The Elephant From Baghdad

The Elephant from Baghdad is written by Mary Tavener Holmes and John Harris and illustrated by Jon Cannell.  The story itself, of Charlemagne being gifted an albino elephant from Harun al-Rashid, caliph of Baghdad, is FASCINATING.  The journeys that the ambassadors made, on FOOT, from present day Germany to Baghdad was long and arduous.  I can only imagine the return trip with…an elephant.  I think I would be pretty concerned that the ginormous clock would fall off the elephant’s back.  Just me?  I believe it is all true as transcribed by Notker the Stammerer.  He even says, “But it is true.  I swear it.”  I like that photographs of real artifacts were interspersed with Cannell’s illustrations.  The story telling from Notker the Stammerer’s point of view was well done, realistic and also showed that it was the monks of the time who recorded history and so, it was from their point of view that accounts came to be known to others. 

The Elephant From Baghdad

ISBN: 978-0-7614-6111-1

Published 2012 by Marshall Cavendish Children

I borrowed this copy from my public library to read and review.

Just today, I received a review copy from the publisher for CYBILS.

Here Come the Girl Scouts!

Here Come the Girl Scouts by Shana Corey and illustrated by Hadley Hooper has gump-shun, just like Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low.  While I was a girl scout myself, I never knew the story of Juliette Gordon Low.  In fact, I didn't know who the founder of the girl scouts was.  Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the girl scouts and as such, many of my students participated in celebrations surrounding the centennial of the Girl Scouts and celebrating its founding leader, Juliette Gordon Low.  As a result, more than one of my third graders were asking for books on Juliette Gordon Low when they began their wax museum biography assignment.  To which I replied...who?  I promptly got materials from the public library to fill the gap that existed in our school library at the time.  And, now, after reading this picture book biography of Juliette Gordon Low, I can understand the fascination with her.  From childhood on, Juliette or Daisy (as I will now refer to her as because I'm getting tired of typing out Juliette Gordon Low...), so Daisy was different.  She'd actually fit in quite well 100 years later (I think), but maybe because she changed the way the world looks at girls.  She changed the way girls look at the world.  Daisy was truly ahead of her time, recognizing the importance of conservation, the importance of building confident young females, the importance of acceptance and understanding.  She was my kinda gal!

Some things I wish I'd learned as a girl scout:

• How to secure a burglar with eight inches of cord (because, you know what I always have on hand...eight inches of cord!)
• How to stop a runaway horse (what did they do??)
• How to get the skin off a sardine (are you supposed to?)
• How to brush your teeth if a crocodile takes your toothbrush (IF?  I think you might have bigger problems in this situation...)

And badges I wish had existed:

• Dairy Maid 
• Interpreter
• Flyer

  My favorite element are the quotes from the first Girl Scout Handbook throughout the story.  "Every little girl...goes to make up some part or parcel of our great whole nation."  

Here Come the Girl Scouts!

ISBN: 978-0-545-34278-0

Published 2012 by Scholastic Press

I borrowed this copy from the library to read and review.

I plan to add this book to our school library collection.

If You Lived Here

If You Lived Here…You’d already be home.  Each time I looked at this book, that is what I thought.  And yet, not one of these homes reflected my own.  I’d love to see each of them up close and some I have in my travels.  I’ve seen a Greek island village as pictured on the cover, and I’ve seen the canals of Venice and the homes that exist there.  Others I’ve seen in movies, but I welcomed this unique opportunity to learn details of how they came to look the way they do and why.  I never pictured a log cabin as being two separate spaces.  With the explanation that trees taller than 16 feet were tough to find, it makes perfect sense.   Many homes had features designed for protection from outside intruders.  Adobe homes had ladders that could be pulled up and inside so that intruders could not get inside.  It’s a wonder though that invaders didn’t start carrying ladders with them.  Where there’s a will.  Drawbridges used to access, or drawn up to not access do provide quite the barrier to entering a French chateau.  Protection isn’t always from outsiders, though the design of a Chinese Fujian tulou does look to present quite an obstacle with its high walls.  Natural elements, such as earthquakes also need to be considered, especially depending on your location and the likelihood of such events.  The Fujian tulou is designed to withstand the impact of an earthquake with walls that thin out at the ground level and curve.  Back to intruders, “white towns” found on many Greek islands through the Aegean Sea had streets throughout the village that were laid out like a maze, intentionally, to trick invaders and make them get lost once on land.  Overall, each of the homes featured in “If You Lived Here” was fascinating and the illustrations which were also created by author Giles LaRoche appear to have painstaking detail.  The style of bas-relief paper cut collage is such an intricate process to create each of these homes.  I am interested to check out LaRoche’s other work as well.  

