Reading Log 3_SWiggins

8/8/2019 Reading Log 3_SWiggins

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Sarah WigginsReading Log 3: Historical Fiction, Biographies, and Informational BooksFREC 7232: Childrens LiteratureDr. Susan T. FranksJune 10, 2010

Historical FictionNumber the StarsAuthor: Lois LowryIllustrator:

Title : Number the StarsPublished : 1998

Genre : Historical FictionFormat : Paperback chapter book Awards: Sydney Taylor Book Award (1989), National Jewish Book Award (1990), Newbery Medal(1990), Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (1992), A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (1990)Summary: A wonderful book for students to read that portrays the situation in Denmark duringWWII. Annemarie Johansen, a Demark student, is best friends with Ellen, a Jewish student.Annemaries family and friends have created a way to smuggle the Jewish families to Sweden wherethey will be safe from the Germans. Annemarie becomes involved in the plan when she has to lie, andstay calm when confronted with German soldiers. It is necessary for Annemarie to deliver a package toher uncles boat to make the escape plan work.Strategies :

The text says that this is a good book to compare to Hide and Seek, though I havenever read that particular book.

A good strategy for this book would be to use it in a novel study during the time that 5 th

or 6 th graders are studying WWII. In our county this book is on the 6 th grade list. Draw a map of Europe and research the countries supporting the Allied Forces and the Axis

Powers of World War II. Then the students will create a report showing the numbers of Jewish

people was well as what Hitler considered undesirables who lost their lives at the hands of theGermans in Concentration Camps. I would create an interview session between Ellen and Annemarie after the war ends. Ask the

questions: How did the Nazis change your life during the time you both lived in? Annemarie,how did your family help the Rosens? Ellen, describe your trip to Sweden? What will each of you remember from this experience?

This book is a wonderful example of writing that builds character traits. Teachers coulduse it to do a character study.

Freedom SummerAuthor : Deborah Wiles

Illustrator : Jerome Lagarrigue

Title : Freedom Summer

Published : 2005Genre : Historical FictionFormat : Paperback Awards: NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (2002) , Coretta ScottKing/John Steptoe New Talent Award (Illustrator, 2002)Summary: Freedom Summer is the story of two best friends Joe and John Henry. The story is basedin the South in 1964, when blacks were not allowed to have the same rights as white people. Thefriends don't let anything get in their way, except for the fact that Joe is white and John Henry is black.


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When the two decide that they want to go swimming in the city pool but the pool was filled with tar when they got there because the owner did not want to open his pool to colored people. Joe and JohnHenry overcome the obstacles and go buy ice pops in the general stores.Strategies :

After reading this book, I realized it would actually be a great book to read and

compare with Number the Stars. Both books have strong character development inwhich people are being prejudiced against, but the friendships are stronger than the prejudice. This would also show that through the course of time, people continue to be prejudice against color, race, and religions.

This story would be good to read during Social Studies to cross the curriculums. Thestudents could be newspaper reporters and pretend as if they are interviewing thecharacters and discuss how the author brought about their feelings through the book.

Learn about the actual time period that has been called Freedom Summer and use the book to understand it better.

Use during Black History month to further understandings.Sadako and the Thousand Paper CranesAuthor: Eleanor Coerr Illustrator : Ronald Himler

Title : Sadako and the Thousand Paper CranesPublished : 2004

Genre : Historical fictionFormat : paperback Awards: Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (1980-1981)Summary: This story is based on the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl growing upin Hiroshima in the aftermath of the atom bomb. Sadako is the best runner in her class, but one dayafter a race she becomes dizzy. The dizziness becomes worse over time, and finally Sadako isdiagnosed with leukemia as a result of the radiation from the bomb. While visiting her in the hospital,her best friend relates a legend stating that if a person folds a thousand paper cranes, they will recover from their illness. She completes 644 cranes before she passes away from her illness. It was very sadfor the people who knew Soduko but in her honor they finished the rest of the paper cranes and made astatue of her.Strategies :

This is a quick book to read aloud or in small groups in a classroom, but has powerfulcontent from which to have discussions or further lessons. (war and the impacts of war,cancer, death)

Through crossing the content areas in social studies, the students can do a study onHiroshima, and see this as a cause and effect relationship.

The students can use this as a response to literature and discuss the attitude andfortitude that Sadako had in the midst of her illness.

A cute extension would be to teach students origami and allow them to create paper cranes to see the effort she put into each of the 644 that she created.

Bud Not BuddyAuthor : Christopher Paul Title : Bud Not Buddy

Published : 1999Genre : Historical FictionFormat : hardback book Awards: Newbery Medal (2000) , Coretta Scott King Award (Author, 2000) , Golden Kite Honor


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(Fiction, 1999) , Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice (2002) , New York Times bestseller (Fiction, 2000)Summary: During the time of The Great Depression, a 10 year old boy, Bud Caldwell, discoversmuch about himself and his family as he breaks free from an orphanage and foster home and sets out insearch of his biological father. His mother died when he was six years old, and left him with only a suitcase of memories. Since then he has been living in foster homes and orphanages. When Bud gets

placed with a family that treats him poorly, he decides it is time for him to find his real family. Usingthe lessons his mother taught him and a pamphlet she left behind as his guide, Bud sets out on a

journey to find the man he believes is his biological father. Bud meets several new people andovercomes many obstacles along the way.Strategies :

This book is a wonderful read aloud for students, and it opens the door of greatconversations as the story moves along. Regardless how the book is used it is thePERFECT illustration of what a Historical Fiction story is. It incorporates real factsalongside fictitious characters and events.

It could also be used as a novel study. It uses vivid language that can be studied in theform of vocabulary. Additionally, the students can explore the characters and settingfurther.

