Bookscoops

The Scoop on Children & Adolescent Literature

Archive for the ‘Non-Fiction’ Category

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Tisha , The Story of a Young Teacher in the Alaska Wilderness as told to Robert Specht

Posted by hollybookscoops on April 1, 2009

In 1927, Anne Hobbs is an amazing teacher who, after teaching in the western frontier town of Forest Grove, Oregon (where I lived once upon a time), decides to teach in the Alaskan wilderness. The journey to the gold-mining settlement of Chicken is grueling and unbearable, and ironically, somewhat flattering:

tisha

“Along the way I had so much attention paid to me by men that sometimes I didn’t think I was me. Even though I’d heard that there weren’t too many women in the North, I hadn’t expected to be treated like a raving beauty wherever I went . . . A couple of times, in my cabin, I’d look at myself in the mirror thinking that maybe I’d changed in some way, that maybe I was really much prettier than I’d always thought I was. But after a good examination I knew I was just the same plain Anne Hobbs- same gray eyes, not a bad nose, good white teeth. One of the front ones was a little crooked, so about the best I could say was that if I didn’t open my mouth and if my hair were still long I might have a faint resemblance to Mary Pickford. But even here in Eagle, where the riverboat had left me off, there’d been a dance given for me.”

A captivating story of determination and grit that will swell your heart. Anne became known as Tisha because that is how the Indians said Teacher. She challenged the limitations and prejudices that were commonly placed upon the native people by the white miners and villagers. This was my second read of the book and I had forgotten how much swearing there was- but when you are quoting miners and trappers, I’m not sure how else you are to be authentic. You can’t exactly change their colorful phrases and have them be the same people!

The western frontier, particularly Alaska, was a harsh place for women, but Anne Hobbs proved that women are a great force for good and are able to raise the level of humanity and compassion in the world. Our nation was changed for the better when women like Tisha ventured west, often in response to ads, to educate- not just in school, but in matters of community as well.

Tisha is part of my reading for Women’s History month. (I know it’s the end of the month- oops, I mean April,  but I’m working on it and hope to have a few more eventually)

Posted in Biography, Juvenile Fiction, Non-Fiction, Young Adult | 3 Comments »

Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Steven James Petruccio

Posted by caribookscoops on March 30, 2009

book_cover-narwhalNarwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Steven James Petruccio is the second book in the Smithsonian Oceanic Collection I have read and reviewed. I have to say I am impressed with both the series in quality and it’s intent, which is to promote the education and appreciation of nature. Each book comes with a stuffed animal and my five year old would be ecstatic to have a stuffed animal with a book, since she is a big animal lover and collector of stuffed animals. In each book there is a main character who faces a problem based on real experiences of that particular animal.

Narwhal: Unicorn of the sea is a delightful tale of a Narwhals, a type whale. The males in the species have long tooth, about 9 feet long that whalers often sold as unicorn horns throughout history. Not much is known about these whales as they spend in the winter in the harshness of the Arctic ocean. Just thinking about it makes me cold!

Janet weaves scientific fact with talented story-telling in Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea. The book opens with the Inuit word for Narwhal – Tuugaalik, Tuugaalik with beautiful illustrations done by Steven Petruccio. The reader journeys with Narwhal and experiences sightings of tourist boats, dangerous killer whales and being trapped by frozen sea ice with prowling polar bears waiting at the surface. You spend a year with Narwhale starting in the Arctic summer where his pod spends their time near shore and then the out in the sea during the cold, long, winter. Along the way readers can see lots of other sea life from birds to seals, to starfish, jellyfish and and finally yummy flatfish, at least yummy for Narwhal because that is what he eats. Petruccio’s pictures of beautiful blue water and arctic scenes including some with colorful northern lights makes me want to go and see Narwhals in their natural environment.

