NEWS-O-MATIC is a subscription-based app that provides engaging nonfiction reading experiences for elementary students. Each weekday, readers are provided with standards-aligned, grade-appropriate news stories to read. The high-interest resources are a wonderful way to promote life-long reading habits. From covering science discoveries to sporting events, NEWS-O-MATIC provides exciting informational reading experiences across the curriculum.
Although the articles are brief, they’re a great starting point for class discussions and may stimulate interest in a more in-depth investigation. In addition to reading experiences, the features often include slideshows, puzzles, games, timelines, maps, or video clips. A read-aloud options is useful for students with special needs. In addition, a Spanish translation is also available.
Student accounts allow youth to take quizzes, write, draw, and record their results.
Available as both an iPad App from iTunes and an Android App from Google, go to http://press4kids.com/ for more information.
From the compelling title to the extraordinary illustrations, WHEN LUNCH FIGHTS BACK: WICKEDLY CLEVER ANIMAL DEFENSES by Rebecca L. Johnson is an informational book that immediately grabs the reader’s attention. Even the chapter titles like “slip-sliming away” and “here’s blood in your eye” are designed to shock and entertain.
The author uses a short narrative to introduce each creature. Then, a “science behind the story” segment describes the species’ method of defense featuring a scientist who studies how the defense system works.
Quality photographs and informational boxes bring attention to each featured creature. The glossary at the end of the book defines key vocabulary. Suggested books, websites, and videos are provided to extend the experience.
Aimed at upper elementary grades, this book will fit well into the school library collection. Containing a balance of entertaining narratives along with quality informative segments, it’s is sure to attract a wide range of readers.
To learn more about this author, go to Rebecca L. Johnson’s website at http://www.rebeccajohnsonbooks.com/.
For additional materials related to animal defenses, try the following online resources:
Animal Defenses from PBS LearningMedia - http://goo.gl/6c7WVg
Top 5 Animal Defense Tactics from National Geographic - http://goo.gl/gU9MVB
Animal Arsenal from Fact Monster - http://goo.gl/njFWXQ
NetGalley ARC used for review
ROSETTA is the name of an international space project lead by the European Space Agency (ESA). Most Americans are familiar with NASA, but don’t realize that NASA collaborates with the ESA for important missions like Rosetta.
Launched in 2004, Rosetta arrived at Comet 67P in August 2014. This is the first mission to rendezvous with a comet, deploy a lander, take close-up comet photos, and run experiments. On November 12, 2014, Philae successfully landed on the surface of the comet and will be conducting experiments until its batteries and solar power are depleted or until the comet gets close to the sun.
The mission website contains up-to-date information about the mission including exciting photos and video. Their blog contains timely photos of the mission. The ESA Kid’s page provides background information about space and space travel. For more information about NASA’s involvement, go to the NASA Rosetta page.
For the European Space Agency Rosetta mission page, go to http://rosetta.esa.int/
For the Rosetta Project Blog, go to http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/
For the Twitter Feed go to https://twitter.com/ESA_Rosetta
For the ESA Kids page, go to http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/
#CometLanding #67P #Comet67P
For the NASA Rosetta project page, go to http://rosetta.jpl.nasa.gov/
In honor of Veteran’s Day, spend some time exploring the Library of Congress Veteran’s History Project.The VETERAN’S HISTORY PROJECT from the Library of Congress gathers the personal accounts of American war veterans and makes them available online. First-hand accounts from U.S. veterans from World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts have been posted. From Army medical volunteers to Air Force pilots, a wide range of military positions are represented. Primarily an oral history program, most of the interviews are available in audio- or video-recorded formats along with transcripts. In many cases, memoirs and collections of photographs, letters, diaries, maps, and other primary source documents have been digitized and are included.
Since the project began nearly fifteen years ago, thousands of interviews have been uploaded to the database. Users can search by era, branch of service, gender, media type, and other categories. It’s also possible to search within fields such as location of service and highest rank.
