#prek through 6th

[saramichielle]

Review of Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara's biography RuPaul

Genre: Biography

Target Audience: Ages 5 to 9

Summary: This biography follows RuPaul from childhood to stardom in adulthood as he learns to express himself and do what makes him happy.

Justification: I chose this biography for the Prek through 6th grade group due to its tasteful depiction of drag queens in a way children can understand.

Evaluation: Sanchez Vegara does a wonderful job depicting Rupaul's life story in tasteful way without any judgmental biases. Her accuracy in presenting his journey through self-expression is a breath of fresh air amidst the negative pushback against drag queens. The author manages to mention the adversity Rupaul faced then and now but keeps the spotlight on the importance of being who you are.

The illustrations that accompany Sanchez Vegara's writing maintain the positive outlook on RuPaul's story. The bright colors and whimsical art style do a fantastic job illustrating the world of drag. Kids are able to see drag queens in a positive light without the bias some people hold against them.

This biography deals with current societal issues without making them the forefront of the book. With drag queens being a topic of debate, it can be hard to depict them without those biases. Sanchez Vegara manages to show them in a kid-friendly way and keep the focus on being yourself. The content is presented in a digestible way that is easy for kids to understand.

Reference

Sanchez Vegara, M. I., & Holmes, W. (2021). RuPaul. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

[somervillesongwriters]

Interview with upcoming artist (May): Phil Henry

Your music hangs out well in the folk genre, but is friends with a broader range of musical styles and approaches. What are your biggest musical influences?

Honestly, my biggest influence on my songwriting is Paul Simon. And it's precisely because of that range of styles. The easiest thing for him to do would have been to keep writing the folk songs he was so adept at creating.  He wrote gospel tunes, and perfect pop songs and ballads, and drew from diverse musical vocabulary from around the world. As long as something at the heart of it is personal and relatable, it still feels authentic. I keep that in mind and try to let the song go in the direction IT wants, rather than keep it in a box 

You teach music as your day job. What do you teach and to whom? How does your songwriting and performing inform your teaching?

I'm so lucky to be a music educator as my day job. I teach at a little Vermont preK-12 public school, West Rutland School. I teach Elementary music classes from 3rd grade up through Middle School, as well as lead a MS/HS chorus, an a Cappella group, and a contemporary music HS ensemble called Rock Lab. Being a performer means I can share my passion about performing folk music with my students, especially in a school as small as this one (a graduating class is about 20 students!), since I can be really flexible in the directions we head. For example, we recently had a concert of roots music, and my singers were particularly taken with the arrangement we did of "Wayfaring Stranger." That was gratifying.

You live in Vermont; what's the music scene like near you? How far afield do you travel to play or hear music?

It's an interesting scene, and very diverse, so there's a little of everything here- jam bands, punk and metal, jazz and funk, cover bands. That also means there are little pockets of every genre in towns across the state. There's not a huge songwriter scene right where I am in Rutland, so I do travel to get myself in rooms where people love hearing original songs. I'm not a super touring road musician like some of my friends, but in this past year, I've played in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and of course Vermont. Happy to be heading to Somerville!

Phil will be playing on Saturday, May 6th, 7:30 p.m., in the Somerville Songwriter Sessions, along with Steve Allain and host Beth DeSombre at the Somerville Armory Cafe, 191 Highland Ave, Somerville MA. (Great music, great food, free parking.) $15 suggested donation. Questions? [email protected]

#songwriting #somerville #livemusic #somervillearmory #songwriters #songwriter #somervillema #somervillesongwriters #music #somervillesongwritersessions

[savingformore]

FREE Publishing Kit for PreK-6th Grade Teachers

FREE Publishing Kit for PreK-6th Grade Teachers

PreK-6th Grade Teachers, you can publish a ‘book of kindness’ for FREE with your class. The free kit has everything you need to promote kindness in your class, motivate your students to do their best work, build upon their reading and writing skills and create a treasured keepsake. The publishing kit infuses your lessons with hands-on-fun and guides your students through the writing process. It…

View On WordPress

#Freebie

[gumcky]

Join us for Lava Lava Luau VBS every other Saturday this summer from 10am to noon CST!! The fun starts Saturday, June 4th at GUMC for ages PreK through 5th/6th grade.

The first Saturday of each month is also MEN-istry mornings! Men of all ages, come by this Saturday, June 4th, at 7:30am cst for a time of fellowship.

[grackle-crackle-books]

Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, Illustrated by Stevie Lewis

Genre/category: Banned/Challenged Book (5th most challenged in 2019), ALA Rainbow Book List Top Ten 2019, LGBTQ+, Picture Book

Targeted Age: PreK to 2nd graders

Quick plot synopsis: After struggling to find someone special to be his bride, a prince teams up with a knight in shining armor. Together, the two men face a dragon and fall in love with each other.

Why I chose Prince & Knight: Prince & Knight was the fifth most banned and challenged book in 2019. Unfortunately, book banning is becoming more and more rampant, with over 1,500 books challenged in 2021 alone (American Library Association, 2022). Books by and about LGBTQ+ people and/or people of color are by far and away the most censored books in the United States. Prince & Knight celebrates the love story between two men, and shows their wedding. The story allows LGBTQ+ readers the opportunity to see themselves in the fantasy setting, as well as offering non-LGBTQ+ readers a potentially new perspective. Additionally, Prince & Knight is a Top Ten choice from the 2019 ALA Rainbow Book List.

Evaluation:

First of all, Prince & Knight is full of gorgeous illustrations by Stevie Lewis. Her work is characterized by inviting colors, expressive characters, and beautiful depictions of nature. To convey the tone of various scenes, Lewis utilizes color and shadow. Two scenes occur at a long table in the castle. In the first, the prince sits alone in bright light at one end of the table, and his parents sit in shadow at the other end. This conveys the king and queen’s concerns about finding him a bride, as well as the fact that he alone is the focus of their attention. In the second scene at the same table, the prince, knight, king, and queen are gathered at the same end of the table. Natural light floods the entirety of the room. Having met their son’s husband-to-be, the prince’s parents are relieved that he will not have to rule the kingdom alone. The lighting and color express the emotions in both moments, from worry to joy.

Daniel Haack tells the tale of the prince and the knight in verse. Prince & Knight is sonically pleasing, a perfect candidate to be read aloud. Each line rhymes, such as “As the villagers returned, / it became clear to those around / that the prince’s one true love / had at last been found” (Haack, 2018, emphasis added). By using rhyme, Haack evokes the long tradition of fairytales, which were often originally oral narratives. The pleasing rhythm of the story’s language also contributes to its memorability.

