Banned Book #6: James and the Giant Peach

Dahl, Roald.
James and the Giant Peach.
1996.
Random House Children's Books.
Guided Reading Level: Q

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

A little magic can take you a long way - When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of marvelous oversized friends — Old Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider, and more. After years of feeling like an outsider in the house of his despicable Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the exciting adventure begins!

Reason(s) for Banning:

• Violence towards adults
  
• Encouragement of children to lead "unhealthy lifestyles"
  

My Thoughts:

• I used this book with a group of 4th grade students in 2005. I can honestly say I have never seen such enthusiasm with a group of 9 and 10- year olds about reading! I created a whole wealth of activities to use in collaboration with the reading and it was a huge success.
  
• The book is written in fantasy styles - readers must expect some aspect of fantasy to take place (violence towards adults as it is portrayed in this novel) - if you discuss the genre with children, as well as the genre characteristics, children will realize that fantasy is just that... (see Elements of Fantasy website)

I can't justify any banning on this book at all... any book that has the power to get children that enthusiastic about reading is worthy of being on a shelf... as long as children understand that fantasy and reality shouldn't be mixed. As a teacher, I know I would be emphasizing that, making this book 100% appropriate in a classroom of [almost] any age group. Parents should also be taking the steps to be sure that children know and understand the types of books they're reading!

Your Job - Share your thoughts on the following topics on this post!

• Should the book be on the banned book list?
  
• Is it okay to be found on a library or book store shelf?
  
• How would you share this book with your child/children?
• If you are not familiar with the book, based on my post and the discussion of others, would you consider allowing your child to read/be read this book? Why? Why not?

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.

American Girls' Debut: Kirsten, Molly, Samantha

On September 15, 1986, the first three American Girl dolls representing different historical periods debuted. They were joined in later years by Add, Felicity, Josefina, and Kit. More than 11 million dolls and 105 million books about them have been sold.
-The Teacher's Calendar, 2008-2009

As a child, I was never introduced to the series of books or the dolls... I feel very deprived! They are wonderful book - so resourceful and the dolls make great companions for young girls. I think each girl should have at least one doll and the book series to go alongside! They would make a great Christmas gift!

Shaw, Janet Beeler.
Meet Kirsten.
American Girl Collection Series: Kirsten #1.
1986.
American Girls Publishing, Incorporated.
Guided Reading Level: Q

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Nine-year-old Kirsten and her family experience many hardships as they travel from Sweden to the Minnesota frontier in 1854.

Kirsten's American Girl series introduces readers to the lifestyles of an American Immigrant. Children will be surprised to learn just how little an immigrant was able to bring of his or her life on their voyage to America. The book does a wonderful job showing the emotions faced by Kirsten, a young immigrant girl, as she makes the voyage to America and begins to settle into her new life. The information found at the back of the book makes the perfect companion to Kirsten's story, as factual information is provided about America in 1854. This is the first of the American Girl series that I have recently decided to add to my collection, and after reading it, you'll see why a teacher would want this on her bookshelf!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities:

• Yarn Doll like Kirsten's
• American Girl Kirsten Lesson Plan
• American Girl Lapbook Templates

Other Books in the Kirsten Series:

• Kirsten 1854: A Teacher's Guide to 6 Books about Pioneer America, Peg Hall
• Welcome to Kirsten's World, 1854: Growing Up in Pioneer America, Susan Sinnott
• Kirsten Learns a Lesson
• Kirsten's Surprise
• Happy Birthday, Kirsten!
• Kirsten Saves the Day
• Changes for Kirsten
  

Tripp, Valerie.
Meet Molly.
American Girl Collection Series: Molly #1.
1986.
American Girls Publishing, Incorporated.
Guided Reading Level: Q

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

World War Two turns Molly's family upside down. While her father is away, war threatens to break out on the McIntires' home front, too.

