Controversial Books

MODULE 15: CENSORSHIP ISSUES
December 7-10

Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies
By: Dav Pilkey
Ages: 7-12

Summary:

This exciting book tells the adventures of George and Harold, and these boys apparently love trouble. One day they decide to apply what they have learned in science class, and create a prank that leads to exploding cupcake batter. This causes the cafeteria lunch ladies to resign and provides the perfect opportunity for three space aliens to infiltrate the school and begin to take over the world. George and Harold, along with the help of Captain Underpants, manage to blow up the aliens and their spaceship, and escape the evil clutches of a giant dandelion.

My Impressions:

I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions as I read this book. I think it is incredibly funny, and I loved the subtle humor, such as the name of one of the cafeteria ladies is Miss Creant. I can understand why parents and teachers have concerns about this book, and I completely understand why children love this book. It is geared towards boys, but I think some girls would find it entertaining as well. This book is well written and extremely creative. I am definitely interested in reading more about George, Harold, and of course Captain Underpants.

Reviews:

"To reach his audience, Pilkey uses a straightforward narrative, plus cartoons, some clever and silly double-page flip book machinations, asides to the reader, and contemporary references which may be lost on adults of a certain age. The appeal of this series seems to be to boys, older reluctant readers, and those who like to read together while pointing out the humor to each other. School librarians will want several copies--parents could wait for the paperback if their readers will let them."-Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)

Lesson Plans:

Since this book is considered to be a highly controversial book, it may not be the best selection for school use. However, this book could be a great motivator for an afterschool book club for young boys. Students could be encouraged to create their own comics featuring a super hero from their imaginations.


Helper, Susan. "Children's Literature Reviews: Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. December 13, 2009.

Pilkey, Dav. Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies. New York: Blue Sky Press, 1999.

Poetry and Prose

MODULE 14: POETRY AND STORY COLLECTIONS
December 1-6

Jazz
By: Walter Dean Myers
Ages: 9-12

Summary:

This book of poems describes the evolution of jazz in the United States from its beginnings with slaves to ragtime and then onto modern jazz. Each poem is written in meter and rhythm of a particular style of jazz, and introduces the reader to great jazz musicians and the typical instruments.

My Impressions:

This is a beautifully written book. The poetry is very poetic and moving. Several of the poems had my feet tapping, and I could really hear the jazz rhythms pulsating under the words. One of the poems is titled "America's Music" and this is truly what jazz is. Very few people realize that jazz is music that is exclusively American, as it was born here and evolved here. This book provides the reader with a creative and interesting synopsis of our American musical heritage.

Reviews:

"In this extended jam session, historical moments, great jazz musicians, and the various forms and instruments of the genre each take a turn on stage. In his black ink and acrylic paintings Christopher Myers both follows his father's lead and suggests rhythms and moods of his own. As with blues journey, readers will find music coming irresistibly into their heads. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average."-Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2007)

Lesson Plans:

This book would complement a cultural and creative based curriculum. Of course it would pair very nicely with a unit on jazz music, but it would also complement a history curriculum. There is a time line of jazz history in the back, and it would be interesting to discuss significant historical events while listening to music associated with the same era. This book would make a great read aloud for an older audience of students, and would especially interesting with musical instruments and recordings accompanying each poem. Students could also be challenged to write poetry that explains, describe, or even sounds like their favorite types of music.

Horn Book. "Children's Literature Reviews: Jazz." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. December 13, 2009.

Myers, Walter Dean. Jazz. New York: Holiday House, 2006.

Books with Graphics

MODULE 13: GRAPHIC NOVELS AND SERIES BOOKS
November 23-30



Sea Dogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta
By: Lisa Wheeler
Ages 7-12

Summary:

This graphic novel is almost a story within a story, as the reader becomes a member of the audience watching an operetta unfold on the stage in front of them. It tells the tale of an old sea captain who longs for one last voyage on the sea. He gathers up a small crew and takes to the high seas when his ship is overtaken by a gang of vicious pirates. The pirates steal everything on board but manage to drop a treasure map and a young puppy in the process. The captain's crew set sail to capture the treasure, and run into the angry pirates once again. In the end the captain grows to love the stowaway and quickly realizes that he is ready for a real home.

