard for my kids.” I urge all librarians and teachers to try these titles out with students and see the “wicked-cool” results.

“Wicked-cool” was the phrase a small group of third graders used after we read togetherPatterns and Textures: Who Took The Pets? by Emily Sohn and Laura Townsend. The A.R. level of this title is 3.9, but the vocabulary is science-rich, innovative, and necessary to promote growth. I’m tired of sharing only stories written to the lowest vocabulary level. We need to read more titles to our students that include words like parallel venation, pinnate venation, and palmate venation. Why? Because good authors can incorporate these into the text so students comprehend the meaning.

Using accurate language and allowing students to expand their frameworks is key to growth. The iScience books appear to answer the demands of the educators behind the call for common core standards. The titles stretch students and give them something to strive to learn more about to succeed. These titles provide a wide variety of facts and data while attempting to solve a scientific problem. When a problem is presented, possible solutions or theories are considered.

Throughout the narrative, the problem is interwoven. As new facts are considered and the science behind their inclusion is explained, these facts are related back to the problem and the three theories. In the end each theory is reviewed with the eliminating evidence presented. After the correct theory is identified, the processes used to gather evidence is extended and connected with a student’s real life.

Aspects of the book which appeal to me include the historical scientific references, the information on scientists at work and their careers, and the real-life applications to students’ lives. While some teachers may be overwhelmed at the variety and diversity of facts presented, students are able to sift through the facts to link the vital evidence to the theories presented.

For librarians who are teaching how to focus on information and to eliminate irrelevant facts, these books present a challenge. The concept of sorting through a wide-variety of facts is important, but seldom taught as educators try to focus instruction and remove distractions. Students sort through red herrings and extraneous information every time they turn on the television, chat with their friends, and play video games. They can handle these challenges.

Today I was chatting with the resident scientist at our school and her colleagues with the Vanderbilt University Scientist in Residence program. Our STEM school benefits from four different scientists who each spend one day a week in our school. Each scientist works with a different grade level. All of these scientists help demonstrate lessons, activities, and experiments with the students and for the teachers’ benefit. These lessons are clever, intricate, and scientifically accurate. They expand our curriculum. They are connected to our scientist’s fields of study. And, they will hopefully enable the teachers to create more rigorous and involved lessons.

The sad problem we face is reaching teachers so we can integrate science and information science with classroom instruction. Our resident scientist and I are ready to help – in fact, we are desperate to seize any opportunity to collaborate with teachers. I’m grateful that publishers like Norwood House Press are creating innovative titles to help us. They even provide teaching guides that include complex questions to meet the demanding lesson plan structures we teachers face in this day of Race to The Top. Thank you, Norwood House Press.

EARACHES and Head-to-Toe Health by Elaine Landau

Practically Paradise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:11:01 +0000

“Mommy, my ear hurts!” I swear as a parent and having been a child that those are the worst words to hear or utter. My poor parents dealt with my 7 ear surgeries and procedures since it was discovered I could barely hear in second grade. My poor mother had to put in ear drops that caused such excruciating pain that I’d scream, and we’d both shake and cry. No wonder I raced my boys to the doctor at their slightest wince or tilt of the head. A statement like “Mommy, my ear hurts!” meant I was booking the first available doctor’s appointment.

When I saw the book Earaches in a review box, I quickly snatched it up. It reads clearly and explains the basic facts of earaches including their causes, prevention, and treatment. The information in the back matter is exceptionally good and I’ll be including the “Find Out More” section in lessons for my older students.

The only aspect I questioned was the paragraph explaining the reason some doctors wait to treat ear infections. Some doctors “want to see if the body can defeat the infection on its own. This is known as the WASP (wait-and-see period).”

I believe Landau’s research, but I disagree with the doctors on WASP. My body does not fight infections well. If I develop an ear infection, it can take 3-4 months to clear. My father fares the same. Even with my sons it took several prescriptions to battle some of their ear infections. The first doctor who advised waiting, admitted a week later with my oldest son that waiting was a terrible decision and could have resulted in permanent hearing loss. While I understand the theory that infections are becoming resistant to antibiotics, I know how terrible ear infections feel especially when the ear drum ruptures. The pain is terrible and cannot be relieved. As a parent I learned to be persistent in getting treatment.