This book would be the perfect complement for girls when reading and learning about World War II. I really enjoy the historical information that is shared in the American Girl books. In this particular book, we learn about the Victory Gardens (click on the link to learn more!) that were grown during World War II. While it is historical in that children are learning about World War II, it also shows children how other children their age lived during that time period, allowing them to make connections between life then and life now! Very resourceful!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities:

• Meet Molly: Saving, Spending and Opportunity Cost (Money Management)
• Revive the Victory Garden
• Girl of the Year: Molly - Teacher's Guide
• American Girl Homepage: Molly

Other Books in the Molly Series:

• Molly 1944: Teacher's Guide to 6 Books about World War II
• Welcome to Molly's World, 1944: Growing Up in World War II America, Catherine Gourley
  
• Molly Learns a Lesson
• Molly's Surprise
  
• Happy Birthday, Molly!
• Molly Saves the Day
• Changes for Molly
  

Adler, Susan.
Meet Samantha.
American Girls Collection Series: Samantha #1.
1986.
American Girls Publishing, Incorporated.
Guided Reading Level: Q

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

In 1904, nine-year-old Samantha, an orphan living with her wealthy grandmother, and her servant friend Nellie have a midnight adventure when they try to find out what has happened to the seamstress who suddenly left her job.

Samantha, to me, was quite different than Kirsten or Molly... She lived an entirely different lifestyle, which I suppose is important to show, especially when depicting different time periods in American history. Her beginning story was well told however, and the historical background provided at the back of the book enlightens readers to the non-fiction aspect of life during the early 1900's. Another wonderfully written historical fiction work!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities:

• Novel Ideas - Valerie Tripp's Samantha: An American Girl
• All American Girl

Other Books in the Samantha Series:

• Samantha 1904: Teacher's Guide to 6 Books about America's New Century, Roberta Johnson
  
• Welcome to Samantha's World, 1904: Growing Up in America's New Century, Catherine Gourley
• Samantha Learns a Lesson
• Samantha's Surprise
• Happy Birthday, Samantha!
• Samantha Saves the Day
• Changes for Samantha
  

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.

Jon Scieszka's Birthday

Happy 55th Birthday to Jon Scieszka! For many years, children have been enjoying his wonderful works, hopefully you'll enjoy them too (although, I, myself, have mixed thoughts)!

Scieszka, Jon.
Squids Will Be Squids.
1998.
Viking.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

We're all used to hearing fables -- those moral-filled stories about tortoises and hares, and ants and grasshoppers. But fables about skateboarding frogs? Duckbilled platypuses? BeefsnakSticks? Outrageous, you say? After standing fairy tales on their heads in The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and blowing the lid off The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, the enormously popular and highly acclaimed author-and-illustrator team of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith are back. This time they have created contemporary fables that reflect all the bossiness, sneakiness, boastfulness, and silliness of our everyday lives. And the moral of the story? Move over, Aesop, because the world of fables may never be the same.

So... I really just didn't get most of this book... and I while I think kids would find the book funny, I doubt they'd really understand the tales and morals to be taught... Perhaps if there are lesson plans out there that specifically cater to the book and show you how to use the book as a teaching resource, maybe it's playable... Have any of you used this book with children? Did they get the stories, let alone the morals?

I will share with you my favorite of the fables/morals,

he who...
Skunk, Musk Ox, and Cabbage were sitting
around the front porch at Skunk's house.
Slowly but surely,
the porch filled with
a terrible smell.
"Whoa!" said Skunk. "Is that you, Musk Ox?"
Musk Ox shook his shaggy head.
"No way, Skunk. That's Cabbage."
"Uh uh," said Cabbage.
"That's not me."
Musk Ox and Cabbage looked back
at Skunk, who
suddenly became very interested in tying his shoe.
[Moral: He who melt it, dealt it.]

I'm pretty sure kids will get this one... but would you really consider that a moral? I don't know... mixed thoughts on my part!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities:

• Scholastic Squids Will Be Squids Lesson Plan
• Making Traditional Fables Modern
  

Scieszka, Jon.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.
1989.
Penguin Books.
Guided Reading Level: Q

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with the three little pigs.

