Module 2: Miss Rumphius

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Summary

Miss Rumphius is a tale of a woman who was given a challenge to do three things in her lifetime. Her challenge was to go to faraway places, live by the sea, and most importantly make the world more beautiful. She was challenged by her grandfather. Many years pass by and she eventually does all the things except the last, make the world more beautiful. She loves lupine flowers and plants them before she becomes ill. Once she is well, she sees that her flowers have spread all over her town. In the end, she also challenges her great niece to do the same. 

APA Reference

Cooney, B. (1982). Miss rumphius. New York, NY: The Viking Press.

My Impressions

This was a sweet book that shows how time after time tradition and advice from our elders should be taken.  The wisdom from our elders can often be the best and most rewarding advice. Though this is an older book, the message is still clear and can be related to the present seeing as time still passes and wisdom is often passed on from generation to generation. I could almost smell the flowers as the author described the jasmine and lupine. 

Professional Review

When Miss Rumphius was a small girl, her grandfather told her she could travel and live by the sea as she wanted, but she must also do one more thing—in some way make the world more beautiful. She grows up, works, and travels, but how she can accomplish the charge given her is still a puzzle. After an injury lays her low and gives her time to think, she hits upon an idea. She will plant lupines—blue, purple, and rose-colored flowers—all over the fields and lanes near her house. Now an old lady, she passes this legacy of duty on to her great-niece, the narrator of the story. Cooney is in a tranquil mood here, and both the quiet text and serenity of full-color acrylic paintings portray this feeling. The artwork, almost primitive in style, is masterful, but the story itself has an adult feel and, without adult guidance, not all young children will respond. — Ilene Cooper

Cooper, I. (1982). Booklist.

        http://www.booklistonline.com/Miss-Rumphius-Barbara-Cooney/pid=2653208?    pid=2653208

Library Uses

The library can use this as a lesson on how in the Spring when flowers are blooming and in places they were not growing at another time, can be taken by the wind and the birds. 

Module 2: The Hundred Dresses

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Summary

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes is about a young school girl who is teased by other school girls about her clothing. Wanda wears the same blue dress to school everyday. During a playground conversation between classmates Wanda states that she has 100 dress at home. The girls do not believe her because she wears the same dress everyday. The teasing continues until suddenly Wanda no longer shows up at school. She communicates through letters. Two of the girls begin to feel bad for the way they treated Wanda and go to find her at her old house. She was not found but her dresses showed up at school through the an art presentation. They were drawings of dresses. The girls in the class loved them.  The story ends with a message of forgiveness in a letter. 

APA Reference

Estes, E. (1944). The hundred dresses. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Inc. 

My Impressions

I enjoyed this book. I feel like the message is timeless. It is relatable to students in 2012. In my class, I have students who wear the same clothing often, sometimes every day. Students begin talking and gossiping about one another at a young age. The message of forgiveness weighs heavy on my heart as I have tried to relay the message in my classroom. Maddie's heart is not worn on her sleeve, but her actions to make things right ring true. Even though her friends may not agree, she took a risk. In the end, it turned out Peggy (the taunter) wanted to also make things right. It can be shown as an out for the bully. It shows someone who may hide behind their insecurities by bullying that there is forgiveness without ridicule. I love that the illustrations in The Hundred Dresses leave a bit of a mystery as to how old the book is. I would have never guessed that it was written and illustrated in 1944. 

Professional Review

The Hundred Dresses

by Eleanor Estes
96 pages, Historical Fiction
Reviewed by Aslan's Lamb

An intelligent, original story with characters that kids will find it easy to relate to.

Plot

Wanda Petronski is the outcast of her fifth grade class. She is poor and and foreign and doesn't belong. One day, she tells the other girls that she has a hundred dresses in her closet. The others find this very funny and question her every day about the dresses. Secretly, a girl named Maddie sympathizes with Wanda but she's afraid to speak up; she might become a target as well. One day, Wanda moves away. But the results of an art competition reveal a whole new side of her. Now Maddie and her best friend want to somehow let Wanda know they're sorry, but it might be too late.

Morality

This story explores why girls participate in bullying. The main characters change and grow for the better.

Spiritual Content

None.

Conclusion

A story that explores bullying from an unusual point of view, not that of the person being bullied, but that of the bystander. Maddie's internal conflict and the way the girls change towards the end make this story a delight.

Violence
None.
Drug and Alcohol Content
None.Sexual Content
None.Crude or Profane Language or Content
The word "Polack" is used. In the context, it is understood that it is an offensive name.Conclusion

Library Uses

 With bully prevention on a rise in schools, this would be a great book to read to students during a anti-bullying week/day celebration. 