Encourage students to seek out areas of interest such as female nurses of the Vietnam War, African American airmen of the Korean War, or Japanese American soldiers of World War II.
Visit the website at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.
How do you connect students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) with fiction reading? Look for science adventures. Get started with the NICK AND TESLA series. Each book contains an engaging adventure revolving around a “build-it-yourself” science project.
NICK AND TESLA’S SUPER-CYBORG GADGET GLOVE by Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith is the latest book in this popular science mystery series for middle grade youth. In this installment, the twins must figure out what’s making the animatronic scientists in a special museum exhibit go haywire. The amateur inventors add gadgets to their cyborg glove to help them solve the mystery. Young science lovers will enjoy references to everyone from Marie Curie to Albert Einstein. They’ll also enjoy building their own gadget glove complete with an LED signal light, ultra-loud emergency alarm, digital sound recorder, and UV secret message revealer.
Be sure to check out the other books in the series including HIGH-VOLTAGE DANGER LAB, ROBOT ARMY RAMPAGE, and SECRET AGENT GADGET BATTLE.
To learn more about the books as well as the science projects, go to the Nick and Tesla page at http://nickandtesla.com/. Educators can also download guides for using the books with students.
To see Science Bob demonstrate projects from the books, go to http://nickandtesla.com/videos/. The videos are an excellent way to learn to make the projects described in the books.
Looking for more? The HowToons website at http://www.howtoons.com/contains endless D.I.Y. project comics. Each comic contains an engaging science project.
Edelweiss ARC used for review
COMMON SENSE MEDIA is a website providing information related to media and technology for parents and teachers. In addition to a great place for educational ratings and reviews, it’s also an effective way to keep up with the movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music of interest to youth of particular ages.
Their K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum and interactive learning games are outstanding. The free materials are available as iBook textbooks or as printable lessons with online videos and interactives. Topics include internet safety, privacy and security, relationships & communication, cyberbullying, digital footprint & reputation, self-image & identity, information literacy, and creative credit & copyright. You can even download colorful posters for library displays.
Graphite is their new service that helps educators find the best apps, games, and websites for the classroom. This website is aligned with the Common Core State Standards and provides lots of tools for searching and organizing websites.
To learn more, go to COMMON SENSE MEDIA at https://www.commonsensemedia.org/.
PBS has recently updated their web and app presence. Let’s explore some of the options.PBS LearningMedia at http://pbslearningmedia.org/ provides standards-based lesson ideas organized by grade and subject. A suite of productivity tools can be used to create customized lessons, quizzes, and interactive web pages featuring PBS web content. A search for INTERACTIVE yields more than 1500 interactive tutorials and games for youth across the curriculum. Search for topics related to Standards for the 21st Century Learner. For instance, a search for COPYRIGHT yields videos, interactive, and lessons related to copyright law and youth.
PBS LearningMedia for Students at http://pbslearningmedia.org/student/ is a place where youth can access the materials developed by teachers. They can also used the online tools for creating their own online projects known as “storyboards”.
PBSKids at http://pbskids.org/ continues to provide access to videos, games, and other activities for youth.
PBSVideo at http://video.pbs.org/ provides short excerpts as well as full programs from a wide range of PBS programs.
PBS for iPad can be downloaded from iTunes. This app provides easy access to thousands of full-length videos programs.
For access to all of these websites, go to PBS at http://www.pbs.org/.
LOVE IS THE DRUG by Alaya Dawn Johnson is a fast-paced mystery-suspense set in near-future Washington DC. Set against the backdrop of a global pandemic, prep-school teen Emily Bird becomes involved in a mysterious homeland security scandal made worse by her memory loss after an elite Washington DC party. This young adult novel involves a wide range of topics that will attract youth including romance, friendships, conspiracy, drugs, and disaster.
The plot moves quickly as the world dives deeper into chaos and our heroine tries to piece together the mystery of her memory loss. The author does a masterful job dealing with social problems, public policy, and contemporary issues facing teens such as drug use and college preparation.