Prince & Knight follows a central idea of the importance of being true to oneself. Right at the beginning, we learn that the prince is known to be sincere, and he expresses this quality throughout. Because of his sincerity, he does not waver from what he knows is his true self. The prince does not find love in any of the women he meets, and he refuses to lie to them even at risk of causing disappointment. Later, by staying true to his own beliefs and bravery, the prince goes to fight the dragon and protect his land at whatever cost. His choices in both ventures, courting and protection, earn him his happy ending with the knight. If the prince had strayed from his true self, he likely would not have found his true love.

Do I recommend it?: Certainly! Prince & Knight is a delight— this modern fairytale is beautifully illustrated and written. Readers from any background will love the story of bravery, joy, and true love.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2022, April 4). Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists. Banned & Challenged Books. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10

American Library Association Rainbow Book List Committee. (2019, January 28). The 2019 Rainbow Book List. Rainbow Book List. https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1324

Haack, D. (2018). Prince & Knight (S. Lewis, Illus.). little bee books.

#Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack #Prince & Knight #Daniel Haack #Stevie Lewis #book review #prek through 6th

[whiteantcrawls]

Resources for Home Schooling

✅The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games. Enjoy the tour! https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/

✅Tour Yellowstone National Park! https://www.nps.gov/…/lea…/photosmultimedia/virtualtours.htm

✅Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover. https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/

✅This Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs.  https://www.farmfood360.ca/

✅Indoor Activities for busy toddlers https://busytoddler.com/2020/03/indoor-activities/…

✅Play games and learn all about animals https://switchzoo.com/

✅Play with fave show characters and learn too https://pbskids.org/

✅Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre with this virtual field trip.   https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

✅This Virtual Tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life. https://www.thechinaguide.com/destinati…/great-wall-of-china

✅Math and Reading games  https://www.funbrain.com/

✅Phonics skills https://www.starfall.com/h/

✅This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/

✅ Read, play games, and hang out with Dr. Seuss https://www.seussville.com/

✅300,000+ FREE printable worksheets from toddlers to teens https://www.123homeschool4me.com/home-school-free-printabl…/

✅Geography and animals https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

✅Math practice from counting to algebra and geometry http://www.mathscore.com/

✅Fave kids books read by famous people https://www.storylineonline.net/

✅Crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dot, etc, https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/

✅High school chemistry topics https://www.acs.org/…/hi…/chemmatters/articles-by-topic.html

✅Math and reading games https://www.abcya.com/

✅Math and language games https://www.arcademics.com/

✅Hands on Elem science videos https://www.backpacksciences.com/science-simplified

✅Voice based learning... learn through Alexa https://bamboolearning.com/resources

✅Fun games, recipes, crafts, activities  https://www.highlightskids.com/

✅ClickSchooling brings you daily recommendations by email for entertaining websites that help your kids learn. https://clickschooling.com/

✅Math as a fun part of your daily family routine http://bedtimemath.org/

✅Games to get "into the book" https://reading.ecb.org/

✅Online history classes for all ages preteen through adults https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive

✅Biology  https://www.biologysimulations.com/

✅ Elem Math through 6th grade  https://boddlelearning.com/

✅Educational games K-12  https://www.breakoutedu.com/funathome

✅Digital archive of history  https://www.bunkhistory.org/

✅Test Prep for SAT, ACT, etc. https://www.bwseducationconsulting.com/handouts.php

✅Geometry https://www.canfigureit.com/

✅Resources for Spanish practice https://www.difusion.com/campus/

✅Chinese learning activities  https://chalkacademy.com/

✅Music is for everyone https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments

✅Science, Math, Social Studies https://www.ck12.org/student/

✅Grammar practice for middle grades  https://www.classroomcereal.com/

✅Daily free science or cooking experiment to do at home.http://www.clubscikidzmd.com/blog/

✅Chemistry  https://www.playmadagames.com/

✅Reading passages for grades 3-12, with reading comprehension and discussion questions. https://www.commonlit.org/

✅Vocabulary, grammar, listening activities and games in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Latin.  https://conjuguemos.com/

✅35,000 pages of online content on the cultures and countries of the world. https://www.countryreports.org/

✅K-5th Science lessons  https://mysteryscience.com/

✅Tons of free classes from leading universities and companies https://www.coursera.org/

✅Free printable K-8 Reading and Math activity packs (available in English and Spanish) https://www.curriculumassociates.com/supporting-students-aw…

✅Digital learning content for preschool through high school https://www.curriki.org/

✅A wide range of math content from middle school through AP Calculus. https://deltamath.com/overview

✅Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing. https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/…/learnathome.html

✅3 Free Weeks of Maker Stations to keep your children creating at home! Each challenge includes simple instructions using materials around the house, QR code video resources, and a student recording sheet. bit.ly/freemakerstations

✅Classes for older teens or adults https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/lp/t1/freemo…

✅Online homeschool platform & curriculum for Pre-K to 12th grade. All main subjects are covered, plus extra curriculum courses.  http://discoveryk12.com/dk12/

✅Printable board games, activities and more for phonics and reading all using evidence-based methods. Can be customized to any student's needs including creating flashcards for other subjects. https://dogonalogbooks.com/printables/

✅K-8 online math program that looks at how a student is solving problems to adjust accordingly and build a unique learning path for them. https://www.dreambox.com/at-home

✅Engaging reading game for grades 2-8 that combines strategy, engagement, and imaginative reading passages to create a fun, curriculum-aligned literacy game. https://www.squigglepark.com/dreamscape/

✅Higher level math series... online video series with detailed solutions to more than a thousand publicly-released College Board SAT Math, Subject Test Math Level 1, and Subject Test Math Level 2 problems.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbQoCpvYRYRkRRvsObOPHaA…

✅Foreign languages  https://www.duolingo.com/

✅Interactive video earth science based curriculum supplement. https://www.everyday-earth.com/

✅A safe research site for elementary-level readers. They are offering -- free 24/7 access USERNAME: read (case sensitive) PASSWORD: read (case sensitive) https://www.facts4me.com/

✅Resources for AP students including live reviews, live trivia, and study guides! https://app.fiveable.me/

✅Educational brain breaks to help students review essential literacy and math skills, while getting in some exercise. Find over 900 videos to help your child keep learning at home and burn off some extra energy. Our site is best used for ages 4-8. https://fluencyandfitness.com/register/school-closures/

✅Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. https://www.gonoodle.com/

✅7,000 free videos in 13 subject areas  https://hippocampus.org/

✅Carmen Sandiego videos, stories, and lessons for all subject areas https://www.carmensandiego.com/resources/

✅Math Videos with lessons, real life uses of math, famous actors https://www.hmhco.com/math-at-work

✅Entertaining & educational videos for all levels and subjects https://www.izzit.org/index.php

✅Online education program for toddler through high school... https://www.khanacademy.org/

✅Free Printables for PreK-2nd Grade https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/…/Lite…/Price-Range/Free