I did read this book with my daughter and two of her friends. Their favorite page was the one where Narwhal and another male cross teeth as if in a sword fight. They enjoyed the story and learning that whales are mammals and what types of things they ate. I the reason they liked the book so much is because it is easy for them to see how Narwhals are like humans. They often have family groups, they need to eat, they like to play and they sometimes have scary things happen to them.

If you want a high quality way to introduce children to nature through literature I highly recommend Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea and the Smithsonian Oceanic Collection. This book and series would are some of my top picks for helping children to appreciate and experience the natural world.

What are some other ways you can think that would help children learn appreciate nature?

nonfictionmondayMy review of Narwhale: Unicorn of Sea is part of Nonfiction Monday. To see other books reviewed for Nonfiction Monday see at Tina Nichols at Tales from the Rushmore Kid

Janet has also generously consented to do an author interview and given us an autographed copy of Little Skink’s Tail and Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story to giveaway. Details will be posted later today.

Posted in Books for teaching Math and Science, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Uncategorized | Tagged: | 6 Comments »

With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote by Ann Bausum

Posted by caribookscoops on March 25, 2009

bookcover_withcourageandclothFor me the story of women’s suffrage in the United States is one of the most compelling stories of courage in the United States. Some women risked their fortunes, jobs, families and their lives to achieve the dream of voting not unlike a group of rebels in 1776. With Courage and Cloth by Ann Bausum is a gem of a book that tells this story of courage and sacrifice that will keep you turning page after page. This is one of the best books I have found that describes the movement in a succinct manner that is easy to understand and keeps you at the edge of your seat. Ann covers the movement with a depth that is hard in less than a 100 pages. After reading this book you can’t help, but be in awe of these women and their courage. The story is nothing short of amazing.

The book has lots of visual appeal with primary source photographs. The text is not your typical black, but uses the colors of the movement – purple for justice, white for purity of purpose and gold for courage. The text is a deep purple, captions are gold and many of the photographs have been edited to add hints of the color in the cloth banners used as picket signs. In addition the book is well documented, a must for a non-fiction book. I would recommend this book for gifted elementary readers,  middle school readers and for readers even into high school and beyond. 

officialprogramofsuffrageparade

It has been my experience that most people know little or nothing about the woman’s suffrage movement in the United States. Sure, most could at least associate Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Seneca Falls Declaration with the movement along with a few other women like Carrie Chapman Catt and Lucretia Mott, but most have never heard of  Alice Paul and her friend Lucy Burns. Not to mention the jail time some of the women served in horrible rat infested prisons, hunger strikes, torturous forced feedings and attacks by angry mobs. 

Crowd Breaking Up Womans suffrage parade

I really liked how Bausum explains the two main groups who worked for Women’s suffrage and focuses primarily on the early 1900s with Carrie Chapman Catt leading the National Woman Suffrage Association, the organization originally started by Anthony and Stanton. The NWSA strategy was to win the vote state by state and had achieved some success. Alice Paul originally worked with the NWSA, but frustrated with the lack of progress started with Lucy Burns the National Woman’s Party.

A major strategy of the NWP was to appeal directly to the White House. They first staged a large parade of 8,000 women and girls on President Wilson’s inaugural day. The women were attacked by mobs of men and boys many women receiving bruisings and injuries while police officers who were supposed to protect the women often stood by and did nothing or at times helped the mob! Later women referred to as Silent Sentinels would picket the White house with banners and signs all year during all types of weather. They even continued their silent protest during WWI, which to protest a war-time president was considered very radical and had not been done by the suffragists previously. These women were among the first to use peaceful protest to achieve their political goals decades before Martin Luther King. The Silent Sentinels kept the issue of suffrage in the press and on the minds of many Americans.

votesforwomenReally this is  a must read for everyone.  I do have to admit that I am a bit jealous of Ann Bausum because she meet Alice Paul when she was 13, and Alice Paul is a favorite historical character of mine. After reading this book I am even more grateful for the opportunity I have to vote and that my daughters will have that opportunity because of women like Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, Lucy Burns, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and many others. My right to vote is not something I think about, I mean I get to go and vote, no questions asked. I am so glad these women fought the hard fight and won and I can hardly think of a better way to honor them to share their story and to keep on voting.