The authentic, conversational writing style is likely to appeal to a young adult audience. Like many works of mystery/suspense, movement between the present and flashbacks can be temporarily disorienting. In addition, the story breaks down near the end as the author attempts to tie up all the loose ends. However, the overall plot is fast-paced and engaging.
The diverse cast of characters were skillfully developed and realistically portrayed. Teens will enjoy the strong female lead. Rarely do teen readers have the opportunity to see a realistically portrayed, independent, intelligent young black woman in a leading role.
Each chapter begins with a chemical compound. Careful readers will easily connect the chemicals to the chapter’s focus and students will be thrilled to apply their Chemistry class to the real-world.
With so many series books to choose from, librarians will be happy to see a stand-alone mystery-suspense.
Those readers who enjoy this type of mystery/suspense would also enjoy adult suspense novels by Michael Crichton and John Grisham.
With the Ebola scare making headlines and conspiracy theories everywhere, this book is likely to fly off the shelf.
Publisher ARC used for review
THE ONLY THING TO FEAR by Caroline Tung Richmond is a fast-paced alternative history adventure set in a world where Germany won World War II. In this universe, Hitler's descendant along with his genetically engineered super soldiers and members of the elite Aryan race rule the eastern part of the United States known as the Eastern American Territories. As a mixed race teen, Zara along with her uncle live under the oppressive rule of the Nazis. However, Zara has a secret weapon she is about to unleash.
Whether dealing with the day-to-day life of a youth living in fear or describing the heroism of the Alliance, the author does an masterful job conveying the fear and frustration of injustice. The narrative flows smoothly weaving in enough background information to keep the reader informed without slowing down the pace. The plot is straight-forward making it easy for middle school readers to follow. However, more sophisticated readers may be disappointed by the lack of plot twists.
Alternative history is a popular genre with youth, however librarians need to be careful when suggesting books for teens. While some enjoy the science fiction and fantasy elements, others prefer works that feel more closely aligned with realistic fiction. In this case, the first half of the book immerses readers into a very real world, while the second half focuses on Zara’s special powers. Richmond’s approach works well for her story, but may not appeal to all readers.
This enjoyable piece of speculative fiction will be popular with middle school youth who have been learning about World War II and wonder, “what if”?
NetGalley ARC used for review
STARFALL has been a popular educational website for more than a decade. Focusing on fun reading, math, and music experiences for preschool through primary grades, the website contains dozens of free activities and e-books that can be used on desktop, laptop, and tablet computers. Beyond the free website, hundreds of other wonderful interactives are available at a membership rate. Prices are available for teachers, labs, and schools. Additional print curriculum materials are also available.
Recently, STARFALL has created an App-based (Apple, Google, KindleFire) experience for youth. The app environment contains no ads and no in-app-sales for members. In addition, individual titles are available for a small fee rather than paying the membership price for the whole collection. Unfortunately, very few of the app-based resources are available for free.
In addition to their use in classrooms, these materials are also effective for special needs students and those needing extra help with reading. Consider how these tools might be integrated into the computers and tablets available in the library.
To learn more, go to http://www.starfall.com/.
The ICIVICS website provides interactive learning resources including lesson plans, games, and digital interactives. With local, state, and national elections being held around the country, it’s a perfect time to promote civic learning.
Founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the website actively engages students in activities that promote democratic action.
The Play section provides a wide range of online games for youth. After completing a free registration process, learners can collect badges, follow the leaderboard, and collect impact points. Games include “Do I Have a Right?”, “Branches of Power,” “Supreme Decision,” “Argument Wars”, “Bill of Rights”, “Immigration Nation”, and more! Play time ranges from 5 to 30 or more minutes per game, perfect for a class period.
The Teach section provides standards-based curriculum units, lesson plans, DBQuests, and WebQuests along with other tools and resources for planning on a wide range of topics including Foundations of Government, Branches of Government, The Constitution, Civil Rights, and others.
Whether focusing attention on the elections or teaching to a particular social studies standard, ICIVICS is a great choice for librarians working with teacher to promote an awareness of the democratic process.
