Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Ninth Ward was written by Jewell Parker Rhodes after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, and many other areas. Lanesha is a twelve-year-old girl living with her caretaker, Mama Ya-Ya, in New Orleans' Ninth Ward. Hurricane Katrina arrives and Lanesha must do whatever she can to survive this storm and resulting flood.

   Jewell Parker Rhodes appears to have written this book with education in mind. Spread throughout the book are vocabulary words (and their meanings), math terms, and various "how-things-are done." While she has done a great job on the educational aspect of the book, the story fell a little short. It felt a little underdeveloped and might not be the best book for grabbing students' attention. 

   Ninth Ward combines historical fiction with some fantasy. Lanesha can see ghosts and there are other dealings with the supernatural. However, the main focus of this book is the historical aspect surrounding Hurricane Katrina. Ninth Ward could also be considered multicultural. 

For Teachers: 

   The ideal age group for Ninth Ward would be Fourth through Sixth grade. Some advance Third graders would be able to read this book, and it can even be extended into a Seventh grade classroom if necessary. Some activities to use with this book would include: 

• History part 1: Delve into Hurricane Katrina and other devastating hurricanes of the past. What are some of the similarities between the locations that were most devastated? What are some of the differences? 

• History part 2: Look into pictures and videos from Hurricane Katrina. Have students discuss photos from the Ninth Ward and other locations. 

• Weather: What is the difference between a Category One and a Category Five hurricane? Discuss and research hurricanes. Have students either write an essay or create a poster based on their hurricane research. 

• Vocabulary word suggestions: synopses, tragedy, star-crossed, symbols, fortitude, exasperated, engineer, hurricane, suspension bridge, unfathomable, anxious, mandatory, evacuation, conflicted, loitering, omen, devastating, vacuum, eerie, angelic, perpendicular. 

• Discussion: Why is Lanesha treated like an outsider? Is Mama Ya-Ya Lanesha's real grandmother? Why don't Mama Ya-Ya and Lanesha leave? Why don't some of their neighbors leave? 

My Thoughts: 

   My personal opinion of the book is that I did not like it. While it had some educational aspects, they seemed to overpower the underdeveloped story. Lanesha wasn't a believable character and some of the other characters felt a little to "convenient" to when they would show up. Not a book I would recommend to just sit down and read, but if you are teaching about hurricanes or Katrina in particular, then this may be a good book to help supplement that teaching. 

Additional Resources: 

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts. This is a documentary from 2006 directed by Spike Lee. It might be a good video to show students so they could better visualize what happened. 

Before and After. This link shows some before and after pictures of Katrina's affect on New Orleans. 

Hurricane Katrina. CNN's comprehensive site dedicated to the hurricane and its aftermath. 

Reference: 

Rhodes, J. P. (2010). Ninth Ward. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman (Illustrated by Beth Krommes)

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature is a non-fiction picturebook, written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Beth Krommes. Swirl by Swirl explores various spirals found in nature; from sleeping chipmunks, to snail shells, to swirling-whirling waves.

   Joyce Sidman has created a poem to teach children about nature. The book is not an anthology, rather one short poem, spread over numerous pages.

   This work of poetry is a work of non-fiction. The educational aspects of the book are ideal for Kindergarten through 3rd grade.

   Each page includes beautiful illustrations by Beth Krommes that depict various animals, plants, and natural events that enhance and draw from Sidman's poem. Krommes' illustrations are unique. She uses scratchboard to mimic the look of a wood engraving. The illustrations are what really bring this book to life.

For Teachers: 

   Swirl by Swirl is ideal for a Kindergarten and First Grade classroom; however it can be utilized in a Second and Third grade classroom as well. Various aspects of nature and shapes can be explored further through the following activities: 

• Shapes: What is a spiral? What form does it most resemble? Have students practice drawing spirals and various shapes. 
• Nature hunt: Have students go outside and find spirals in nature. Bring them back into the classroom and create a display. 
• Animals: Discuss some of the animals depicted in the book and how they use spirals in their lives: sleeping, protection, etc.
• Science: Tornados are spirals. Create a tornado in a bottle. 
• Art: Have younger students create a collage of spirals. Older students can experiment with their own scratchboard illustrations. 
• Discussion: Where have you seen spirals before? Ask children to point out spirals on each page. Do you think a spiral would be a strong or weak shape? Can you think of any other spirals that aren't in the book? 