When I was growing up, there were no books in my library about earaches. I knew of very few people who had tubes in their ears. None of my friends spent time driving throughout Iowa to wait in churches for mobile clinics to test their hearing and to decide if they’d face another surgery in Iowa City (six hours away).

Even my teachers were clueless. I can remember my basketball coach demanding I run 10 laps for every day of basketball practice I’d missed while out having surgery. I was still weak and dizzy plus I thought it was unfair and I refused to run the laps. This coach tormented me, even dragging me out of class to demand that I show up and run because it was a team rule. My father had to intervene to force the coach to leave me alone. Quite traumatic and I still crusade for those suffering from ear problems. I admit I quit the team after that season.

Marshall Cavendish Benchmark books wisely chose Elaine Landau to write their series of books for Head-to-Toe Health. Often when I pick up a nonfiction title that reads clearly and is popular with students, I look to see who the author is and discover… Elaine Landau. Be sure to check out Elaine Landau’s website at http://www.elainelandau.com/home/. She describes how she writes:

“I write nonfiction children’s books – lots of them. The subjects I’ve researched range from Siamese fighting fish to the legal rights of minors. But all the books have one thing in common – they are written to connect with you – the reader. To share a thought, some information I’ve found, or offer a new way of looking at something.”

She is the author of over 300 titles (according to Balkin Buddies) and she has written some of my favorite nonfiction series including but not limited to:

The Best Cats Ever (Lerner Publishing) — made me want to get a RagDoll cat!
The Best Dogs Ever! (Lerner Publishing) — including Cocker Spaniels Are the Best! which is dedicated to me! Whoop! Whoop!
Animals of the Snow and Ice (Enslow Publishers) — love the Beluga Whales title!
What Would You Do? (Enslow Publishers) — which I reviewed
Planet Books (Scholastic Library Publishing) — including Beyond Pluto
Animals After Dark (Enslow Books) – including my favorite Big Cats: Hunters of the Night
My Favorite Horses (Lerner Books) — OOPS! Where are the Tennessee Walking Horses? Hmm?!
I Like Holidays (Enslow) — What is Veteran’s Day? should be on all our shelves
many True Books, Cornerstones of Freedom, etc. and even stand-alone titles like Oil Spill! Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico (Millbrook)

Authors and Librarians who craft

Practically Paradise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:22:38 +0000

There are librarians and authors at conferences who sew. Before ALA Midwinter I read an interview of one of my favorite local Nashville authors – Tracy Barrett on DestiKNITions: The First-Ever Edition of Authors Who Knit. I followed the conversation on Midsouth_Authors of “Authors, Fiber Arts and PBs”.

Tracy Barrett had mentioned her favorite store was the Haus of Yarn so I researched it on the web in the car while Ken drove us to ALA Midwinter. I looked up and saw the exit for “White Bridge Road” and screamed, exit here. Then we made a quick sidetrip so I could tour the store and ask questions of the owners. I had no idea that several Nashville schools have knitting clubs beginning with fingerknitting in grades PreK-1 and true knitting in second grade. This is something I need to explore more. I loved the store and was amazed at the quality of yarns available.

I also found one title remaining in the store of Freddie’s Blanket. I can’t wait for a child to gift this. The author has also written Phoebe’s Sweater. Each title includes the patterns and is meant to be treasured. The owners suggested several other titles they have available and were willing to ship yarn anywhere.

The publisher’s description of Freddie’s Blanket reads: This beautifully illustrated knitting picture book tells the story of Freddie, a young platypus, who has an important lesson to learn about growing up. Join Freddie and his family as he learns that his own big bed might just be the best place to sleep after all! This charming book includes a lovely set of photographs and knitting patterns from the illustrated story, including: Freddie’s Blanket, Freddie Platypus and his sister May, Freddie’s Coveralls, and a baby swaddling blanket. This book is an heirloom gift for any child, especially one who is special in the life of a knitter.