✅Free printables library with activities for children 0-6 https://www.littlesparkcompany.com/printables-library

✅Free at-home kids yoga lesson plans  https://littletwistersyoga.com/online-store/

✅Magic Spell is a carefully crafted spelling adventure.  https://brainbox.games/

✅Resources for AP students https://marcolearning.com/

✅Enter your math problem or search term, press the button, and they show you the step-by-step work and answer instantly. 2nd grade through college. https://www.mathcelebrity.com/online-math-tutor.php

✅Elem Math games, logic puzzles and educational resources https://www.mathplayground.com/

✅Poetry and music  https://www.thewell.world/mindful-mu…/mindful-poetry-moments

✅3D printing projects and Coding projects, involving math and other K-12 subjects https://www.instructables.com/…/EdgertonCent…/instructables/

✅Introductory and intermediate music theory lessons, exercises, ear trainers, and calculators.  https://www.musictheory.net/

✅Scads of free resources, games, learning resources, and lesson plans for teaching personal finance  https://www.ngpf.org/

✅Improve your typing skills while competing in fast-paced races with up to 5 typers from around the world. https://www.nitrotype.com/

✅Illustrated recipes designed to help kids age 2-12 cook with their grown-ups. Recipes encourage culinary skills, literacy, math, and science. https://www.nomsterchef.com/nomster-recipe-library

✅Online curriculum that builds better writers.  https://www.noredink.com/

✅80+ do at home science activities https://elementalscience.com/…/n…/80-free-science-activities

✅Daily lessons and educational activities that kids can do on their own https://www.superchargedschool.com/

✅Adaptive curriculum in Math and ELA for Grades K-8 https://www.scootpad.com/

✅Novel Effect makes storytime a little more fun for kids (and grown-ups too!) As you read out loud from print books (or ebooks!) music, sound effects, and character voices play at just the right moment, adjusting and responding to your voice. https://noveleffect.com/

✅Quick & easy at home projects curated for kids 2 and up https://www.kiwico.com/kids-at-home

✅Teaches students how to write a paragraph through interactive online tutorial http://www.paragraphpunch.com/

✅PreK-12 digital media service with more than 30,000 learning materials https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/

✅Curricular content hub specifically designed for K-3 students. https://pebblego.com/free-pebblego-capstone-interactive-acc…

✅Science and math labs and simulations  https://phet.colorado.edu/

✅An online physics problem and video bank designed for conceptual, standard, honors or AP1 physics.  https://www.positivephysics.org/home

✅Prodigies is a colorful music curriculum for kids 1-12 that will teach your kids how to play their first instrument, how to sing in tune & how to understand the language of music! 21 for free  https://prodigiesmusic.com/

✅Free videos from around the world from grade 3-12 https://www.projectexplorer.org/

✅QuaverMusic is offering free access to general music activities to all impacted schools, including free student access at-home https://www.quavermusic.com/info/at-home-resources/

✅For students to practice and master whatever they are learning. https://quizlet.com/

✅ReadWorks is an online resource of reading passages and lesson plans for students of all levels K-12.  https://www.readworks.org/

✅Critical Thinking resources for K-6 students https://marketplace.mythinkscape.com/store/redtkids

✅Music Based Spanish Learning  https://rockalingua.com/

✅Science simulations, scientist profiles, and other digital resources for middle school science and high school biology https://sepuplhs.org/

✅The Shurley English program for grades K-8 provides a clear, logical, and concrete approach to language arts.  https://www.shurley.com/

✅Sight reading and sight singing practice exercises. https://www.sightreadingfactory.com/

✅Music practice transformed  https://www.smartmusic.com/

✅Spellingcity is free right now with code VSCFree90 https://www.spellingcity.com/

✅Kid-friendly workouts — choose from Strength for Kids, Agility for Kids, Flexibility and Balance for Kids, Warm-Up for Kids, Cooldown for Kids, Stand Up and Move for Kids, OR create your own custom kid workout. https://app.sworkit.com/collections/kids-workouts

✅A collection of hundreds of free K-12 STEM resources, from standalone models and simulations to short activities and week long sequences of curriculum materials. https://learn.concord.org/

✅Course sets (Levels 1–5) that combine and thoroughly cover phonics, reading, writing, spelling, literature, grammar, punctuation, art, and geography—all in one easy-to-use, beautiful course.  https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/

✅At home OT, PT, and ST resources designed to build skills in children through movement and play. https://www.theottoolbox.com/

✅Science projects that can be completed with or without Internet access https://sciencespot.net/Pages/classhome.html

✅Keyboarding practice  https://www.typingclub.com/ or https://www.typing.com/

✅Next Generation Science video game focused on middle school where students directly engage in science phenomena as they solve problems. https://www.tytoonline.com/

✅Short videos and readings that answer various burning questions for students. There are vocabulary challenges and comprehension questions. http://wonderopolis.org/

✅Math practice  https://xtramath.org/#/home/index

✅K-5 curriculum that builds deep understanding and a love of learning math for all students  https://www.zearn.org/

✅A quick start resource to help families pull together a plan for surviving the next 1-2 months at home with their kids, but it can also be a time of slowing down and enjoying kids as they learn. Preschool through 8th grade  https://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/learning-at-home-everyth…

✅450 Ivy League courses that you can take https://www.freecodecamp.org/…/ivy-league-free-online-cou…/…

✅Spelling 1-4 grade https://www.spellingtraining.com/

✅2,500+ online courses from top institutions  https://www.edx.org/

✅22 languages to learn  https://www.memrise.com/

✅Learn to code https://www.codecademy.com/

✅Miscellaneous games for all subjects k-8  https://www.funbrain.com/

✅Phonics and learning to read https://readingeggs.com/

✅PreK - 5 games for all subjects  https://www.turtlediary.com/

✅Online digital coloring pages  https://www.thecolor.com/

✅Every course you could possibly want to homeschool preschool - 8 https://allinonehomeschool.com/

✅Every course you could possibly want to homeschool for high school https://allinonehighschool.com/

✅Phonics worksheets for kids  https://www.funfonix.com/

✅Free stories online ages 3-12  https://www.freechildrenstories.com/

✅National Geographic Young Explorers is a magazine designed specifically for kindergarten and first grade students. Children can listen to the magazine being read to them as they follow along with the highlighted text. https://ngexplorer.cengage.com/ngyoungexplorer/index.html

✅Learn all about earthquakes https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/

✅Learn all about the periodic table  https://www.chemicool.com/

✅Farmer's almanac for kids... Date, weather, moon phase, etc. https://www.almanac.com/kids

✅Guide to gardening for kids  https://web.extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/

✅Website allows students to play basic games to reinforce math skills and compete against the computer or others  https://www.mangahigh.com/en-us/

✅Space science for kiddos  https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