What are some other ways you can think of to honor our foremothers?

Ann Bausum’s website.

With Courage and Cloth by Ann Bausum is part of my reading for Women’s History Month during March. Others included are The Paper Bag Princess, When Marian Sang, Wintergirls and Grace for President.

Posted in Non-Fiction | Tagged: | 3 Comments »

Seven Miles to Freedom: The Robert Smalls Story by Janet Halfmann, Illustrated by Duane Smith

Posted by caribookscoops on March 4, 2009

sevenmilestofreedomI first fell in love with the story of Robert Smalls while watching a PBS documentary called Slavery and the Making of America. I loved his story and was thrilled to learn that Janet Halfmann had turned his story into a picture book. I enjoy collecting picture books that teach history so this was one of the top one’s I wanted read especially since I taught U.S. History.

From the inside cover

Robert stood proudly at the Planter’s wheel. Only seven miles of water lay between the ship and the chance of freedom in the Union territory. With precision and amazing courage, he navigated past the Confederate forts in the harbor and steered the ship toward safety of the Union fleet.

The meticulously researched book does an excellent job chronicling Smalls life from birth to his training as a wheelman and eventual escape with fellow crewmen and their loved ones aboard the Planter. Seven Miles to Freedom is a fascinating story of adventure and bravery that will keep you turning page after page. Duane Smith’s illustrations are well done, though not in a style that I am fond of, but they do compliment the text well.

I really enjoyed the afterword and learning about his role as a congressman. Robert Smalls helped write the constitution for South Carolina after the Civil War, which unfortunately was later replaced by a less democratic one as reconstruction ended. He continued to push for education and spoke out against unjust laws on behalf of African Americans and women.

I highly recommend this book for history buffs and anyone interested in a true story of bravery and courage. In 2004 the US army commissioned a ship, Major General Robert Smalls. The ceremony was attended by some of his descendants.

Duane Smith’s website.

Robert Smalls is an excellent example of bravey as he risked his life to obtain the freedom he so badly wanted and deserved. What are some of your favorite historical characters who demonstrated bravery for you?

Posted in Books for teaching history, Non-Fiction, Picture Books | Tagged: | 6 Comments »

Nic Bishop Spiders by Nic Bishop

Posted by bookscoops on March 2, 2009

nicbishopspidersSo in this book Nic Bishop, photographer extraordinaire, takes pictures of spiders and some of them even live with him and his wife. Yikes! He really is an incredibly talented nature photographer. Cari reviewed his book Nic Bishop Frogs and a new book about butterflies & moths will be coming out this spring.

Note about spider pictures: We understand that many people are let’s say less than fond of spiders and might be a bit jumpy. So other than the book cover we won’t be putting other pictures of spiders, although we will put links to some pictures so for those of you who are brave, curious or click happy you can check them out.

Cari: One night I couldn’t sleep after getting up with my baby so I decided to go upstairs for a little while and when I went back down guess what I saw on the floor? A Black Widow Spider. Yikes!!!!! So I thought, “Great I have no shoes on if I try and get my husband up he will hear the panic in my voice and come running out and step on it.” So, me being a resourceful person I went upstairs and grabbed the first thing I could see that might work – an empty sour cream container. Which amazingly worked and of course it woke my husband up with all the pounding on the floor and he comes running out. I’m shaking and he says, “what are you doing?”

“I just killed a black widow spider.” he looks down and sure enough belly up a nice red hour glass.

So of course I couldn’t sleep and went back upstairs and thought oh I’ll just do some blogging. The first blog I go to visit, had this book: Nic Bishop Spiders. It totally freaked me out. (Obviously I got over it enough to get it from the library).

Holly: I liked the book. I really liked the blue tarantula . . . cobalt blue tarantula.