My Impressions:

This is a wonderful story that is full of humor, and detailed drawings. The story is cute and very entertaining. The reader gets caught up in the story which is familiar, but still different because this time around the characters are dogs. The graphics are excellent, colorful, and well done. Although the suggested age for this book is elementary and early middle school readers, I believe that older readers would really enjoy this story as well. I especially like how it is technically a graphic novel, but still feels like a book. This duality provides for an interesting experience for the reader.

Reviews:

"This unusual book scores in both its design and commitment to fun. Young readers will revel in the light-hearted language (as when the dachshund laments his job as cook, “Doggone it! I am meant for more than sausage links and kibble.”). As the cast takes their curtain call, the puppy from the first page is literally standing on her seat to applaud. The story comes full circle as she, in a post-theater glow, imagines herself starring in all the roles."-CCBC (Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices, 2005)

Lesson Plans:

This graphic novel provides a great opportunity for creativity in students. It could make an excellent stage presentation, and students would really enjoy learning and performing the humorous poems. Students could be encouraged to create their own tunes and music to the poems as they are written in a very lyrical and musical way. Students would also enjoy creating their own operettas with accompanying drawings and graphics.


Cooperative Children’s Book Center Choices. "Children's Literature Reviews: Sea Dogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. December 13, 2009.

Wheeler, Lisa. Sea Dogs: An Epic Ocean Operetta. New York: Simon & Schuster , 2004.

Real People, Tragedies, and Triumphs

MODULE 12: BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY
November 16-22

When Marian Sang
By: Pam Munoz Ryan

Summary:

This picture book describes the life and struggles of Marian Anderson, the first major African American Opera star in the United States. This book tells of her hardships and the discrimination she encountered. It describes her perseverance, and how she never gave up. Marian Anderson eventually traveled to Europe where she was accepted and achieved critical acclaim. She came back home and slowly achieved great success in the United States as well.

My Impressions:

This is a delightful biography of an incredibly important person in African American history written for elementary school aged children. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the poetry of the Negro Spirituals add another dimension of beauty and majesty to the book. This story is very well written, historically accurate, and fascinating. It has a wonderful message of hope and proves that one can accomplish anything, if one sets one's mind to it.

Reviews:

"Most likely, few of the book's intended elementary school audience has heard of Marian Anderson, but all will be won over by the story of how her enormous talent and unrelenting drive helped her overcome significant obstacles in pre-Civil Rights America. Readers will find themselves enthralled by Marian's powerful life story -- due to Ryan's beautifully chosen words and Selznick's gorgeously detailed renderings -- and will especially be haunted the moving images of a young Marion singing with closed eyes, enraptured by the power of song. The subject's courage and subsequent success holds enormous appeal to a wide audience, particularly elementary school children seeking to study cultural role models. "When Marian Sang" is a first class tribute that deserves to join the creative team's previous effort, "Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride," on every children's library shelf."-Vicki Arkoff, (Midwest Book Review, "Vicki's Bookshelf" column, March 2003)


Lesson Plans:

This book would obviously be a great choice for a read aloud for Black History Month. It could also work well for a Women's History Event or Program. It would be excellent for Story Time as children would find the pictures and words interesting. This book would also be great for a discussion and general history lesson on slavery because of the multiple Negro Spirituals present within the book. Students could learn the purpose and tunes of the Spirituals and then have a sing a long.


Arkoff, Vicki. "Children's Literature Reviews: When Marian Sang." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. December 10, 2009.

Ryan, Pam Munoz. When Marian Sang. New York: Scholastic Press, 2002.