I've always enjoyed using this story in collaboration with any other version of The 3 Little Pigs, as this one is told from the Wolf's point-of-view and allows children to easily grasp the idea of comparing and contrasting the two stories. What is different? What was the same? I have tended to use this as an introduction with Venn Diagrams as well... gets children organized in comparing and contrasting different events/things. However, there are numerous other activities that can be done with this book as well, making it an almost must have on your bookshelf!

My Other Favorite Versions of The Three Little Pigs to Use as Fractured Fairytales:

• The Three Pigs, David Wiesner
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, Eugene Trivizas
• Three Little Hawaiian Pigs and the Magic Shark, Donivee Laird
• Three Little Cajun Pigs, Mike Artell
• Alaska's Three Pigs, Arlene Laverde

Other Activities:

• Fairy Tale Lessons and Point of View
• Jon Scieszka Fractured Fairytales and Fables
• The True Story of the Three Little Pigs Literature Guide
• Building a Better Home for the Three Little Pigs

Scieszka, Jon.
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.
1992.
Viking.
Guided Reading Level: P

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Wonderfully quirky, this book breathes new life into staid children's stories. In these irreverent variations on well-known themes, the ugly duckling grows up to be an ugly duck, and the princess who kisses the frog wins only a mouthful of amphibian slime.

I hate to say it, but this wasn't one of my favorites either... I really thought I would enjoy the fairytale and folktale books, but I just didn't appreciate them... Do any of you have any experience using these books with children? How did they enjoy them? Did you use the books in an educational manner? Or just as a read aloud? What did you think of the book?

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities

• I Hate to Complain but your Cheese Stinks
• Fractured Tales - The Stinky Cheese Man

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.

Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

Gay and Lesbian Pride Month is observed this month, June 1-30 because on June 28, 1969, the clientele of a gay bar at New York, NY, rioted after the club was raided by the police. President Clinton issued a presidential proclamation for this month in 1999 and 2000.

I know this is a tender topic among many, but I decided to take the leap and feature children's books that make the topic a feature. As more and more states are legalizing same-sex marriages and/or legalizing benefits to same-sex couples, we need to recognize that there are children in the United States that are living with same-sex parents.

If not for your own piece of mind, take into consideration the children growing up in these diverse families... don't they deserve the same respect and understanding as your own? I'm sure that you also agree that your children should be respectful of those who come from different backgrounds than their own, and the only way they can be respectful and appreciative of differences is to expose them to the differences. This is just one way that children can be familiarized with these unique families.

Only two of the books I had ordered for this post came in... I was disappointed with one, Uncle Bobby's Wedding and so, decided to just do a review of And Tango Makes Three. I whole-heartedly love this book and have even ordered a copy of it for myself!

Richardson, Justin and Peter Parnell.
And Tango Makes Three.
2005.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Guided Reading Level: Q

Based on a true story about two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo, And Tango Makes Three is a very sweet story that shows children that it is okay to be accepting of diversity and situations different from your own. That central theme, coupled with the all of the recent legislation regarding same-sex marriages and civil unions, which are making these new family dynamics a reality in many districts, this is definitely a book to include in a classroom library!

We follow different families at the zoo - monkey families, red panda bear families, toad families, toucan families and cotton-top tamarind families and even penguin families. However, one penguin family at the zoo is different than the other families... at an age when the boy penguins typically started to show an interest in the girl penguins, Roy and Silo stand out from the other penguins. Instead of liking girls, these two boy penguins begin showing an interest in each other. We watch as their relationship develops (in child-friendly ways, of course) and as they eventually are able to start a family of their own. Children will be shown to be accepting of these differing families by the positive way in which the public reacts as they stream into the zoo to visit baby Tango and her two daddies, Roy and Silo.

I will definitely share this book with my own children someday. I have a brother who is gay and I want my future children to be very accepting of this way of life, rather than looking at it as a negative way of life. In using the book in a classroom, I'd have to take a slightly different approach. Sadly, not all parents would be open to their children listening to a story that features this topic. The book could not solely be used as a read-aloud in a classroom unless perhaps a gay or lesbian couple had a child in the class and wanted the classmates to understand and accept their child. The book would also fit into a unit on families.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was that it showed that gay penguins were no different from the other penguins in their zoo pen. It's definitely worthy of a spot on the bookshelf, awaiting the perfect teachable moment!