To visit the website, go to https://www.icivics.org/
A few days ago I reviewed the first two books in the FINISHING SCHOOL series in anticipation of the third book's release tomorrow. #FinishingSchoolWAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY by Gail Carriger is the third book in the popular FINISHING SCHOOL series. Now in her second year, Sophronia is more confident and independent than ever in terms of her intelligence skills, however she’s still learning how to react to the advances of two very different suitors. Once again, Mademoiselle Geraldine’s students find themselves in the middle of another madcap adventure.
While CURTSIES & CONSPIRACIES focused on vampires, this story delves deeper into the world of flywaymen and werewolves. The familiar characters and nonstop action made this third installment just as exciting as the first two. The book concludes with a shocking choice that has intriguing implications for the next book in this entertaining series.
From wielding lethal fans to practicing the art of seduction, readers will enjoy another round of Carriger’s witty steampunk prose.
With the popularity of steampunk, consider developing a library display focusing on popular series. The FINISHING SCHOOL website at http://finishingschoolbooks.com/ contains lots of hilarious “lessons” that can be printed as part of the display. Get students involved in the fun. What’s the proper way to faint? How do you defeat a vampire? How do ladies ride a werewolf?
NetGalley ARC used for review
The NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH website celebrates the culture and heritage of indigenous people throughout the month of November. This US Government website hosted by The Library of Congress includes a list of events held across the United States.
The About the Month page provides an overview of the history of the event.
The Exhibits & Collections page includes links to resources available at the Library of Congress, National Archives, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, and Smithsonian Institution.
The Images page links to notable contemporary and historical images. A Pinterest page is also available with photos.
The Audio/Video page connects to webcasts, musical recordings, and unique sound artifacts and stories.
The For Teachers page connects to lesson plans and instructional materials that could be used in conjunction with the month-long event.
This outstanding website is the perfect starting point for teacher librarians seeking library and classroom integration ideas for this special month.
To visit the website, go to http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/.
GRACEFULLY GRACE by Ami Polonsky is filled with well-developed, believable characters who represent the spectrum of authentic reactions to Grayson’s gender identity issues. While Grayson faces bullying, rejection, and ridicule from some, “she” is also surrounded by caring friends and an understanding teacher. Polonsky does an outstanding job helping readers see these different points of view from Grayson’s perspective.
From the first page, readers become immersed in sixth-grader Grayson’s secret life. The first person, conversational style helps readers see the world through “her” eyes. Grayson’s bravery in trying out for the girl’s lead in the school play is a powerful statement that leads “her” on a path to self-discovery.
The frustrations and insecurities of middle school children are realistically portrayed through short chapters that keep the story moving and build empathy for Grayson’s situation.
I’m happy to see the subject of gender identity being addressed in a developmentally appropriate way for middle school youth. In addition, there are many parents and teachers who would benefit from this realistic story about a timely topic.
The e-pages of this book flew by. This unique work is a book I’ll be thinking about long into the future.
Learn more about author Ami Polonsky at http://www.amipolonsky.com/
NetGalley ARC used for review
Saturday morning by the fireplace with a cup of coffee in hand... Which classic do you plan to re-read on book lovers' day?
KHAN ACADEMY contains over 3000 free videos and interactives on subjects including math, science, economics, arts, humanities, computing, test prep, and other topics. These short, self-instructional videos and interactive lessons help children and young adults with specific, foundational skills. The test prep section is particularly helpful for teens seeking assistance in preparing for the SAT.
This not-for-profit website is an excellent way to help K-12 youth succeed. Students can work at their own pace. There’s even a way for teachers to track student progress.
To learn more, go to KHANACADEMY at https://www.khanacademy.org/.
THE RIGHT WORD: ROGET AND HIS THESAURUS authored by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet is a picture book biography for children focusing on the life of Peter Roget and his magnificent thesaurus. Known for their award-winning work A SPLASH OF RED, this author-illustrator team once again delivers an inspiring masterpiece.
This beautifully written biography celebrates the power of language. Through brilliantly selected words, this author/poet is able to bring the life of Roget alive for young readers.