My Thoughts: 

   This is not a book that I would immediately think was non-fiction by looking at the cover. The illustrations make it seem more like a storybook and I think will be instrumental in grabbing the attention of many children. When children think of non-fiction books, a lot of them think "boring." The poem and illustrations in Swirl by Swirl, however, make this book anything but boring. 

Additional Resources: 

   Beth Krommes' website along with various wood engravings and scratchboard illustrations for children to view and be inspired by: http://www.bethkrommes.com/

Book trailer: 

References:

Sidman, J. (2011). Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.

The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

The Devil's Arithmetic was written by Jane Yolen in 1988. Hannah Stern is attending a family Seder when she opens the door and walks into the past, right into 1942. Hannah is thrown into the life of Chaya, a Jew living in Poland during World War II. She, along with Chaya's family, is sent to a concentration camp.

     Jane Yolen brings time travel to a new level. She utilizes one main character to portray two completely different people living in two completely different time periods. The beauty of the New Rochelle setting is that it can be any modern time. Although the book was written in the 80's it could have taken place yesterday. 

     The Devil's Arithmetic is, no question, a work of historical fiction. The author did her research and included a "What is true" page at the end of the book to help emphasize the historical nature of this multicultural book.  

For Teachers: 

     The Devil's Arithmetic deals with some intense and sometimes graphic subject matter. It is intended for a sixth or seventh grade reading level. While the main theme of the novel is the Holocaust, teachers can also utilize the book for teaching Jewish history and traditions. 

• History part 1: Discuss World War II; the causes of the war, the war in Europe, the war in the Pacific, the end of the war. 

• History part 2: Discuss the Holocaust; what was it, how many lives were lost, why did it happen, could it happen again? 

• Jewish Traditions: Discuss Passover and Seder. Look at some passages in the Haggadah and discuss them. 

• Where in the world: Chaya is from Poland. Locate Poland on a map. Now locate the other countries affected by the Holocaust and World War II. Where did the war start and end? 

• Vocabulary word suggestions: Passover, Seder, Yiddish, Haggadah, concentration camp, steerage, yarmulke, matzoh, superstition, Torah, solemn, shtetl, Klezmer, badchan, synagogue, Nazi, arithmetic, and shnell. 

• Discussion questions: Do you think living Chaya's life gave Hannah a different perspective on life? Why did her aunt and grandfather change their names when they came to America? Why is it so important to "remember"? Why do you think the author choose to portray the horrors of the concentration camp graphically, and would they have had the same effect had they not been as graphic? 

My Thoughts:

     The Holocaust is a time we wish we could forget ever happened. But it did. Jane Yolen did an excellent job bringing the Holocaust to a middle-grade level. Yes, there is violence and some intense scenes, but it is no more violent than The Hunger Games or other popular books. It is a tough book to stomach, however. Parents and teachers should prepare for discussions with their children on the graphic nature and death portrayed in the book. 

Additional Resources: 

More books on the Holocaust and World War II: 

• The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
• Milkweed by Jerry Spinell
• Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse

Hannah talks about the movie Yentl and Fiddler on the Roof. These movies can be shown to give insight into the Jewish community. 

References: 

Yolen, J. (1988). The Devil's Arithmetic. New York, NY: Viking Kestrel. 

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham (Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky)

Z is for Moose is written by Kelly Bingham and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. Zebra is the director for the staging of an alphabet book. However, Moose becomes impatient and keeps getting in the way.

     Kelly Bingham starts with the traditional: a is for apple, b is for ball, c is for cat, d is for moose... wait, moose? She starts out with a normal alphabet book, but when Moose starts getting in the way you realize that the book is more about patience and friendship than it is the alphabet.

     Z is for Moose would fall under the fantasy genre of picturebooks. But do not let the "fantasy" title distract from the education purposes this book contains.

     Paul O. Zelinsky has drawn fantastic pictures that enhance the story Kelly has written. He has made it feel like Moose really has taken over the set. The use of a frame around each page really makes Moose and what he does stand out.