✅Math Games, Logic Puzzles and Brain Builders https://www.mathplayground.com/

✅Games, quizzes and fact sheets take kids on a journey through time. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/

✅NGAkids interactives offer an entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history. https://www.nga.gov/education/kids.html

✅News and more for kids  https://www.youngzine.org/

✅Randomly generates 356,300,262,144 story starters https://thestorystarter.com/

✅Immerse yourself in cryptography  https://www.cryptoclub.org/

✅Math games galore  https://gridclub.com/

✅Tons of science experiments that you can do at home https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/

✅An interactive way to learn history   https://www.mission-us.org/

✅Just explore, have fun, and learn some science along the way. https://thehappyscientist.com/

✅Interactive games based on the book series https://www.magictreehouse.com/

✅Work on the 8 parts of speech  https://www.grammaropolis.com/

✅Learn all about cells  https://www.cellsalive.com/

✅All sorts of learning here if you dig in https://www.google.com/earth/

✅Scratch draws students of all types into coding and lays a foundation for future learning.  https://scratch.mit.edu/

✅A wonderful, endlessly detailed way to get kids engaged in the world of art. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/

✅Tests kids’ geography skills. Using images from Google’s Street View, it plops players down in the middle of the street and asks them to figure out where they are. https://www.geoguessr.com/

✅Allows students to type in any city, state, or country to view an archive of historical photographs and other documents. It’s a unique way to help them learn about history.   http://www.whatwasthere.com//

✅Short videos about numbers that help kids explore complex math topics and make math more fun.  https://www.numberphile.com/

✅A human visualization platform that allows students to explore the human body in really cool ways. https://human.biodigital.com/login?returnUrl=/dashboard

✅Helps kids learn to appreciate the arts by providing them with the opportunity to play games, conduct investigations, and explore different forms of art. https://artsology.com/

✅Lets kids play instruments online. Instruments include the guitar, piano, pan flute, drums, and bongos. https://www.virtualmusicalinstruments.com/

✅Crafts, activities, bulletin board designs, and finger plays for early education teachers and parents to use with kids. http://www.preschoolexpress.com/

✅A large selection of fun songs to help teach preschool and kindergarten students https://www.songsforteaching.com/preschoolkindergarten.htm

✅Resource section includes free flashcards, coloring pages, worksheets, and other resources for children, teachers, and parents.  https://supersimple.com/

✅Life skills curriculum for students in grades K-12. Their resources include strategies for teaching social and emotional skills. https://www.overcomingobstacles.org/

✅Coding for ages 4-10  https://www.kodable.com/

✅No need to travel to one of the Smithsonian’s zoos or museums — this website brings your child everything from live video of the National Zoo to the Smithsonian Learning Lab right to their screen https://www.si.edu/kids

✅Cool Kid Facts gives your child access to educational videos, pictures, quizzes, downloadable worksheets, and infographics. They can use these to learn about geography, history, science, animals, and even the human body.   https://www.coolkidfacts.com/

✅This interactive website, hosted by the U.S. Government Publishing Office, allows your child to see the ins and outs of the U.S. government by taking a series of learning adventures with none other than Benjamin Franklin. https://bensguide.gpo.gov/

✅This NASA initiative covers a wide range of topics including weather, climate, atmosphere, water, energy, plants, and animals.  https://climatekids.nasa.gov/

✅Ask Dr. Universe is a science-education project from Washington State University. Kids can send Dr. Universe any question they may have about history, geography, plants, animals, technology, engineering, math, culture, and more. https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/

✅Your child can play games, learn fun facts, and find out how to turn coin collecting into a hobby.  https://www.usmint.gov/learn/kids

✅From rainbows to tornadoes and winter storms to tsunamis, meteorologist Crystal Wicker breaks down the fascinating world of weather. http://www.weatherwizkids.com/

✅Kids Think Design explores careers in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, book design, product design, film and theatre, architecture, animation, and environmental design. http://www.kidsthinkdesign.org/

✅This educational website hosted by the Smithsonian Museum takes a deep dive into ocean life. https://ocean.si.edu/

✅Brainscape offers over a million flashcard decks for every subject, entrance exam, and certification imaginable.  https://www.brainscape.com/

✅The Theta Music Trainer offers a series of online courses and games for ear training and music theory. https://trainer.thetamusic.com/en

✅Banzai exposes students to real-world financial dilemmas to teach them the importance of smart money management. https://www.teachbanzai.com/

✅Innerbody explores the 11 bodily systems in depth. With interactive models and detailed explanations, this website will help them learn more about the internal mechanics of the amazing human body.https://www.innerbody.com/htm/body.html

[piyokosworldproblems]

Thank you to the person I hate the most. Part One.

Due to my job and current relationship status, I drive a lot. I don't think I'm the only one, but if I'm stuck in a car by myself from more than an hour things get topical and deep.

A part of me feels like it'll always be stuck in the past. I find myself reaching for acceptance that I don't need and closure from people who have well forgotten the past.

But one person in particular, other than myself, cannot forget.

I find it funny how parents know best. I mean, not all the time, but they have a pretty good idea from their own past experiences.

For their own privacy, we will call them...

Asshole.

Sorry, no, that's not appropriate.

We will call them...Bertha?

Is that better?

Bertha was, in fact, a girl.

(I don't know why I said was, she still is but I'm too lazy to make changes.)

Now, Bertha and I were really okay friends. You know those people who just make their way into your life without you acknowledging it was happening and then they suck on like a leech.

Yeah. That was Bertha.

Bertha came in around 4th grade.

Now I went to a Private Catholic school when I was a smol Piyoko. I don't know if this is true for all, but my school had a maximum of 86 students for PreK through 8th grade. I think the smallest class was a few grades below me who had 6 students (2 boys and 4 girls and you best believe there was some crazy drama!) Anyways, basically with a small class and being stuck together for years on end, the class cliques were already established at a young age.

I was what was referred to as a Floater. I didn't have any specific friends and I would just hang out with whoever was available at that time. I never cared for them much. I considered myself friends with a few but I knew I wasn't well liked by my fellow peers either, but that was just for different reasons. I'm what you call a brutally honest person.

In other words, I can be a real bitch.

Off topic.

So Bertha joined in 4th grade. This was odd since new students normally didn't join that late, but it does happen.

Bertha was greeted by most of the popular people in my class (I should say there was about 18 of us.) Bertha was fine. I don't remember much about her back then since we did not talk much. I just remember she had terrible handwriting and had a hard time spelling.

Which there's nothing wrong with. Just a few things I remember.

In fact, the reason we did begin to interact was that I was put in the "Specialized Math Course" designed to help the stupid people with math. Getting off topic a little more, they set this up in the library basement like far back where the nuns used to stay. It was crazy! For people who believe in the paranormal, they'd probably say that part of the school was haunted.