If You Lived Here

ISBN: 978-0-547-23892-0

Published 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

I borrowed this copy from the public library to review.

After reading and reviewing, I also received a review copy from the publisher specifically for the CYBILS.

Friday Tech Tip: Virtual Field Trip: The First Thanksgiving

While cleaning out my office (a much needed task!), I came across many things and one of them was quite timely, so today, enjoy a DOUBLE Friday Tech Tip!  A virtual field trip from Scholastic on the first Thanksgiving.

The First Thanksgiving Virtual Field Trip

Including information on:

• The Mayflower
• Daily Life
• The Feast
• Historical Letters
• Videos and Photos
• Teaching Resources (these are broken down K-2, 3-5, and 6-8)

There are also book suggestions, printables, and additional websites to check out, including Plimoth Plantation.

Overall, there are a great number of resources available for learning more about our Thanksgiving tradition and exploring a little deeper as this holiday approaches.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday Tech Tip: Smithsonian Education

I recently received a mailer from Smithsonian about their lessons, art, and digital resources available for teachers to teach about mythology.  Available here: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/myths/index.html

And I thought to myself, well this must be a cost based program.  Then I thought to myself, but none of the Smithsonian museums charge entry.  Lo and behold Smithsonian Education's offerings are FREE, FREE, FREE (one of my favorite words in technology).  And, the offerings are not limited to mythology, a topic that greatly interests many of my K-5 students, but isn't strictly a part of our curriculum.

Here are some examples (just a few) of topics that DO integrate quite well with our curriculum:

• Ben Franklin
• Dinosaurs
• More Dinosaurs
• Space
• Rocks and Minerals
• Native American (Dolls)
• The Constitution
• Explorers
• And Some Really Cool Idea Labs

And, for students, there are Smithsonian Students  and Smithsonian Kids  both with some great activities.  I added both of these to my curation lists.  For more "reliable resources" for students, check out the Pine Road Library website.  

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Follow the Drinking Gourd as retold by Cari Meister and illustrated by Robert Squier

Follow the Drinking Gourd is published by an imprint of Capstone, so it is no surprise that the illustrations have a graphic feel to them.  Though many books for children have been published about the underground railroad and different methods of communicating its route, I had not heard of the "Drinking Gourd" before.  I looked up a video to hear the song, to feel its words and the power, and I can only imagine the captive audience that Peg Leg Joe must have had each night.  I wish we knew more about his story, besides his heroic journey to tell the slaves of a way North to freedom.  Meister does an excellent job of interspersing lyrics from the song within the text to bring authenticity to the story.  The inclusion of a glossary, additional reading, and additional websites for students will keep children learning more about this fascinating topic.

Follow the Drinking Gourd

ISBN: 978-1-4048-7375-9

Published 2012 by Picture Window Books

I received this copy from the publisher to review for the CYBILS.

I plan to add this review copy to our school library collection.

Looking at Lincoln

Looking at Lincoln by Maira Kalman 

I enjoyed the path of this story, of a child passing a Lincoln impersonator on the street and then digressing into the tale of his life with some meandering thoughts and opinions interspersed.  While Kalman's style of illustration isn't my favorite, I think she made some excellent choices in what she chose to portray.  A lone log cabin, a stepmother who allowed Abe to dream, a hat that held notes, a soldier's uniform with a shot through the heart.  Powerful stuff.  My favorite illustration is the one of the cherry blossoms in DC.  I have been there for their blooming and it is spectacular!  The simple spots of pink, offset by the vibrant green grass brings this page to life for me.  The topic itself, is well timed to coincide with the movie, Lincoln.  The endpapers show the text of the Gettysburg Address, highlighting specific words to bring them to the fore of our thinking, as they may have been for Lincoln himself.

Looking at Lincoln

ISBN: 978-0-399-24039-3

Published 2012 by Nancy Paulsen Books

I borrowed this copy from the public library to read and review it.