Cari: We liked that one too. Especially the one where it is molting.

Cari: Did you read it with your kids?

Holly: Yes, we all read it together after I’d read it to my toddler several days in a row for nap time story- his choice. his favorite spider, again and again was the green lynx.

Cari: I wan’t going to read it to my daughter because I thought she would freak out from the pictures that are amazing and so realistic.

Holly: I think it gave my youngest son chills. It gave me the chills.

Cari: My daughter saw the book and asked to read it. She said she liked the book and that there was a spider that reminded her of her dad. A little puzzled I asked her, “Really?”

“Yeah, mom I want to find it.” She then turned to the page of the huntsman spider. Apparently, she heard it as the husband spider, and since it’s green and her dad likes green . . .

Holly: I love the the things kids think of!

Cari: I liked that each page had some facts about the spiders.

Holly: This is a Robert S. Sibert Award book. I remember what fascinated me is all the things he does to get the pictures and his wife even goes with him.

Cari: Yeah I’m not sure if my husband was in that line of work that I would be so willing to go with him. The pictures are freaky. It’s amazing so many different types of spiders in his book doing different things.

Holly: I liked the wolf spider page a lot. I had one for a pet in second grade. I think it died  because I didn’t catch enough flies.

Cari: Did she have babies?

Holly: She died right after she had the babies and I got distracted. I kept her in a big white  plastic peanut butter bucket. I really like the jumping spider fold out part.

Cari: Yeah me too.

Holly: I loved that he photographed a spider in the act of molting.

Cari: Amazing how many different types of spiders there are and how large and small some of them are, but most large ones don’t live where I do. Thank goodness!

And now for a trip down memory lane . . .

Cari: Remember when I had a dream that a spider was on your stomach and I saved your life by killing it with my bare hands?

Holly: Very well . . . actually, all I remember is being awakened in the middle of the night and seeing this hand coming down. “Whack! Whack!” By the third hit my brain responded and my hand stopped yours midair. I’m pretty sure my stomach hurt the next day.

Cari: But weren’t you grateful I was willing to go to such lengths to save your life? It was a big spider, a tarantula size spider.

This is the very same sour cream container used to kill the black widow!

This is the very same sour cream container used to kill the black widow!

Holly: Yeah, sure. . . but remember in real life, you weren’t even willing to kill the Black Widow outside your daughter’s room bare handed? You had to go get a sour cream container. Does that mean I’m more important than them?

Cari: Nope, sorry. I think it means I’m a grown up now and have greater powers of reasoning – especially when I’m awake.

Holly: I’m not so sure about that. (chuckle, chuckle) Do you remember the spiders in our basement growing up?

Cari: Those things were creepy.

Holly: Yep. I remember telling Mom and Dad that these spiders weren’t your ordinary spiders. If you saw one and left the room to go get a tissue, when you came back it would have disappeared. Completely.

Cari: Yeah, so then you started trying to trap them, so you could figure out what kind they were.

Holly: I remember being so frustrated when everyone would tell me they were just common garden spiders. I mean, come on! I had a pet spider for like two whole weeks in second grade. Doesn’t that mean anything?!?

Cari: Ummm. No comment.

Holly: (sigh) Thanks for the vote of confidence. So, anyway, I searched and searched with my specimens by my side, ready to compare. I never could find a match.

Cari: I left for college so I didn’t have to deal with them anymore. Except in the summers when I came home to work.

Holly: Our brother (yes the blanket lover) would go fetch me jars when the spiders came running out. We trapped them and then I’d study them. I thought that maybe they were brown recluse spiders, but they never had a violin shape on the top. I finally gave up and went to college myself.

Two years go by . . .Cari and Holly are now roommates at college.

Holly: Guess what! I picked up the school newspaper on the way home today and . . .

Cari: Anything good?

Holly: Just this amazing article on the front page. Did I tell you I was right, or what?