Bertha and I had frequent conversations in that basement. Mostly about how we hated math and that we weren't trying that hard anyway since stupid people math was fun and we got free candy. Half the time I don't think we did any math.

Through 5th and 6th grade, Bertha and I were kinda friends. I hate to admit fully that we were ever friends, so I'll say she was a girl who had a lot of cool stuff I wanted and I was someone who would talk to her.

My mom hated Bertha. She told be Bertha was a troublemaker and a bad influence. I know some peoples parents prefer kids calling them by their first names, but my mom was a firm believer that it was rude to do so.

The only kid that got away with calling my parents by their first name was Vio. To this day I still don't know why.

One day Bertha wanted to join Science Olympiad and asked me to do events with her. And I was like pfffffft sure, I got time to waste.

What up nerds, that's right, I was in Science Olympiad and you best believe I only did it for the free shirt.

This was a whole day that my mom drove us around to events and spent the day with her. At the very end after dropping Bertha off, she looked me in the eyes and said, "Do you seriously like this girl,"

Again, for my own pride, I'll never admit to being besties with her. But against my will, she kept me close and told me a lot of things. I never told her anything since her big mouth couldn't keep shut, but I did (*baby barf*) enjoy somewhat of the time with her.

She always had good snacks at her place.

Now before you scroll away thinking, "Oh Bertha was just a kid ya know, I don't see why you hate her."

Here's the thing I say to you.

Bertha was manipulative. She surrounded herself with me to make sure that it was only her.

Just Bertha. (DDLC fans ehhhhh?)

She could be social to anyone she wanted but once I tried to talk to anyone else she'd flock to my side and talk about all the fun times we had.

Bertha was so freakin' nosey about everything. I never liked to open up about anything, so she'd attempt to pry it out of me.

I hate saying I was a victim or whatever, but in that time I had a bus driver who was manipulative in a sorta rapey, child molester way. I was a very naive child and I thought he was just an overly generous, lonely, old man.

Bertha didn't ride my bus. Bertha didn't know that bus driver. But for some reason, Bertha made a statement to the principal about how he had come onto her.

Omg, why would she do that?!

Because Bertha enjoyed the attention.

Bertha fed off others attention.

Bertha was an attention seeker and any chance she would pounce on it.

Going into 7th grade, I noticed this. I became a little more self-aware and aware of those around me. I began choosing friends. Better friends. I stopped talking to Bertha as much.

Saying this again, I was naive. Very, very, stupidly naive.

I never had a phone. I never had an iPod. I barely was able to use a computer.

Basically, I had zero knowledge of it and only assumed that everyone on the internet was good people.

She says as she rants on Tumblr.

Part One.

<3 Piyoko

#i hate you #rants #rant #vent #storytime #blog #school #part one #piyoko

[krispydreamerking]

"IT'S OFFICIAL".

“IT’S OFFICIAL”.

Lewiston, Maine Superintendent; to become, six (6th) to seventh (7th) largest business Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in State of Maine on completion of the new Mr. Robert Conner’s PreK through K8 elementary School in 2019.

It is estimated that with combined facility teachers, Educational Education Technicians, child facilitators, cafeteria staffing, Medical staff, Security, Janitorial, Team…

View On WordPress

#&quot;IT&039;S OFFICIAL&quot;

[blogdccollaborative]

I See the President!

 Submitted by: Katie Greer, Programming and Marketing Intern, DC Collaborative  Images provided by: Greta Schorn, Amidon Bowen Elementary School October 20, 2016

AHFES Feature: President Lincoln’s Cottage

As part of our Arts and Humanities for Every Student program, on October 17th, Amidon Bowen Elementary School was able to go to President Lincoln’s Cottage for their interactive program entitled: I See the President.

Exchanging and Respecting Ideas 

The Story: Lincoln commuted daily from the Cottage through downtown Washington to the White House. Along the way, Lincoln encountered front line soldiers, escaped slaves living in contraband camps, wounded soldiers, and Washington residents. These people influenced Lincoln and his ideas on the Civil War and emancipation. Lincoln’s desire to exchange ideas with those around him is a model to young minds as they learn to respect others’ ideas. In this program, students take on the role of the people Lincoln interacted with on his commute and analyze their first-hand accounts to write a fable that teaches their classmates an important lesson.

View the Curriculum Materials from I See the President here. 

President Lincoln’s Cottage Other AHFES Offerings

Lincoln’s Hat is designed for students PreK-3rd grade. In this program, students will discover Lincoln’s habit of storing his ideas inside his signature hat, and a hands-on activity provides students a place to keep their own ideas.

View the Curriculum Materials here.

Lincoln’s Toughest Decisions: Debating Emancipation is designed for students 6th-12th grade. This award-winning program puts students in the role of President Lincoln’s closest advisors where they will use touch screen monitors to explore historical documents and recreate the heated discussions that President Lincoln had with his Cabinet over emancipation.

View the Curriculum Materials here. 

Quick Links

President Lincoln’s Cottage

President Lincoln’s Cottage AHFES Feature Page

AHFES Online Catalogue

Amidon Bowen Elementary School

#DC Arts #Humanities #Humanities Education #President Lincoln's Cottage #Lincoln #ArtsEd #Story Bank #StoryBank #Arts Integration #Education #DC #Museums #Historic Homes #Museum Education #Museum Tour #Museum Workshop #Experiential Education #Field Trip #Field-Trip #AFES Feature #AHFES Feature

[grackle-crackle-books]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker

Genre/category: Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2021-2022, Newbery Honor Award Honoree 2020, Horror, Novel

Targeted Age: 3rd to 6th graders

Quick plot synopsis: Seven young foxes want seriously scary stories from the Storyteller. Only one kit is brave enough to hear the whole tale of Mia and Uly, who face rabid foxes, human hunters, hungry alligators, and domestic violence.

Why I chose Scary Stories for Young Foxes: Heidicker’s novel appears on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2021-22, in addition to being a 2020 Newbery Honoree. Included with the story are illustrations by Junyi Wu. Scary Stories for Young Foxes is organized as interconnected short stories, each separated by updates on the seven little foxes listening to Mia and Uly’s adventures.

Evaluation:

First and foremost, the visual design of Scary Stories for Young Foxes is impeccable. The interludes between stories are printed with white text on black paper to distinguish them from Mia and Uly’s stories. The final page is also black, reads “Sleep tight, little foxes.”, and is juxtaposed with bright red endpapers (Heidicker, 2019). Along with the design, Junyi Wu’s illustrations add to the scary mood of the novel. Each piece of artwork appears to be done in charcoal pencil, with ample texture created via hatching technique. Each story is headed by a full page illustration, and smaller pieces appear throughout as well. Wu’s artwork shows long shadows, frightening foxes, and fearful young kits. These support the moods of the novel, as well as the fact that it is a horror book.