Lesson Plans/Reading Activities:

• And Tango Makes Three Lesson Plan - Scholastic
• And Tango Makes Three Educator's Guide

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.

Easter Basket Books for Ages Newborn - 12

Easter's just a few days away and if you're looking for Easter basket ideas, why not a book? For one, it's healthy! And it keeps on giving for years to come! Today, I've got reviews of books that would be perfect for Easter baskets for all ages!

For the Little Ones (Newborn - Age 4)

Dunrea, Olivier.
Gossie & Friends: Four Board Books in a Box
2009.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Guided Reading Levels:
Ollie: B
Peedie: NR
Gossie: C
Gossie & Gertie: C


Meet Gossie, the yellow gosling who wears red boots (all the time) and her friends in this wonderful boxed set! The simple illustrations (which help tell the story) coupled with the predictable text make this the perfect Easter Basket gift for beginning readers!


For the Girls (Ages 4-8)

Noyes, Deborah.
Prudence & Moxie.
2009.
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.


Prudence and Moxie are friends, but that's about where the similarities stop. For friends, they're about as different as can be. But this isn't new territory to me... sometimes kids search out friends in hopes of becoming more popular, more accepted. This book is perfect for dealing with issues of delicate friendships and is therefore perfect for an Easter basket, as friendships exist everywhere!



Moxie doesn't always set the best examples for her friend Prudence. She's always doing something she's been dared to do, not caring if its in her own best interest or not. Moxie's ways are starting to drive Prudence crazy and because there's one small thing that Moxie is actually afraid of and is unwilling to try, Prudence continually asks her to do it to see just how brave Moxie really is... and that's visiting Prudence's horse Thunder. Can Moxie overcome this one fear that's so important to her friend, Prudence?



This is a sweet story that shows that even friends have their differences!


For the Boys (Ages 4-8)

Monroe, Chris.
Monkey with a Tool Belt and the Noisy Problem.
2009.
CarolRhoda Books.


Are you looking for a unique Easter Basket gift for your little man? Couple this book wtih a child's tool kit and you'll have all that and more! Boys are sure to love this book so much they'll be pretending there are noisy problems all around your house that need fixing too! It's really a cute read, and don't worry, you really don't need to have read the original, Monkey with a Tool Belt, to appreciate this story to the fullest!


Chris Monroe and Monkey with a Tool Belt return in this book, as Chico Bon Bon discovers that he's got a noisy problem in his treehouse! After searching high and low, he discovers the problem - an elephant is stuck in his laundry chute! Chico Bon Bon takes matters into his own hands, pulling out the trusty tool belt and setting to work freeing the elephant. He does such a wonderful job that by the time elephant has been freed, he, himself decides that he wants a tool belt just like Chico's!

For the Girls and Boys (Ages 9-12)


DiCamillo, Kate.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
2006.
Candlewick Press.
Guided Reading Level: Q

I've read several of Kate DiCamillo's works (The Tale of Despereaux and Because of Winn Dixie) but this ranks as my all-time favorite middle-grade novel! That's saying something, because I've read a lot and I don't think anything I've read has touched me quite as much as this! I read this as a read aloud with a challenging third grade class during a long-term substitute position last year, and if this story could capture their attention and interest for 30+ minutes at a time, there's no doubt other children will be enthralled with it!



A small toy rabbit, Edward Tulane, traveling with a young girl is accidentally dropped from an ocean liner and is lost at sea. While many might dub this the end for the little porcelain rabbit, it turns out instead to be the beginning of an incredible journey. Readers are likely to be surprised as this porcelain rabbit endures a trip through the ocean and a visit to a hobo camp as just a few stops among it's journey to his final resting place.



It's a sure pick for any child's Easter Basket. Even the youngest child will be captivated, as DiCamillo's text allows readers to visualize the story with minimal use of illustrations.

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.