Cari: (gasp) Those are the same spiders in Mom and Dad’s basement.

Holly: Yep, they’re called hobo spiders and they are poisonous and practically blind, but they do sense vibration. That’s why they always disappeared when you walked away- they could sense.  your.  every.  movement.

Cari: (shiver down the spine) What a comforting thought.

Holly: So, I picked up extra copies to send to Mom and Dad. I can’t wait to tell them! I finally have proof!

Cari: I can’t wait to go home this summer and sleep with the spiders, that will be so fun! Not! (editorial note: once upon a time it was popular to say not after things you didn’t really mean)

The next summer . . .

Cari and Holly getting ready for bed, brushing their teeth, washing their faces, etc.

Cari: (ear piercing scream followed by a single bounding leap onto the countertop)”There’s a spider Holly! A spider!”

Holly: (also jumping onto the counter) “Where? Where?”

Cari: (trembling and giggling) “Over there! Crawling towards the tub!”

Holly: “Hey K! (our basement brother) bring me a jar!”

K: “No way! I’m not coming in there- there’s a spider in there. A Hobo spider. I’ll stay right here in my room, in the very middle of my bed, thank you very much!”

Holly: (muttering) “I’m not getting on the floor – those things have no vision! He might run right at me and he’s fast! Aha! The toilet plunger!  Okay Cari, I’m going for the plunger” (can we say Owen and Captain Plunger here?).

Cari: “Good idea.”

Holly: I’ve almost got it.  Just another inch. “There! Okay, I’ve got the plunger, now I just have to trap the spider.”

Cari: “Just cover him with it, then we know where he is.”

Holly: “Okay, done. Now what?”

Cari: “Let’s go get a piece of paper and slide it under like you do with the jars. Then we can shake him up and . . . we can’t drop him into a jar.”

Holly: “Yeah, he’s probably hanging upside down in there with no intention of dropping anywhere.”

Cari: “Dang it. We can’t squish him in there either.”

Holly: “At least we know where he is. But we can’t just leave him there.”

Cari: “Yeah, the little boys might try to play with the plunger. that would be dangerous.”

Holly: “In more ways than one.”

Cari: “I can’t remember how this story ends. . .”

Holly: “Me either.”

Cari: “I don’t want to be the heroine this time.”

Holly: “Oh puhlease! Do I have to do all the dirty work?”

Cari: “Pretty much. I’m the oldest that makes me the boss.”

Holly: “Could this be an indication of how the story ended? You probably sat on the counter and screamed while I went and got a shoe, and then shook the spider loose and smashed him to smitherines.”

Cari: “That’s sounds about accurate to me.”

Holly: “We did learn some good tips for spiders that ended up coming in handy. At least for me. I got married the next year and always slept with slippers under my pillow so I could put them on without having to shake them out first. My first two years of married life were spent in spider infested basements. I once found a really big one- we’re talking 2 1/2 inches in diameter floating in the toilet when I turned around to flush.

Cari: Oh, spare us the details!

Holly: Did I mention I’m a little nervous about spiders?

Cari: Why would you be nervous about them. I mean, come on! You had a pet spider back in second grade. (snicker)

Holly: Yeah, well usually that’s enough to calm the tremors, but we just moved into Mom’s basement last week while we look for a house to buy.

Cari: The basement. Eww! Gross. Good luck! Say hi to the spiders for me!

Holly: Thanks. I’ll be sure to send them your good wishes. I’ve sent 4 to a watery toilety grave so far- after squishing them of course. I don’t plan to make them suffer. Aren’t I so nice?

Cari: Oh, I’m sure they’re thanking their lucky stars!

This review is part of Nonfiction Monday hosted by Ana Maria at Books Together

Posted in Double Scoops, Non-Fiction, Picture Books | Tagged: | 7 Comments »

Non-Fiction Monday Wanda Gag: The Girl Who Lived to Draw by Deborah Kogan Ray

Posted by caribookscoops on February 23, 2009

wandagagthegirlwholivedtodrawAs part of the Children’s Literature Book Club, I am reading several of the Cybils finalists for the month of February and will try and post reviews of as many of the books that I can.