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Module 1: Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind

Book Cover Image
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind
Written by,
Judy Finchler & Kevin O'Malley
Illustrated by,
Kevin O'Malley


Book Summary
Miss Malarky is determined to find the perfect book for each student in her class. Though it may be tough, with some of them only interested in particular subjects like video games. The students are challenged to read a large amount of books in order for their principal to wear a purple wig as well as sleep on the roof of the school building. The book is told from the point of view from one of the students who refuses to read because he is faced without a book to peek his interest. He and his friends all seem to be struggling, until up to the very end the boy realizes all of his friends really have been reading, but too shy to admit it. 


APA Reference
Finchler, J., & O'Malley K. (2006). Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind. New York, NY: Walker      Publishing Company, Inc.


My Impressions
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind is a definite read for teachers or librarians who have students are NOT eager to read. This is a great example for teachers and students looking for a variety of ideas for reading topics. I will definitely be reading this book to my students. Miss Malarkey always finds a way to help her students.


Professional Review

Ace teacher Miss Malarkey returns in a picture book narrated by a reluctant reader. Although comfortable within his small group of video-game-playing buddies, a boy wants to contribute to the schoolwide goal of reading 1,000 books in hope of seeing Principal Wiggins “dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof of the school.” Trying one of Miss Malarkey’s suggested books after another, he rejects them all—until she finds the perfect one to match his eclectic interests. Expressive cartoon-style illustrations, brightened with markers and colored pencils, create a series of lively scenes in which speech balloons record conversations and comments not found in the text. With an unstated moral, this is one volume that librarians won’t soon forget. Short lists of recommended books, including a bibliography of adult books that recommend children’s books, are appended.

— Carolyn Phelan
Phelan, C. (2006). Booklist.



Library Uses
Perhaps your school is in need of a reading challenge. Your school's principal could be next to wear the purple wig and spend the night on the schools rooftop. Maybe your school librarian could read this book to the students of the school and come up with your own personal school challenge.

If you've had a conversation with me lately, you've probably thought to yourself..."geez, could you stop talking about books already!" Man, I think that about myself too sometimes. But, I've got books on the brain!
I DID get a compliment from a teacher friend this week. Over lunch, I was naturally going on about this book and that... She asked, "You're getting your Masters in Library, right?" I gladly said, "yep." She then went on to compliment me in saying she could picture me doing that. "Sitting in my library with the kiddos huddled around listening to me read to them." I wasn't so sure I could really picture myself doing it, to tell you the truth. Thanks for the compliment TC!

But, Holy Cow! I can't wait for the day! I do love being in the classroom, with the exception of the "red tape".  Which is a totally different topic for another day. My dreams of being in a library, reading to kiddos and also reading the latest Bluebonnet list. It may sound lame to some of you...but, it sounds heavenly to me.

Which brings to me to a little bit more about my latest obsession about reading. I have been on this website called  goodreads.com. Here's my site: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/6270217-leslie
This is an excellent site for me or anyone else to keep track of book the are reading, want to read, or have read. You can rate 'em, review 'em... and all that fancy shmancy stuff. All the cool librarians are doing it. Since I'm destined to be a librarian... well...I gotta hang with the cool ones!

Another feature goodreads has is a yearly reading goal you can set for yourself. I have absolutely NO clue how many books I have ever read in a year or what would be a good goal to set for myself. The cool librarians are throwing out numbers like 112 for the year 2012 or one person who set a goal of 601! Geez Louise! I know for a fact that I can't do that while teaching. So I set my goal at 75.  Averaged out, that's about 6.25 books a month. It's January and I have read 2 and half. We shall see how this works out taking my Masters classes and teaching. Sometimes I get in reading ruts and I have no desire to pick up or concentrate on a book. Usually this happens when I'm super busy. I also feel guilty about reading when I have papers to grade or Masters homework. It's a lofty goal, but we shall see, we shall see.

So what am I reading these days...

I am currently reading a book that was written by the brother of K-Love... (You remember K-Love from the cruise). I must say it is totally different reading a book by someone I know. It's a good different though.
Books that are set locally also peek my interest. This book does just that... St. Peter's Brewery is set in a small Texas town in an old church that has been converted into a local bar. Jimmy tells his story of finding friends and finding God in this local bar. So far...so good.

What have you been reading lately? Have you read a book by someone you know? Maybe your obsessed with something else lately? Leave me a note with your thoughts! I'd love to hear.