Both the main characters, Mia and Uly, are dynamic and go through considerable growth during the story. Mia, who is separated from her family first by illness and then by a human, is forced to learn that the world is not always comforting. Uly, who grew up with cruel sisters and only three legs, learns to face his abusive father and conquer his numerous fears. Their stories begin separately, but intertwine as the plot develops. Together, Mia and Uly help each other face their own struggles, past and present. The villains and dangers they face feel realistic, from Uly’s father to hungry alligators. There is possibly one exception: the human enemy that Mia faces is Beatrix Potter. The beloved children’s author’s presence feels a little inexplicable. But, she is truly horrifying through Mia’s eyes and fits into the story.

Of course, when talking about horror it’s important to talk about tension. Good horror stories require good tension, and Scary Stories for Young Foxes does the job. It maintains tension throughout, without becoming tiring. This is achieved through the pacing of frightening events. When Uly is swimming for shore, Mia’s increasingly frantic encouragements heighten the fear of the scene. This climaxes in Uly getting grabbed by an alligator and making a daring escape (Heidicker, 2019). In between horrors, the readers are given respites in the form of happier scenes and the interludes. The little foxes in the breaks help with the tension as well, constantly needing the Storyteller to remind them to be patient.

Do I recommend it?: Definitely! Scary Stories for Young Foxes is the perfect middle grade horror novel, and it is probably my favorite book I’ve reviewed for this blog so far. Kids who read this novel will find that it is satisfying and has a hopeful ending.

Citations:

Heidicker, C. M. (2019). Scary Stories for Young Foxes (J. Wu, Illus.). Henry Holt and Co. (BYR).

#Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker #Scary Stories for Young Foxes #Christian McKay Heidicker #Junyi Wu #book review #prek through 6th

[grackle-crackle-books]

The Real Boy by Anne Ursu

Genre/category: Disability/Difference, National Book Award Nominee, Fantasy, Novel

Targeted Age: 3rd to 6th graders

Quick plot synopsis: Oscar works as a hand in the shop of the last magician in Aletheia. He’s happiest in his small room, working with herbs behind the scenes, but one day he’s forced to run the shop all alone. Aletheia is changing— a monster is in the forest, children are getting sick, and Oscar must make sacrifices to save the world as he knows it.

Why I chose The Real Boy: The Real Boy is listed on Disability in Kidlit’s Honor Roll. Oscar, while never explicitly referred to as autistic, has clear signs of autism. Ursu’s novel is told from Oscar’s perspective and is an accurate representation of an autistic character. Additionally, The Real Boy was a National Book Award Nominee. Illustrations and setting map by Erin McGuire appear on a few pages, each accompanying the scenes they depict.

Evaluation:

Oscar is the definitive focus of The Real Boy. The novel is told entirely from his third person perspective. The reader experiences the magic and conflict of the world through his interactions and interpretations of them. By focusing on Oscar’s perspective, his differences are portrayed in the way he experiences them. This avoids the sense of othering present in many other books with autistic characters. The only indication that Oscar is “odd” comes from the reactions other characters have to him. Oscar’s behavior is normal to him, and through the third person limited perspective, it’s normalized to the reader as well. Rather than treating him like a specimen, The Real Boy treats Oscar as a fully realized human being, a real boy.

Ursu’s primary characters in The Real Boy are well-rounded and dynamic. Over the course of the story, Oscar is changed by his ever-evolving situation. He develops a strong friendship with the healer’s apprentice, Callie, who also grows over the course of the novel. The pair assist each other with things they need to survive— Callie helps Oscar interact with his shop’s customers and Oscar helps Callie learn about herbs and remedies. One thing I appreciated about The Real Boy is that the plot does not focus on “curing” Oscar of autism. His character growth is not aimed at changing autism, but rather at his developing friendships and desire to protect others. His autism is part of his character, but not all of it.

The Real Boy has very quick pacing of events for Oscar, but I felt that the pacing of the mystery was somewhat slow. At times, it seems like poor Oscar can’t catch a break. Tragedy strikes the magician’s shop more than once, leaving him all alone to deal with belligerent customers. He hardly has any time to recover from some of these obstacles. But, he always has his beloved cats and friend Callie to rely on. For the mystery of the attacks on the Barrow village and the sickness of the City children, not much progress is made toward the solution until the latter half of the book. However, when Oscar and Callie find their solution and life starts to return to balance, the relief in the story is palpable. Perhaps the constant turmoil Oscar faced makes the ending of the novel even sweeter.

Do I recommend it?: Yes! The Real Boy is a loving portrayal of an autistic boy in a fantasy setting. Readers of all ages will love to read about his adventures and dealings with magic.

Citations:

Duyvis, C. (2015, April 13). Review: The Real Boy by Anne Ursu. Disability in Kidlit. https://disabilityinkidlit.com/2015/04/13/review-the-real-boy-by-anne-ursu/

Ursu, A. (2013). The Real Boy (E. McGuire, Illus.). Walden Pond Press.

#The Real Boy by Anne Ursu #The Real Boy #Anne Ursu #Erin McGuire #book review #prek through 6th

[grackle-crackle-books]

The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha, Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

Genre/category: Caldecott Award Honoree 2021, Picture Book

Targeted Age: PreK to 2nd graders

Quick plot synopsis: When people must flee war in Aleppo, Syria, they're forced to leave beloved pets behind. Alaa, an ambulance driver, stays in Aleppo and takes care of lonely, scared cats.

Why I chose The Cat Man of Aleppo: The Cat Man of Aleppo is a 2021 Caldecott Award Honoree that depicts kindness following tragedy. Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, known as Alaa in the book, is a real-life cat rescuer in Aleppo, Syria. A note from him appears at the beginning of the text. This book covers his story and shows the very real horror that is the Syrian civil war (2011 - ). I selected The Cat Man of Aleppo because I think it’s the perfect book to introduce concepts that Western children would not otherwise see. The story also concludes with notes from Latham, Shamsi-Basha, and Shimizu, discussing their own connections to the story, Alaa, and Aleppo.

Evaluation:

Yuko Shimizu’s digitally colored ink illustrations support the mood of scenes in The Cat Man of Aleppo. Bright pages with a bustling bazaar are immediately followed by a nearly all-black page spread featuring Alaa grieving in front of a view of Aleppo burning. The illustrations show the war-torn Aleppo that surrounds Alaa as he helps injured people. These pair with the text’s description of the increasing emptiness of the city. Brighter colors seep back into the pages as the cats are introduced. With the rescue of the cats, hope begins to find its way back into Alaa and Aleppo. Additionally, Shimizu put a lot of effort into research to represent Aleppo and its people as accurately as possible. For example, when researching Alaa myself, I recognized a real-life cat because I had seen him in Shimizu’s artwork.