Thanks to the posters on the Midsouth Authors Yahoo Group, I gained other title suggestions:

Irene Latham’s Leaving Gee’s Bend is about a little girl who is sewing a quilt. She collects pieces for it throughout the story, so that the quilt represents herself. When it’s finished, Irene gives it to her mother.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen is about a little girl who uses a box with a large amount of yarn to cheer up her neighborhood.

While I was at ALA Midwinter, I discovered everyday at 3p.m. the Networking Uncommons hosted a crafts session. Sunday’s focused on yarn crafts like knitting and crocheting. I spoke to every librarian I saw knitting and crocheting during committee meetings, programs, and council sessions to tell them about these sessions. I can still recall the first time I sat beside Nann Blaine Hilyard during meetings while she sewed. I was even brave enough to take out my crochet during council and was able to listen better than ever as my hands were busy and I could focus.

I’m curious how many of you enjoy sewing during meetings. Tracy Barrett mentions feeling ashamed of her love of knitting and sewing during her childhood in an email and allowed me to quote her below:

I saw a series of picture books at the knit shop I use in Nashville (Haus of Yarn) where a knitting project is part of the plot, and instructions for the project are at the end of the book. It looked like a fun way to get kids into it–although I’ve often found kids so intrigued by knitting that I don’t think it would be hard to get them interested. They come up to me at airports and other places and ask me what I’m doing and often want to try!

It infuriates me how often it’s assumed that the only way a girl can be an interesting character is if she rejects all the traditional female activities–activities that were crucial for survival, but since they were done primarily by women, were (and still are) disparaged. I was quite a tomboy who felt ashamed of my love of knitting and sewing (and cooking).

When it’s relevant, I always make sure that my female protagonists are good at and proud of their skill in embroidery (Anna of Byzantium), spinning (Dark of the Moon), or weaving (King of Ithaka–sidekick, not main character). Someday I’m going to write a book about a boy who says, “I don’t want to be a knight–I want to weave!”

Would you be the 25,000th signature on the petition?

Practically Paradise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:00:50 +0000

A week ago I was feeling frustrated at the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Everywhere I went information was shared about the White House petition for school libraries begun by AASL president Carl Harvey. With nearly 10,000 librarians and vendors at the Meeting signing, we were still short of the 25,000 needed. With 60,000 members of ALA, why wasn’t this accomplished with the first emailing? Where was the support of all types of libraries?

Well, the numbers are slowly rising. We have over 20,000 signatures and need less than 5,000 to reach our goal and put this visibly on the president’s desk. You may have seen the pleas and thought you’d wait or get back to it. Now is the time.You could be the one to push us to that vital number. Or…. you could share the URL with others and be responsible for those numbers shooting up.

The cause is worthy and should be supported by everyone. Even students 13 years and older can sign. Take a moment to do your part in gathering signatures. Reach out to 5 people first thing Monday morning and help them sign the petition. Ask your teachers, administration, PTO, and community to join with you.

I made my pleas on facebook for my birthday this past week and was surprised how willing my friends and family were to support school libraries. Make the ask! I also messaged quite a few of my friends individually and asked them to sign. Within moments they returned with the message “I signed!” That was the best birthday present because it showed they respected what we do and our passion to our students and our profession.

If you had trouble accessing and getting logged in to sign, don’t give up. Try again. The petition software is “temperamental”. In fact, if I were a conspiracy theorist, I’d say it was deliberately difficult to discourage signees of ANY petition. If you cannot sign in on your first attempt, please log out and log back in. Or, try a different web browser, or as a last resort, try a different computer. I had to use a different email address to make mine work.

http://wh.gov/Wgd is the link. Will your name be on the petition?