As a book report, this book would be wonderful to use with things such as a book wheel that show the time line of the events and move the reader through the text.

This book could also be used in conjunction with social studies as it makes veryspecific references to actual events. Students could study The Great Depression, SoupKitchens, Harlem Renaissance music, and Civil Rights.

The Firekeepers SonAuthor : Linda Sue Park Illustrator : Julie Downing

Title : The Firekeepers SonPublished : 2004

Genre : Historical Fiction

Format : paperback book Awards: Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (2006-2007.1|Picture Book, 2006-2007)

Summary: Sang-hee dreams of war and soldiers. His father is responsible for lighting a fireon the mountain to show that the ocean is safe and beginning a chain reaction across theland to signal safety. When his father is unable to light the fire, Sang-hee is excited aboutthe possibility of being responsible, but he struggles between his desire to see the soldiers,and his desire to do what is right.Strategies :

I use this book every year to illustrate character traits. My students (who are 5 th

graders) LOVE this story. It sparks incredible conversations about whether or not

this really happens. As a connection, students should research Korea and find out about the fires. During character education, this story can be used to discuss the struggles we face

within ourselves, but what the nega tive potential outcomes could be.

Informational14 Cows for AmericaAuthor : Carmen Agra Deedy Title : 14 Cows for America


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Illustrator : Thomas Gonzalez Published : 2009Genre : Informational Picture book Format : Hardback book Awards: E.B. White Read Aloud Award by the Association of Booksellers for Children (PictureBooks, honor, 2010)

Summary: This is such a touching book. It is about who Kimeli Naiyomah returned home to hisMaasai village from New York City with news of 9/11 terrorist attacks. His story prompts the villagersto feel that they must do something to help, so they decide to invite an American diplomat whoreceives the best gift they can provide. They give him their most prized possessions 14 cows. This

book is so touching to see that in the midst of hurting, even people thousands of miles away have aheart that wants to help, and everyone helps in their own touching ways.Strategies :

The most obvious use of this book would be on September 11 as the class pays tribute to thelives that were lost on 9/11. I think this book provides a different look at the same storystudents have heard time and time again, and probably begin to lose interest in.

In conjunction with the story of 9/11 this is a perfect book to teach cause and effect. Thestudents can make a connection of each event and how it creates the way for the next event tohappen.

I think it is a good way to teach that we are a very materialistic society. Through reading thisstory, students can think about other things that are of value to some, but might not beconsidered valuable to others. This could spark a writing assignment.

Thesaurus RexAuthor : Laya SteinbergIllustrator : Debbie Harter

Title : Thesaurus RexPublished : 2005

Genre : Informational Picture book Format : Paperback book Awards: Summary: I know that some might not see this as an informational book, but I think it is awonderful introduction to the thesaurus. Young children can clearly see that this book really

just provides synonyms for the verbs that the author uses in the sentences. It is not meant to bea book about characters and setting, but rather a book in which the author provides simplesentences and then lists synonyms to go with the verbs.Strategies :

Use this book in early grades to introduce the idea of synonyms and thesaurus. Students canlisten to this as a read aloud and then list the words. Then by using a real thesaurus the teacher can have the students look up more words to add to the list.

Once students understand synonyms, they can write their own books that reflect the same style. Students can reverse the skill and do the same thing with antonyms. In the upper grades, this is a perfect book to introduce the concept that writers use strong verbs

to help their writing be more interesting.

Waiting for WingsAuthor : Lois EhlertIllustrator : Lois Ehlert

Title : Waiting for WingsPublished : 2001

Genre : Informational Picture book Format : Hardbackbook


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Awards: South Carolina Picture Book Award Nominee (2005-2006) , Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee (2003-2004.1|Picture Book, 2003-2004) , ALA Notable Children's Book (2002)Summary: This is a wonderful book that walks the reader through the metamorphosis if acaterpillar. The illustrations are fabulous as the book moves from half pages to full pages. Thetext is simple, but the vocabulary is strong and engaging.

Strategies : This book is perfect for a study of the life cycle of a butterfly. Students can chart the progress

of a caterpillar as it turns into a chrysalis and then changes into a butterfly while reading the book. And the students can Wait for Wings

Higher level students could use this book and do the same thing for other life cycles to write atext and draw pictures. The way the pages are cut would be a wonderful thing for students todo that would be so engaging.

In reading this book is a perfect example of sequence of events. Students could use the text tosequence the events and place it on a graphic organizer, or use an ACTIV board to move the

pictures around and place in the correct order.

Biography

Through My EyesAuthor : Ruby Bridges Title : Through My Eyes

Published : 1999Genre : Autobiography

When Marian SangAuthor : Pam Munoz RyanIllustrator : Brian Selznick

Title : When Marian SangPublished : 2002

Genre : Informational Picture book Format : Hardback book Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book (2003) , South Carolina Children's Book Award Nominee(2004-2005) , Sibert Honor (2003) , Commonwealth Club of California Book Awards (Juvenile, Silver,2002) , NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (2003)Summary: When Marian Sang tells the true story of Marian Anderson, an African American singer.

The book takes you on a journey from her childhood, where she got her start singing in church, andthen to her struggles during a time of segregation, to her performance at the Metropolitan Opera whereshe made history by being the first African-American invited to perform there.Strategies :

This book is a wonderful book for students to read to better understand the time periodof the pre-civil rights movement when there was complete segregation.

Besides the strong content, the words of this book are so incredible. Time after time theauthor uses vivid examples of figurative language. Students should read this and pullout the figurative phrases and then break them down to have a better understanding of what the author is doing when they use this language.

To make a true connection, students should then turn and write a biography of their

own, but make sure they use strong figurative phrases. Students LOVE the opportunityto interview older people and learn about history and this provides the perfectillustration of how to write a biography that is interesting and not just filled with boringfacts.


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