The creatively illustrated book uses the technique of collage to tell the story of the author’s life. The picture book focuses on the author’s passion for making lists and selecting just the right words. The illustrator does an exceptional job incorporating visual representations of words and word lists into the story.
A timeline, information sources, further readings, and an illustrator’s note add depth to the work.
I highly recommend this book for library collections. Look for this book on Caldecott shortlists this year.
To learn more about the author/poet, go to Jen Bryant’s website at http://www.jenbryant.com/.
To learn more about the illustrator, go to Melissa Sweet’s website at http://melissasweet.net/.
LibraryThing ARC used for review
PROFESSOR GARFIELD is a free website containing interactives that allow students to explore, create, read, and play. The READ! section includes a wonderful selection of e-comics such as theaward winning THE BIG NO-NO!, the 2010 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Winner. These e-books are available in five languages. The Storyline Online section contains dozens of videos featured celebrities reading favorite picture books aloud.
The CREATE! section provides a variety of online tools children can use to create their own comics.
Of particular interest to teacher librarians are the many interactives in the EXPLORE! section focusing on topics related Cyberbullying, Forms of Media, Fact or Opinion, and Online Safety. Many of these lessons are also available at the iTunes App Store as apps.
To learn more, go to PROFESSOR GARFIELD at http://www.professorgarfield.org/
STEM AND THE COMMON CORE is a project of Science NetLinks. This website provides lessons that connect nonfiction science trade books with hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities. Many of the books featured are winners of the AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books and other literary awards.
Dozens of lessons connect books like AN EGG IS QUIET by Dianna Aston, SISTERS & BROTHERS by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, WHERE IN THE WILD? by David Schwartz and Yael Schy, LOOK UP! BIRD WATCHING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD by Annette LeBlanc Cate, and THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot with STEM activities.
To learn more about these K-12 activities connecting STEM with English language arts, go to STEM AND THE COMMON CORE at http://sciencenetlinks.com/collections/stem-and-common-core/
I hate jumping into the middle of a series? With the third book in the popular FINISHING SCHOOL series by Gail Carriger coming out November 4, I thought I’d go back and review the first two books to get you up to speed in case you missed it. Steampunk is a popular genre with teens and young women will immediately be attracted to Sophronia’s likable personality.
ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE by Gail Carriger is the first book in this exciting new series. This whimsical adventure establishes an alternative Victorian-era world filled with quirky characters including robots, vampires, and werewolves.
Most fans of fantasy will immediately see connections between Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality and Hogwarts. Most teens (as well as adults) love the idea of going to a school where they learn skills in espionage, interact with interesting creatures, and go on daring adventures.
Carriger’s skillful narrative makes even the most ridiculous situations seem plausible. Like most “first books” in a new series, this one spends most of text establishing the setting and characters leaving the plot elements surface level. However, the author weaves an entertaining tale and leaves enough untold to entice readers to seek out the next book in the series.
CURTSIES & CONSPIRACIES by Gail Carriger is the second book in the FINISHING SCHOOL series. This book picks up six months after the first book with Sophronia completing her first formal exams. As her training continues, she’s forced to test her skills in the dangerous city of London and an unexpected love triangle adds to the adventure.
Gail’s crisp, humorous writing style will appeal to young adult readers. Like many sequels, the characters and setting seem less fresh and innovative than the first book. However this quick, quirky story will keep readers coming back for the rest of the series.
It’s time to start reading the first two because the third book in the series WAISTCOAT & WEAPONRY (Book 3) is coming out November 4, 2014.
Whether you’re new to steampunk or looking for a great way to get started with this exciting genre, ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE by Gail Carriger is an excellent choice. Other books in the series include CURTSIES & CONSPIRACIES and WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY. To learn more about the series, go to Finishing School at http://finishingschoolbooks.com/
For more light-hearted, steampunk fun, look for Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series.
To learn more about Gail Carriger and her books, go to http://www.gailcarriger.com/
NetGalley ARC used for review