Interesting and Informative

MODULE 11: INFORMATIONAL BOOKS
November 9-15

Children of the Great Depression
By: Russell Freedman

Summary:

This book describes the everyday lives of children growing up in the 1930's during the Great Depression. It is full of vivid pictures that document and capture the essence of daily life for children. It discusses what school was like, how hungry children were, and even how children worked to help support their families. It describes how life was like for African American children, children who left home to ride the railroads to lessen the burden on their families, and what life was like for children who were displaced during the major dust storms of the early 1930's.

My Impressions:

This is an amazing book, full of fantastic pictures depicting the lives of children during the Great Depression. I loved the fascinating quotations of children living and surviving in the United States during this terrible time. I enjoyed reading about the letters presented to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I couldn't help but see the similarities between today's economic problems and the economic crisis of the 1930's. I quickly realized that in spite of everything, we still have it far better today than the children and people did seventy years ago.

Reviews:

"This book is another fine example of the great nonfiction material Russell Freedman writes. The text is interesting, straightforward, and easy to understand. Freedman's words and picture choices are well presented, offering young people today a true sense of this dire time in our history. A table of contents, end notes, a selected bibliography, and an index are included. The book will be useful for teachers looking for supplemental material for units on the Depression and for middle and high school students needing report material. Highly Recommended."-Melinda Miller-Widrick (Library Media Connection, March 2006).

Lesson Plans:

This book will complement any history lesson or curriculum on the Great Depression. It could also inspire students to create a photographic essay. Students could take pictures, conduct interviews where appropriate, and conduct research on any area of interest and compile their data into their very own informational book. Students could also compare and contrast life now during these difficult economic times to life during the Great Depression. This should lead to an interesting discussion on how similar or different life can be, and how history often repeats itself.

Freedman, Russell. Children of the Great Depression. New York: Clarion Books, 2005.

Miller-Widrick, Melinda. "Children's Literature Reviews: Children of the Great Depression." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. November 29, 2009.

Books and History

MODULE 10: HISTORICAL FICTION
November 2-8



The Wednesday Wars
By: Gary D. Schmidt
Ages: 11-15

Summary:

What begins as an awkward and uncomfortable standoff between student Holling Hoodhood and teacher Mrs. Baker develops into a wonderful relationship full of mutual respect and kindness. The reader begins to believe that perhaps Mrs. Baker really does hate Holling as he protests in the beginning. However as their sessions of Shakespeare on Wednesday afternoons progress, the reader quickly sees that Mrs. Baker is not only an excellent educator, but a caring and devoted individual as well. The book takes place over Holling's seventh grade year, and the reader sees him grow as an individual. The reader witnesses Holling become an actor, a successful cross country runner, a loving brother and boyfriend, and a young man with the courage to stand up to his father.

My Impressions:

This is an amazing book that is incredibly well written, full of humor, and emotion. Holling Hoodhood is the type of guy that you just can't help but adore and he reminded me a lot of the character Kevin from "The Wonder Years" television show. Not just because both the book and the show were set in the 1960's, but because of the free, narrative style of the author. The story feels almost like the reader is looking at a journal that Holling is writing. The reader truly gets an inside look at Holling and begins to feel like a friend or companion following him through his seventh grade year. I love the Shakespearean references, and I think that it is genius how the author works this in as a secondary theme and motive. After I finished this book, I found myself wanting to know more about what happens to Holling. I spent quite a bit of time wondering and imaging what comes next, a sure fire sign of an excellent book.