For Teachers: 

     Z is for Moose is ideal for a kindergarten class; however could be stretched into a first grade classroom depending on the lesson plan. This story is perfect for not only teaching the alphabet, but also patience and friendship as well. Some activities that would go along with the book could include: 

•  Moose: What is a moose? Where do they live? Have students color a moose picture, or even create antlers to wear out of construction paper. 
• A-Z: Have students practice writing their letters. Or focus on the letter 'M'. What else starts with 'M'? 
• The Stage: Split students into groups and have them put on their own alphabet book. Utilize items in the classroom or outside to represent each letter. 
• Discussion: Why didn't Moose wait his turn? Why do you think Zebra decided to use Mouse instead? Do you think Moose reacted the right way, why or why not? Do you think Zebra reacted the right way, why or why not? 

My Thoughts: 

     I love this book. My husband and I have read it to my two-year-old every night since we checked it out from the library. It is a book that we will be looking to add to our home shelves at some point. I do have to say that I liked it a lot better than the Interrupting Chicken book by David Ezra Stein. The interruptions seemed more fluid and more relevant to the story.

Additional Resources: 

   If you liked Z is for Moose,  Kelly Bingham and Paul O. Zelinsky will be teaming back up for Circle, Square, Moose that comes out September 23, 2014. 

Z is for Moose original book trailer: 

References:

Bingham, K. (2012). Z is for moose. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.  

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack (Illustrated by Kurt Wiese)

The Story About Ping was written by Marjorie Flack and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In the book, Ping, a duck living on the Yangtze River, is separated from his family after hiding to avoid punishment for arriving home last. Ping's misadventures eventually lead him home.

     Marjorie Flack utilizes repetition in her story. Readers hear about Ping's "mother and his father, and two sisters and three brothers and eleven aunts and seven uncles and forty-two cousins" a few times throughout the book. She does not always finish a sentence on one page, there are a few times when it runs over onto the next page. I feel that this adds a little bit of tension for readers: what will happen next? Is Ping going to be ok?

     The Story About Ping could be considered fantasy as we are reading the book from an animal's point-of-view. Even though a specific time period is not mentioned, it could also be considered historical. There is no doubt that The Story About Ping provides a fantastic multicultural view into life in historical China.

     Kurt Wiese seems to utilize a combination of pastels and ink to beautifully illustration The Story About Ping. The illustrations are simple, yet detailed where they need to be. The movement of the water and reflections pictured in it are wonderfully created.

For Teachers:

The Story About Ping is perfect for students between Kindergarten and 2nd grade. This story can be used as a great introduction into studying China and its culture. Some activities would include:

• Follow Ping: Utilizing a map of the Yangtze River and a cut-out of Ping (or any duck), have Ping travel the river, stopping at various important sites. This will provide a valuable visual aid for learning about various important Chinese locations. 
• Chinese Flag: Have younger students color a Chinese flag.
• Ping's Family: Have students point out similarities between Ping's family and the Boy's family. Students can then draw a picture of their own family. 
• Discussion Questions: If you were Ping, would you have hid or gotten on the boat? Ping sees many different boats (big boats, little boats, fishing boats), have you ever been on a boat? What country do you think Ping lives in, and why? 

The Story About Ping can also be used to enhance the theme of "Don't talk to Strangers." Some activities would include: 

• Safety: See if a local police officer can come into the class and talk about what to do when you are lost or in danger. 
• Define: Who is a stranger? Have the students write down (or talk about) what makes someone a stranger. 
• Knowledge: It is important for any child to know their phone number and address. Make sure your students know these, and if not encourage them to talk to their parents. 
• Discussion Questions: How did Ping feel when he was captured? What should Ping do to avoid being lost in the future? How do you think Ping's family felt when he did not return that night? 

My Thoughts: 

     I fear that some parents and teachers may be put off from reading this book due to the fact that Ping's Master would "spank" the last duck to board the boat. I know that it will not stop me from reading this to my son when he is a little older. Maybe we could even have duck that night for dinner (just kidding). Ping is a great representation for a young child who gets separated from home. He goes through all the steps of what not to do when lost and opens up great discussion points for parents to teach their children. 

Additional Resources: 

Students may also enjoy some of Marjorie Flack's other books: 

• Angus and the Ducks
• Angus and the Cat
• Angus Lost
• Ask Mr. Bear

A dramatized reading:

References: 

Flack, M. (1961). The story about Ping (A Children's Choice Book Club ed.). New York, NY: Viking Press, Inc.