When I first started to read this book I was a little skeptical at first because I just wasn’t getting into the story. However, by the end of the book, I feel in love with Wanda Gag and her passion for drawing. In fact I got a little teared up while reading her story. She wrote and illustrated what is considered the first modern picture book Millions of Cats.

Wanda Gag was talented artist who would not let personal crisis, tragedy and poverty get in the way of her dream. What really made me fall in the love with the book was how she achieved her dream and at the same time took care of her family. Her father, an artist died leaving a widow with seven children and Wanda helped to make sure each child finished high school and at the same time she pursued her passion for art. Using her talents to help support the family.

Deborah Kogan Ray does an excellent job of combining Wanda’s Diary with her own words to add more details to this inspirational story. I can definitely see why this was a Cybils Nominee.

This is my favorite quote

I can’t help it that I’ve got to draw and paint forever; I cannot stop; I cannot; cannot, CANNOT. . . . I have a right to go on drawing….And we are all going though high school.

Deborah Kogan Ray’s website

I’m not sure I have the same passion as Wanda and I definitely have not had to deal with such hard things as loosing my parents and raising my siblings, etc.  I do have a passion for books, obviously, but I wonder how far I would go to keep my passion going. What are you passionate about and how far would you go to keep following your dreams?

Posted in Biography, Non-Fiction, Picture Books | 3 Comments »

Non-fiction Monday – Nic Bishop Frogs

Posted by caribookscoops on February 16, 2009

nicbishopfrogsNic Bishop is a gifted nature photographer and writer. Not only that this book received the Cybils award on Valentine’s day for non-fiction picture book and I can see why. It is stunning, the pictures even breath-taking and yes I am saying that about pictures of frogs. My five-year old loved this book and was extremely fascinated with the Glass Frog and the poison dart frogs. She informed me she would save her baby sister from one if she ever saw one, but not to worry she wouldn’t touch it with her bare skin. . . not even her pinky toe.

Now any picture book can not stand on pictures alone and Nic Bishops’ text will not disappoint you. Lots of fun facts and information about the life cycle of frogs. You will learn the difference between frogs and toads, that some frogs eat rodents and why frogs need to live near water.

Nic Bishop’s website

Now my sister and I will be featuring Nic Bishop Spiders for our Doublescoop, which is when we review a book together,  for next month. The pictures are also incredible, although I won’t say breathtaking. . .maybe breathless, especially if you are bit scared of spiders.

Posted in Award Winning Books, Books for teaching Math and Science, Non-Fiction | Tagged: , , | 6 Comments »

From Slave Ship to Freedom Road by Julius Lester Illustrated by Rod Brown

Posted by caribookscoops on February 6, 2009

slaveshiptofreedomroadThis is the MOST Powerful picture book about the history of African slavery in the United States, that I know of. I don’t think I have seen another picture book with illustrations that are so riveting. I was captivated by Rod Brown’s paintings from the moment I saw them – beyond words. Julius Lester’s text in this book is beautiful, powerful and provoking. I used this book every year that I taught US History about the African slave trade and it reaches people in a way that a textbook cannot. The text and paintings work intricatingly and passionately together to make history come to life. 

Lester had written about slavery before and said this, ”When presented with Rod Brown’s paintings. I was jolted into the realization that perhaps I had not done with writing about what it was like to be a slave. His work was a visceral response to slavery that eschewed photographic realism for a raw power that gave flesh to soul.”

From the book  (emphasis as in the book),

They took the sick and the dead and dropped them into the sea like empty wine barrels. But wine barrels did not have beating hearts, crying eyes, and screaming mouths.

I think often of those ancestors of mine whose names I do not know, whose names I will never know, those ancestors who saw people thrown in the sea like promises casually made and easily broken. . . .Millions were taken. No one knows how many millions died.

