My Name is Not Alexander

We've seen just how big a little girl can dream... now we ask, just how much can a little boy dream?

Fosberry, Jennifer.
My Name is Not Alexander.
March 2011.
Sourcebooks, Incorporated.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

When Alexander is awoken one morning, he suddenly decides he is no longer Alexander. Instead, he makes the day adventurous, through use of his imagination. Throughout the day, Alexander takes on the identity of six various men who left a marked impact at some point throughout history - Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Chief Joseph, Fred Astaire, Jackie Robinson... and of course, we can't leave out Daddy!

Fosberry provides readers with the utmost basic of information - a first name and one simple word or phrase that gives a very broad overview of the role these different men played in history - basic enough that it will allow children to use their "thinking caps" to make inferences (guesses) about what the role they believe these men might have played.

This title could easily be used to get your child/students using their imagination or it could provide the perfect opportunity for a research project! Split your class into groups (or assign each child one of the famous men if you happen to be a homeschooler with just a few children). Once they are split into groups, assign each child one of Alexander's identities. Have children work together to research and then create a report of some sort that showcases the key word that is associated with each. For example, the key word that is used in describing Theodore is president. Encourage children to incorporate that key word into their project in some way! Wish the kiddos I work with were older - this could be a really fun project!!!

Literacy Activity:

• Share this story in collaboration with My Name is Not Isabella.
• Have the boys in the class do the research about the men mentioned in My Name is Not Alexander, while the girls research and report about the women mentioned in My Name is Not Isabella.
• Complete a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two different stories. The Venn Diagram can be downloaded here.
  

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Imaginations at Work!

I've decided to use today for some much needed review catch up! Two great books for you today - both showing the ways in which our imaginations allow us to "run wild"!

Grandits, John.
The Travel Game.
May 18, 2009.
Clarion Books.

Based on Grandits' own life growing up in Buffalo, NY (just a few short hours from me), this book literally takes readers on an adventure! Tad and Aunt Hattie have a standing tradition of breaking out the globe and George P. Smither's 1001 Pictures from Around the World and of course, your imagination! All Tad and Aunt Hattie have to do when they need an escape from the family-run tailoring business is close their eyes, spin the globe, and put your finger down on the globe. Wherever your finger is... that's where they "travel" to. Naturally, they don't actually pack up and head to that location on vacation. Rather, Tad breaks out the trusty atlas and looks up the location of where they've "landed." From there, they learn as much as they can about that city/town!

Love, love, love this book! I could see myself having so much fun "playing" this book, even as an adult! I loved it so much, I went ahead and created a companion activity to be used with the book, so head on over here and download the activity to use with the kids... heck, this might be the perfect summer vacation "getaway" for your family - all you need is the companion activity worksheet, your imagination, a globe, and internet access (I couldn't find a picture atlas that would be conducive to this activity, but if you find one or know of one, please, please, please, let me know!). The book/activity would also be a great "fast finishers" activity in an upper elementary classroom!

Here's what you do.

1. Get out your globe!
2. Either print a copy of the activity page, or save/open the file on the computer (I would suggest this, so you can copy and paste the flag and photos of the location)!
3. Let your child spin the globe and place a finger on it to stop the spinning.
4. Together, or if older children can be trusted alone, using the internet and the activity sheet, take a virtual vacation and find out all that you can!
5. Keep your filled in activity sheet and create your own "Travel Game" book, adding each worksheet to a binder. This will make for a great resource reference for schooling/school projects in the years to come!
   

Also, since the companion activity sheet is a word document, feel free to edit the categories all you like! If they're too complex or not complex enough for the kids, fix 'em up to meet your needs!

Keane, Dave.
Bobby Bramble Loses His Brain.
May 18, 2009.
Clarion Books.

Bobby Bramble is constantly on the move - somersaulting, climbing, bouncing, sliding... you name it, he'll do it for sure! While it's great for a kid to be active, Bobby's activity level is a cause of great concern for his mother... she warns him constantly that fall and crack his head open like Humpty Dumpty. As a carefree child, Bobby takes little heed to her warnings! Then, sure enough... one day, it happens... and when he cracks open his head, we discover that his brain is as active as him! Somehow, the neighbors must all come together to catch his runaway brain before it's too late. I'm not going to give away the ending, but rather leave you in suspense to discover just how much humor is located within the pages of this book!

Children will surely relate to this one (or most of them will, anyways)! However, I highly doubt it will slow down the energetic child... it might actually cause them to be even more daring than they might ordinarily be! This book would be great for story hour at school or the library and would even make a great bedtime story for younger children (4-9)!

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.