Creativity, Illustrations, and Fibers

Practically Paradise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:35:55 +0000

I love yarn and craft projects. I love to crochet most of all but have also knitted, latch-hooked, done macrame, basket-weaved, huckweaved, stained glass, copper-foiled, paper-folded, popped-up, and more. Dinah Zike and Robert Sabuda are my paper idols. Each year during winter, I find a way to integrate my love of crafts with students.

My sons have learned various stages of sewing and I enjoy sharing my love of crochet with my students. Crochet becomes “super cool” when I announce my sons have sewn fishing nets before. Crochet hooks are cheap and yarn is plentiful.

My students love origami and my youngest son used paper and string to create his own marionettes. Three-dimensional art and fiber art are exciting.

While packing for the ALA Midwinter Meeting and anticipating who will win the Caldecott Award (among others), I have been teaching students about various forms of artistic expression. We’ve discussed the ways authors illustrate books, but I wanted to do a lesson that extended the creative interests of students for their personal interests, to communicate, and to solve problems. Below are some titles I shared with them:

Wild Rose’s Weaving by Ginger Churchill Illustrated by Nicole Wong Tanglewood Press www.tanglewoodbooks.com

While Rose plays in a storm and enjoys the beauty of nature, her grandmother attempts to teach her how to weave nature into a rug. “Publisher states: Just as the grandmother teaches Rose to weave the beauty of nature into her rugs, so the author weaves into this story the themes of creativity, the interplay of art and life, and the important gifts that are handed down through generations of women.” The Kirkus review was not as positive, but students appreciated the introduction to weaving.

Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill and illustrated by Bryan Collier.

For Black History Month, I am delighted to have this title available for my students. It’s a story of persevering and overcoming and inspires.

I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery by Cynthia Grady Illustrated by Michele Wood

This is an unbelievably beautifully illustrated title and collection of poems. Every time I open it, students gasp with pleasure. My art teacher is reading and sharing with her students in preparation for Black History Month, and I’m anxiously waiting to hold it in my hands again.

Eight Hands Round: A Patchwork Alphabet by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by Jeanette Winter.

The cover illustration shows a group of women sitting around a large quilt and stitching together. When I shared with students the idea of a quilting bee and women getting together to sew, they were surprised but then demanded we try to form a club so they could do this. For older students, I’ll share passages from WW1 and WW2 of women getting together to sew socks, baby blankets, etc. for the needy.

Speaking of Art: Colorful Quotes by Famous Painters edited by Bob Raczka Millbrook Press, 2010.

Students chimed in whenever they recognized who the artist was and shared their feelings about the paintings with their neighbor.

The Knitting of Elizabeth Amelia by Patricia Lee Gauch and illustrated by Barbara Lavalle

Elizabeth Amelia, a knitted wool woman, marries and begins to knit children from strands of herself until she almost disappears. Her husband James Elmer saves her by stopping her from completely giving everything of herself. Her knitted children run to find new yarn so she can recreate herself and enjoy life. Students related this book to The Giving Tree.

Beginning Knitting: Stitches with Style by Kay Melchisedech Olsen is a Snap book from Capstone Press. Students craved DOING something immediately after the story so chose titles from the complete Crafts series:

Beading,
Knitting,
Book Making & Paper Making,
Candle Making,
Fashion Crafts,
Fingernail Art,
Greeting Card Making,
Origami,
Room Decorating,
Scrapbooking,
Stamping Art,
Valentines.

Looking forward to the Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour

Practically Paradise — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:56:28 +0000

I’m tickled pink! Tickled that Practically Paradise will be part of the 2012 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour. I (with your help) will be interviewing Robert Sabuda for his work illustrating Chanukah Lights on Wednesday February 8th.

You readers know that I have been a long-time fan of Robert Sabuda. I’d like to ask your questions so pretend that you were sitting down with us by a nice cozy fire and tell me what you’d like to ask him. You can email me or leave comments below. Here’s a copy of the announcement and schedule:

The Sydney Taylor Book Award will be celebrating and showcasing its 2012 gold and silver medalists and a few selected Notables with a Blog Tour, February 5-10, 2012! Interviews with winning authors and illustrators will appear on a wide variety of Jewish and kidlit blogs. For those of you who have not yet experienced a Blog Tour, it’s basically a virtual book tour. Instead of going to a library or bookstore to see an author or illustrator speak, you go to a website on or after the advertised date to read an author’s or illustrator’s interview.