The Lester asks the reader to imagine what it would be like to be an African aboard a slave ship

Voice One: The darkness blacker than any night. Where was my father? my mother? Did they where I was? Why didn’t they come and get me? Did the ever know what happened to me?

Voice Two: Our bodies did what they had to do where we lay. Urine and excrement fell on me from above, and mine onto those below. The smell was as thick as hatred.

Voice Three: I was shackled by my wrists and ankles to a man on my right and one on my left. I could not stand. I could not turn over. I will never understand what I did to deserve this.

For me one of the most thought provoking, is when Lester asks the reader both black and white to consider what it would be like to be the perpetrator – the one doing the hurting. It’s easy to imagine what it is would be like to be the victim, to be torn from your family, but what about the person doing the hurting. He asks this,

We may think we would never whip someone until their flesh cried blood. But what if you would not be punished for doing it? What if your peers approved and deemed you honorable and good for beating someone? What then?

Such a powerful book, but is not picture book for young children. The recommended age group is 9-12 and I used it with 13-14 year olds – quite effectively and the book is also excellent for teaching literary devices for those English teachers out there. I have not yet read this to my barely turned 5 year old. I did think about showing it to her, but decided it was too much for her at this age. I would definitely follow the age recommendation on this one.

Julius Lester’s blog at A Commonplace Book and website

Rod Brown’s Art Collection – you can see several of his art pieces including some for this book!!!! Go check it out.

Posted in Middle Readers, Non-Fiction, Picture Books | Tagged: , , | 5 Comments »

A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary

Posted by hollybookscoops on January 31, 2009

Beverly Cleary provided me with one of my favorite childhood friends- Ramona Quimby. I still remember the thrill of discovering the escapades of dear old Ramona. If she could survive life and school, so could I. I’ve had my fair share of Ramona moments.

So, I feel very close to Beverly Cleary, having spent much of my childhood in the world she created. I loved finding out that she grew up in Oregon, where we lived when my husband was a graduate student. We would drive through Yamhill on our way to McMinnville to go eat at the restaurant that had a monkey. We would also go on Sunday drives through the breathtaking farm country surrounding Forest Grove and Banks. We have very fond memories of Oregon. I was stunned to find out that Beverly’s mom was a pioneer in her own way. She was one of the teachers who was hired by mail to come from Michigan to Quincy, Washington to teach school. Quincy is near and dear to me so the tales she told of her mother and Quincy in 1905 warmed my heart. I was enthralled by her portrayal of the depression and what people did to survive. They had so much less than we do now, and so it put things in proper perspective. We will be just fine.

This is a great autobiography. I look forward to reading about the rest of Cleary’s life in her second volume, “My Own Two Feet”. As a tribute to Ramona, I’d like to share my most vivid Ramona moment:

This one actually had to do with good ol’ Henry. In 5th grade we had to draw names of someone in our classroom for secret Christmas pals. I had a great time in that class with a good buddy I will call Stu. I was surprised when I drew his name for the secret gift exchange. For the life of me, I could not think of what in the world I would give this boy. I didn’t really know what a boy would want. Candy was always good. But when I asked for help with a gift (I’m not sure if I waited too long or what) I was on my own. I made some sorry excuse for a homemade craft and figured it was anonymous, so it wouldn’t matter, because he wouldn’t know it was from me anyway.  The next day in school, our teacher handed out all the gifts and we went back to our seats to open them. I was nervous. He sat directly across from me. I opened my gift: a used copy of Henry & Ribsy. He opened his gift: my art-deco glass bottle ala crapola. I’m not sure which one of us started criticizing first- probably me. “A book about a boy and a dog? Why would I want to read a book about a boy?” Stu: “What in the world is this empty jar stuffed with cotton and glued with ribbon for? Why would I want something girly like that?”