The Cat Man of Aleppo tells the true story of Alaa’s efforts to protect and care for abandoned animals in Aleppo. The book follows events from his first efforts feeding cats in the street to the assistance for orphaned children he now provides. Some elements of Alaa’s story are left out, such as the bombing of the original cat sanctuary. It would have been interesting to see this event addressed, and how it contributes to Alaa’s heroic perseverance in the face of devastating loss. However, I can see why various details such as this were left out for brevity’s sake. Leaving the sanctuary bombing out also makes the story less traumatic for younger audiences. Additionally, some of the elements of Alaa’s story not in the text are referenced in the authors’ notes.

Cultural details in Latham and Shamsi-Basha’s text helps the reader to imagine the Aleppo that thrived before the war. We learn that Aleppo was a city of “pistachios and jasmine soap”, of “boiled corn and dried figs” (Shamsi-Basha & Latham, 2020). Rather than see Aleppo as only a dangerous place, The Cat Man of Aleppo encourages the image of the city as hopeful, human, and deserving of protection. These details about the food, trees, and fashion of Aleppo create this image. Alaa loves his country, his people, and of course, his cats.

Do I recommend it?: Of course! The Cat Man of Aleppo tells a powerful story of helping others in the face of horrible devastation. It’s a great way to introduce children to this topic and encourage them to follow Alaa’s example and make a positive impact on the world.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2022, January 10). Randolph Caldecott Medal. Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecott

BBC News. (2019, March 7). Return of the cat man of Aleppo. https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47473772

Shamsi-Basha, K., & Latham, I. (2020). The Cat Man of Aleppo (Y. Shimizu, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

#The Cat Man of Aleppo by Irene Latham and Karim Shamsi-Basha #The Cat Man of Aleppo #Irene Latham #Karim Shamsi-Basha #Yuko Shimizu #book review #prek through 6th

[grackle-crackle-books]

New Kid by Jerry Craft

Genre/category: Coretta Scott King Award Winner 2020, Newbery Award Winner 2020, Banned/Challenged Book, Graphic Novel

Targeted Age: 3rd to 6th graders

Quick plot synopsis: Twelve-year-old Jordan Banks is less than enthused about going to his new school. As one of the few students of color at the distinguished private academy, Jordan learns to navigate the struggles that come with class and racial differences.

Why I chose New Kid: New Kid won a Coretta Scott King Award in 2020, which celebrates Black authors and illustrators of youth literature. In addition, Craft’s graphic novel also won a Newbery Award in the same year. Jordan’s story is presented realistically, showing the reader both the highs and the lows of being a young Black boy in a predominantly white school. This book has unfortunately faced numerous bans/challenges over the past year. A ban near me, at Katy Independent School District of Katy, Texas, made national headlines for alleging that New Kid violated Texas law. This censorship is concerning, as Jordan’s story is important and stifling this book only makes kids like him feel more alienated than they already are.

Evaluation:

As a graphic novel, visual representations of the character, story, and setting are integral to New Kid. We see Riverdale Day Academy through Jordan’s eyes, both his actual experiences and his interpretations in his own sketchbook. The connections between the two give depth to Jordan’s character. His humor and emotions are easy to see in his own personal sketchbook, but they also appear in the full color “real life” parts of the text. For example, background characters move and behave like zombies on the first day of school and when Jordan’s parents argue, Jordan is represented as a baby sitting between them (Craft, 2019). Additionally, the exaggerations and caricatures in Craft’s artsyle enhance the awkwardness of the situations Jordan finds himself in. Through Craft’s illustrations, the reader is right alongside Jordan for every high and every low.

New Kid is full of wit, humor, and well-placed allusions. Each chapter heading references another popular media. For example, “Chapter 2 The Road to Riverdale - There and Back Again” is a reference to The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. The illustration supports this, with a map that evokes J.R.R. Tolkien’s own style (Craft, 2019, p. 16-17). The humor of the story often pokes fun at the unfortunate behavior of Jordan’s teachers and peers. On page 129, the school librarian recommends a book to Maury, another Black student. She asserts that he’ll relate to the fatherless, poor main character only to be told “Thanks, Miss Brickner, but my dad is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company” (Craft, 2019). The humor apparent in the school librarian’s mistake points out how absurd similar behaviors can be.

Insights into the very real problem of seemingly “harmless” interactions that are actually racist are a major focus of New Kid. Throughout the book, incorrect assumptions are constantly made to the detriment of students of color at Riverdale. Craft uses these insights to encourage the reader to consider similar problems faced by themselves or their peers. All of Craft’s scenes are well thought out and poignant. One in particular stuck out to me— when Jordan’s white teacher insists that he should be happy to be different, he asks if she’d teach in his predominantly Black neighborhood so she could feel special too (Craft, 2019, p. 221). This scene challenges the idea that white society should be seen as a "reward" for people of color.

Do I recommend it?: Definitely! Jordan’s story offers a mirror for kids like him, and a window for others. His experience is true to life and is told with humor and kindness throughout. New Kid can (and should) be enjoyed by anyone of any age.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2022, January 24). Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present. ALA. https://www.ala.org/rt/emiert/cskbookawards/coretta-scott-king-book-awards-all-recipients-1970-present#2020

Craft, J. (2019). New Kid. HarperCollins.

#New Kid by Jerry Craft #New Kid #Jerry Craft #book review #prek through 6th

[grackle-crackle-books]

Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen, Illustrated by Josée Masse

Genre/category: Poetry, Picture Book

Targeted Age: Toddlers to 2nd Graders

Quick plot synopsis: Thunder Underground is a collection of poems about all the things you can find under the earth. The illustrations follow two children as they explore caves, subways, farms, and more.

Why I chose Thunder Underground: Recipient of more than one starred review (Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly quotes can be found on the back of the book), Thunder Underground is a poetry collection any child can enjoy. The collection includes both scientific/nonfiction and personal poems relating to things in the earth. Together with the illustrations, each poem can inspire a child. The last page of Thunder Underground contains notes on each of the twenty-one poems for the reader to learn more. Further, Jane Yolen is a prolific children’s writer whose work spans almost 400 titles.

Evaluation:

The poems of Thunder Underground are perfectly paired with mixed media illustrations. Masse fills the pages with Earth-tones, greens, and blues befitting the topic. Cross-sections reveal fossils, animal burrows, roots, subways, and sewers below the feet of the two children. Paired with the poems, the artwork demonstrates the ideas being described. For example, on page twenty-four and twenty-five, “Notes from Some Old Fossils” is about ways fossils are made (Yolen, 2017). Three ways are described and three ways are illustrated: buried in the ocean, stuck in tar pits or bogs, and from volcanic activity.