Later this spring, we’ll follow up with an episode of Katie Davis’s Brain Burps About Books devoted to the Sydney Taylor Book Award! Below is the schedule for the 2012 Sydney Taylor Book Award Blog Tour. Please follow the links to visit the hosting blogs on or after their tour dates, and be sure to leave them plenty of comments!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2012

Susan Campbell Bartoletti, author of Naamah and the Ark at Night Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category at Ima On & Off the Bima

Holly Meade, illustrator of Naamah and the Ark at Night Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category at Into the Wardrobe

Shelley Sommer, author of Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg, Baseball Pioneer Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category at Great Kid Books

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Marcia Vaughan, author of Irena’s Jar of Secrets Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category at Shelf-Employed

Ron Mazellan, illustrator of Irena’s Jar of Secrets Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category at The Children’s War

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012

Trina Robbins, author of Lily Renee, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer
Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category at Bildungsroman

Anne Timmons (and possibly Mo Oh), illustrators of of Lily Renee, Escape Artist: From Holocaust Survivor to Comic Book Pioneer Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Older Readers Category
at Gathering Books

Morris Gleitzman, author of Then Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Teen Readers Category at The 3 R’s

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012

Michael Rosen, author of Chanukah Lights Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger Readers Category at A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy

Robert Sabuda, illustrator/paper engineer of Chanukah Lights Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Younger Readers Category at Practically Paradise

Susan Goldman Rubin, author of Music Was It: Young Leonard Bernstein Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Older Readers Category at Cynsations

Robert Sharenow, author of The Berlin Boxing Club Sydney Taylor Book Award winner in the Teen Readers Category at Jewish Books for Children

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

Durga Yael Bernhard, author & illustrator of Around the World in One Shabbat Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Younger Readers Category at Frume Sarah’s World

Shirley Vernick, author of The Blood Lie Sydney Taylor Honor Award winner in the Teen Readers Category at The Fourth Musketeer

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Eric Kimmel, author of The Golem’s Latkes Sydney Taylor Notable Book, and winner of the National Jewish Book Award at Ann Koffsky’s Blog

Gloria Spielman, author of Marcel Marceau, Master of Mime Sydney Taylor Notable Book, and finalist for the National Jewish Book Award at Shannon and the Sunshine Band

Richard Michelson, author of Lipman Pike: America’s First Home Run King Sydney Taylor Notable Book, and finalist for the National Jewish Book Award at Blue Thread

Sydney Taylor Award Winners – Wrap-Up All winners, all categories at The Whole Megillah

Consider adding The Inside Story of Track and Field for spring sports & the summer Olympics

Practically Paradise — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:35:13 +0000

Rosen Publishing has a series of Sports World titles that appeal to my students and me. We particularly like The Inside Story of Track and Field by Clive Gifford. One of my fourth grade girls reminded me that we will use this title when we study the Olympics. The beauty of this title is the diversity and depth of coverage of all track and field events. Many competitions around the world are explored including Grand Prix & Golden League events, World Tours, National Championships, The European Championships, Pan-American Games, The Commonwealth Games, The Asian Games, etc. Rather than focus on the problems of the sport (like performance-enhancing drugs), the tone is positive, informational and motivational.

There is a tremendous amount of content and data within these covers making it a prime choice for middle schoolers. I learned about events like the steeplechase and recalled why my coach in eighth grade had me throw the discus. Since I read it takes balance and rhythm, no wonder I could never manage to throw it in the correct direction more than once a day.

The larger typeface and effective design of the text layout makes this accessible for my elementary students. Its a good choice with colorful action shots and I am happy to add this to my collection. Other titles in the series include:

The Inside Story of Motorsports
The Inside Story of Soccer
The Inside Story Of World Cup Soccer