Reviews:

"Schmidt, whose Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy (2005) was named both a Printz and a Newbery Honor Book, makes the implausible believable and the everyday momentous. Seamlessly, he knits together the story’s themes: the cultural uproar of the ’60s, the internal uproar of early adolescence, and the timeless wisdom of Shakespeare’s words. Holling’s unwavering, distinctive voice offers a gentle, hopeful, moving story of a boy who, with the right help, learns to stretch beyond the limitations of his family, his violent times, and his fear, as he leaps into his future with his eyes and his heart wide open."-Gillian Engberg, Booklist, Jun. 1, 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 19)

Lesson Plans:

This story could easily complement a history lesson on the 1960's. This book addresses a large amount of political and social issues. It would fit hand in hand with any school curriculum on the Vietnam War, the Civil Right Movement, and Feminism. It could complement a discussion on politics and constitutional rights such as freedom of speech and protest. It would also be an excellent choice for a book club because the diversity of topics mentioned in the story would all be great for discussion. Additionally, students could be asked to give their responses, feelings, and opinions to the war in Iraq and look for any similarities and differences between the late 1960's Vietnam Era and today.


Engberg, Gillian. "Children's Literature Reviews: The Wednesday Wars." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. November 24, 2009.

Schmidt, Gary. The Wednesday Wars. New York: Clarion Books, 2007.

Suspense and Mystery

MODULE 9: MYSTERY
October 26-November 1



The London Eye Mystery
By: Siobhan Dowd
Ages 10-14

Summary:

What begins as a friendly, everyday gathering of family and friends turns into disaster when a relative turns up missing. Salim is cousin to brother and sister duo Ted and Kat. After Salim's mother accepts a prestigious position which would cause them to move from London to New York city, they stop to spend a few days of vacation before relocating to the United States. Salim requests a visit to the London Eye tourist attraction in London. He steps into a pod which will take a thirty minute revolution around the giant ferris wheel type contraption. When the ride is over Salim disappears into thin air. At first everyone hopes that he just got lost in the city or decided to take a trip to see his father, but as the days go by his mother and relatives begin to become seriously worried. Ted appears to have Asperger's Syndrome, and has a mind like a computer, and his sister Kat feels responsible for Salim's disappearance. With her determination and Salim's incredible brain, they manage to solve the mystery and find him in the nick of time.

My Impressions:

I found this book to be completely mesmerizing. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery, and I was on the edge of my seat. It is full of suspense and excitement. But it is more than just a great mystery. There was a great deal of sentiment and moments that touched the heart, mind, and soul. This book is full of humor, and proves that a person with challenges can still overcome them and make a tremendous difference in the lives of the people around them. Ted is a remarkable character and the reader can't help but fall in love with him. I was particularly touched by his frustrations in getting others to just listen to what he had to say. He desperately tried to communicate his ideas and thoughts to the police, his parents, and even his sister Kat. They all assumed that because of his disability he wasn't able to contribute or help. In the end it was his amazing sleuthing skills and computer like brain that helped saved Salim's life.

Reviews:

"The author keeps the tension building, both in the dreaded possibilities that may have befallen Salim and in the efforts of Ted to interact with a world that he finds difficult to interpret. The story is told by Ted, putting the reader into his literal and logical mind and allowing readers to understand his struggles and join his progress in deciphering the world. Sharing Ted’s journey toward a better understanding of human interaction is as satisfying as saving Salim. Some of the British terms may need explanation (fags are cigarettes, the tube is the subway, and a lilo is an air mattress) although the context will help most readers figure them out. This is a great mystery story with characters that readers can empathize with and care about. It is highly recommended for elementary, middle school, and public libraries. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades 5-8."-Ellen Simmons, The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 21, No. 2)

Lesson Plans:

This book would pair well with a geography lesson or unit. There are many British references and terminology that students could investigate in order to learn more about Great Britain, its customs, its cultures, and its people. As a mystery, this book could also pair well with lessons about deductive reasoning skills, analytical skills, and logic skills and help reinforce key concepts students need to understand.


Dowd, Siobhan. The London Eye Mystery. New York: Fickling Books, 2008.

Simmons, Ellen. "Children's Literature Reviews: The London Eye Mystery." Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. November 24, 2009.