Thunder Underground begins and ends with two poems titled “Under”. These two poems bookend the rest of the collection and form a sort of frame narrative. One introduces the underground, the other gives a conclusion, and the other poems are laid out to explore all the topic’s facets. On a page level, each layout includes a double spread illustration and at least one poem. Often, the poems are arranged to interact with the artwork, such as on page sixteen where the title of a poem is lit by streetlights.

Yolen’s poetry pleases the eye and the ear. The poems steer clear of condescension, respecting children’s reading capabilities. Thunder Underground shows Yolen’s love of wordplay in each poem. “Seeds” compares the growth of plants to writing: “This dot, / this spot, / this period at the end / of winter’s sentence / writes its way up / through the dull slate of soil / into the paragraph of spring.” (Yolen, 2017, p.8). A few puns are sprinkled here and there among the poems as well. The wordplay and different styles of poetry come together to make Thunder Underground a rich soil for planting ideas.

Do I recommend it?: Absolutely! Thunder Underground can be enjoyed by all ages and should be included in every poetry section for children. Both poems and illustrations are educational, imaginative, and inspiring.

Citations:

Yolen, J. (2017). Thunder Underground (J. Masse, Illus.). Penguin Random House.

#Thunder Underground by Jane Yolen #Thunder Underground #Jane Yolen #Josée Masse #book review #prek through 6th

[grackle-crackle-books]

When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff, Illustrated by Kaylani Juanita

Genre/category: Stonewall Award 2020, LGBTQ+, Picture Book

Targeted Age: Toddlers to 2nd Graders

Quick plot synopsis: Aidan is a young transgender boy excited to become a big brother. He wants everything to be perfect for the baby, and learns along the way that it’s okay to make mistakes.

Why I chose When Aidan Became a Brother: Winner of a 2020 Stonewall Award, When Aidan Became a Brother relates the experience of being a transgender child. Lukoff’s story also shows how that complex experience intersects with expecting a new family member. When Aidan Became a Brother is an excellent window into both topics. Additionally, in the author’s note Lukoff discusses being transgender and the hope that all kids can find belonging.

Evaluation:

Gorgeous, brightly colored illustrations by Kaylani Juanita capture the reader’s attention in When Aidan Became a Brother. With digitally created watercolor artwork, Juanita includes delightful detail on every page. Before Aidan came out, the illustrations provide multiple hints at his unhappiness. One detail in particular, the paper that he used to cover his mirror, indicated his dissatisfaction with his appearance. After he comes out, the artwork supports his newfound joy. Depictions of animals and plant life are abundant, especially in the form of patterned fabric each character wears (Lukoff, 2019).

Being a trans child, Aidan has to navigate a world that does not see him the way he sees himself. The text does not shy away from this reality, but draws its tension from it instead. Aidan wants to protect his future sibling from expectations that made him uncomfortable. When strangers ask about the gender of the baby, Aidan responds negatively; he “didn’t like it when people asked if he was a boy or a girl, and he hoped the baby couldn’t hear yet” (Lukoff, 2019). The story’s tension stems from wondering how Aidan will overcome his worries about misunderstandings he and his family face.

Characterization in When Aidan Became a Brother is well crafted, especially in terms of Aidan’s growth. Aidan’s visual representation changes over the course of the story as he tries out different hairstyles and fashions. In addition to embracing who he is as a trans boy, Aidan is dynamic in his emotions surrounding becoming a brother. He feels nervous as the due date draws closer, hoping that he can help the baby feel accepted from the start. But, Aidan grows to overcome these nerves and learns that the best he can do for his new sibling is express his love.

Do I recommend it?: For sure! When Aidan Became a Brother is a great read for parents and children alike, whether they’re in the same situation as Aidan’s family or not.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2020). When Aidan Became a Brother | Awards & Grants. ALA.org. Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/when-aidan-became-brother

Lukoff, K. (2019). When Aidan Became a Brother (K. Juanita, Illus.). Adfo Books.

#When Aidan Became a Brother by Kyle Lukoff #When Aidan Became a Brother #Kyle Lukoff #Kaylani Juanita #book review #prek through 6th

[grackle-crackle-books]

¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market by Raúl The Third, Colors by Elaine Bay

Genre/category: Pura Belpré Award 2020, Picture Book

Targeted Age: Toddlers to 2nd Graders

Quick plot synopsis: Little Lobo, his dog Barnabé, and their roach friend make deliveries to the market. Together they help out friends old and new while exploring the variety of vendors.

Why I chose ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market: Written and illustrated by Raúl the Third and colored by Elaine Bay, ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market won the 2020 Pura Belpré Illustrator award for its authentic portrayal and celebration of a mercado (market). The Pura Belpré Award promotes the depiction of Latina/o culture from Latina/o authors and illustrators. ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market’s colorful pages are interspersed with both English and Spanish text, complete with a glossary of Spanish terms at the end. This book provides a great way to naturally learn Spanish vocabulary via context and images.

Evaluation:

Created with ink and colored in Adobe Photoshop, the illustrations of ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market are chock full of detail (Raúl the Third, 2019). Each page is reminiscent of the work of Richard Scarry, full of busy animal characters and Spanish words labeling different objects and activities. The art style also echoes elements of vintage cartoons. Every illustration in ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market provides details that introduce more plot elements than in the text. For example, early in the book a newspaper detail reads “el TORO loses mask!” and on the accompanying page El Toro can be seen wearing a paper bag over his head (Raúl The Third, 2019). The saga of El Toro’s mask is not mentioned in the text until the very end, when that plotline intersects with Little Lobo’s. Each and every character suggests life beyond the plot of the story, lending depth to the world created.

As indicated on the dedication page, the Mercado in ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market is inspired by the real life El Mercado Cuauhtémoc in Ciudad Juárez, México. El Mercado is the central focus of the story, and the fact that it is so faithful to reality is one of the reasons this book is a Pura Belpré award winner. References in the illustrations, such as puppets that look like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, provide credibility to the the Mexican setting. These elements of Latina/o history and culture are fundamental to the life of Little Lobo and other market goers.

Both text and illustrations support a theme of appreciating the benefits of helping others in a community. Little Lobo delivers things that Mercado vendors need, and in return they give him gifts and things that he needs. Through this, the community in El Mercado participates in a form of mutual aid. ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market uses the events of the story to present its theme, successfully avoiding didacticism. Rather than explicitly stating the lesson it wishes to teach, the book allows the reader to reach their own conclusions.

Do I recommend it?: ¡Por supuesto! (Of course!) ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market can be enjoyed by any age with its delightful references, and it provides ample opportunities for readers to learn some Spanish and Latina/o culture.

Citations:

American Library Association. (2020, July 26). ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market | Awards & Grants. ALA.org. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/%C2%A1vamos-lets-go-market

Raúl The Third. (2019). ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market. Versify, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

#¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market by Raúl The Third #¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market #Raúl The Third #book review #preK through 6th