“Attention!” Called the teacher. “I will now read off the names of who had who in our secret gift exchange so that you may thank the person before you go home today.”

I’m pretty sure if I had dared to swear I would have done it. I didn’t.  I waited in awkward embarrassed silence. I flushed up past my ears. I didn’t think I could possibly be more embarrassed.

I could.

“This one’s kind of interesting.” said the teacher. “Holly had Stu and Stu had Holly.”

I felt like my coffin lid had just closed. He knew what I’d given him and he knew what I thought about the book. I didn’t dare make eye contact. Chastened and humiliated, I sat stunned in my chair. I can remember it like it was yesterday. Thank goodness for Christmas vacation. We left for two weeks, I read the book and liked it, and we both came back acting like nothing had ever happened. I bet we were both a lot more careful in being grateful for gifts. It didn’t ruin our friendship. In fact, it may have solidified it a little. By the end of the year I’d taught him how to belch out loud. During class I might add. I don’t know how my teacher ever tolerated us. But I thought it was a serious social injustice for any boy to not know how to make himself burp. (sorry in advance Mom, I know you hated that we girls learned how to make ourselves burp- this is the 1st time you’ve probably ever heard that I taught someone else in the middle of class how to do it- without getting in trouble I might add.)

 

Do you have a Ramona Quimby moment? Please, do share!

Posted in Books for Boys, Books for Girls, Middle Readers, Non-Fiction | 5 Comments »

Guts – The True Story Behind Hatchet and the Brian Books by Gary Paulsen

Posted by caribookscoops on January 30, 2009

gutsI loved Hatchet as a kid and when I saw this autobiography I had to read it. I wanted to know what was behind the stories. After reading this the man is lucky to be alive. Born in the 1939, he is not slowing down to say the least as of right now he is currently training for the Iditarod in Alaska.

 

I saw death coming at me, snorting and thundering. I think I may have thought of phantoms, wood spirits, wild monsters – I most certainly did not think of moose.

This is what Gary Paulsen writes as he describes his first encounter with a moose. In response to reader’s inquiries Paulsen decides to explain what parts of his books were based on real life. Paulsen, a talented writer ensnares the reader with his easy conversation style of writing balancing both fact and narrative description of his life. Growing up with alcoholic parents, forced Paulsen to be resourceful. He really spent a lot of time in the woods hunting for his own food as a kid. 

This creative man with guts shares his knowledge and love of nature through such his personal experiences with themes of courage and survival.  You’ll learn such things as why deer are some of the deadliest animals in the wild and the best way to eat bugs. This book, in addition to being a fun read, can help readers understand connections between authors’ own lives and the books they write.

I highly recommend this book especially for the adventure, outdoor, adrenaline seeking types. I would caution those of you who get a little quesy or don’t like vivid death scenes to either skip those parts or sit this one out. Paulsen literally witnesses death and comes close on more than one occasion himself and has eaten some interesting things and if you have read Hatchet – he eats everything that Brian eats plus some and minus one, but you’ll have to read it to find out. 

Since I live and was raised primarily in an urban setting I have no great outdoor adventures (other than while camping with my family in a Missouri thunderstorm – not fun by the way). I know wildlife is there and actually about 6 months ago while on a walk on the river walkway by our house my daughter and I saw a doe with two babies less than a mile from our home! My daughter was thrilled (we kept our distance thanks to Gary’s advice) and I had no idea there were deer so close to our house.  Currently we have a gopher living in our yard. We have tried a variety of things to get rid of the little buggar, traps, bombs, flooding the tunnels, sending the dog to dig, etc and so far he/she has evaded us. We’ve lost a few plants to the gopher including one of my favorite rose bushes. Argh. . . this spring I am determined to get rid of the gopher. I’ll keep you posted.

So what is your experience with wildlife in your area or do you have any outdoors adventures you would like to share? 

Gary Paulsen’s website and current Iditarod Journal

Posted in Biography, Middle Readers, Non-Fiction, Young Adult | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »