Nine year old Sam is looking forward to a fishing day with dad in this story told in verse. He is irritated when annoying, little sister Lucy wants to come along. To Sam’s dismay, she hums and wiggles and catches eight fish before he gets a nibble! His attitude changes when he catches the biggest fish of the day and Lucy cheers him on. Through the use of a large variety of poetic forms, Sam’s view of the day’s fishing adventure changes. Each poem, told by different family members, contains a title and the poetic form. Teachers will appreciate this source of multiple poems, from techniques such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, and similes, to forms such as cinquains concrete poems, haiku, limericks, odes, and triolets. Each poem is a different example of a form or technique as this complete story is told. Matthew Cordell’s whimsical, black and white illustrations are a great match for the humor and personalities shown in this poetic story. A “Poet’s Tackle Box” in the back defines each type of the 40 poems. This would be a great addition to any poetry collection.
Author Archives: SSBRC Former Member
District of Columbia v. Heller: The Right to Bear Arms
This well-organized and written reference begins with the United States v. Miller, a case that was used by lower courts for years to regulate the right to bear arms, although since the government argued the case unopposed it raised as many questions as it answered. Streissguth then goes on to set the stage for the District of Columbia v. Heller case, including the NRA’s lack of support for the case because they had one of their own test cases pending. He also provides the historical background from colonial times. The reference provides readers with all of the necessary background to understand the gun control debate and the cases surrounding it without making judgments. The final chapter, “The Impact of the Decision,” gives information on the some of the results of the landmark decision and potential effects in the future. The book includes a chronology of events, a glossary and additional resources. A good reference on how cases are selected to be test cases, how they are built and move through the system. The author states in the last chapter that the Second Amendment is likely to come under review by the Supreme Court again; since there is such a high likelihood that there will be more decisions on this subject, I rated this an Additional Purchase.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton: “Woman Knows the Cost of Life
This solid biography begins with s short description of the defining moment in Cady Stanton’s life – the Seneca Falls Convention. Chapter Two goes back to her childhood and then on to her marriage, giving the reader a clear picture of how and why Cady Stanton developed such a passion for the women’s suffrage movement. While we see Cady Stanton and her close friend Susan B. Anthony as the founders of the suffrage movement, this book shows that their opinions were often opposed by many of their contemporaries, even within the movement, as too radical. The book ends with a chapter on Cady Stanton’s legacy, followed by a chronology of events, a glossary and additional resources. This would be an excellent reference for information on Elizabeth Cady Stanton in particular and the women’s rights movement in general.
Sallie Mae How to Pay for College: A Practical Guide for Families
As other the books written by the Tanabes about how to get into college or earn scholarships, How to Pay for College offers excellent, practical advice on how to manage the cost of a college education. Each chapter begins with an list of what will be covered, making it easy to refer to specific information as needed. Chapters cover topics such as the various types of financial aid available, how to apply for financial aid, how to save for college, and more. There are sample forms and bright ideas, key concepts and money saving tips in sidebars. One of the most useful items in the book is “Straight Talk from Financial Aid Administrators.” Throughout the book there are entries from these administrators on specific topics. Some of them seem self-serving, “Running a college is not cheap,” or “Believe it or not, colleges only raise tuition as a last resort.” But most are practical, ” Rule No. 1: Apply on time,” and “Keep us in tune with changes.” Good resource for high school students preparing to go to college.
Sigmund Freud
Gillam begins with a brief overview of free association, Freudian slips, dream analysis, repressed sexual urges and other ideas developed by Freud and then launches into his childhood. Freud was the favorite son and received the best of everything in his family. Never lacking confidence, after he began studying medicine and psychology he believed that his theories and proposed treatments would rival the discoveries of Copernicus and Darwin. However, he was often ridiculed by his contemporaries, some because they felt threatened by his radical ideas and others because of anti-Semitism. The two World Wars had both positive and negative effects on Freud research and practice; he began the treatment of what was then termed “war neuroses” and is now known as PTSD. His personal life, including his interest in cocaine, is almost as interesting as his career. Although some of his theories have been rejected, some have been modified and are still practiced today. The book includes a timeline, glossary, a list of essential facts, and additional references. The use of excerpts from primary source documents, photos and sidebars give the book visual appeal. I highly recommend the Essential Lives series.
Relationship Smarts
This book begins with the explanation of the four types of relationships and how to build healthy relationships before going on to describe how to handle conflict and the signs of a bad relationship. There are sidebars on cyberbullying, how to know if you are ready to have sex, how much teen-aged boys lie about sex and more. It ends with a glossary and additional references. There are numbers and websites for teens who are suffering from abuse. The book offers solid advice; I’m just not sure how many teens will seek this advice in a library book.
Sonia Sotomayor
Gale’s People in the News Series provides 80-100 page biographies on newsmakers of the day. Emert’s book on Sonia Sotomayor portrays her in a realistic view, as a woman who has lived through good and bad times and not just as a role model or icon. Her childhood in New York City projects is detailed, including her juvenile diabetes, love of Nancy Drew and more. Her hard work and education set her on the path to a career in law. There are a lot of interesting details and insights that should appeal to students.
Hansel and Gretel
The Hansel and Gretel tale told by the brothers Grimm is uniquely illustrated by Sybille Schenker and retold by Martin West. Schenker uses translucent pages to give amazing dimension to this tale of two children, abandoned by their parents, who try to find their way home. Coming upon a candy house, they need to outsmart a nearsighted witch. With each turn of the page, the reader is met with layers of semi-transparent pages of silhouette-like images mixed with opaque sheets which create depth and an almost movie-like aspect to this well-known tale. The effect is stunning. However, the binding is string and not durable enough to withstand multiple library checkouts. That being said, all collections should include this exquisite edition of this classic story.
Flood
This beautifully illustrated, wordless book shows the home of a family living near water. The children happily play outside and enjoy using technology indoors. The father is concerned with an approaching storm. Although they place sandbags around they house to mitigate damage, they reluctantly decide to abandon their home and flee to safety. As the storm abates, the family returns to view the damage. After a moment of grief, they energetically move to rebuild. Once again the home is returned to its former, tranquil condition and the family relaxes and enjoys an idyllic life once more. The paintings are large, filled with color and powerful. There are ample opportunities to discuss storms and flooding, emotions from comfort to grief, and perseverance with younger students, to the use of color and perspective in art with older students. On the surface a very simple topic, this book provides a variety of deeper themes. Recommended for all elementary library collections.
Pretty Princess Party: Hidden Picture Puzzles
This is a collection of hidden pictures for younger children. The topic is princesses and their various parties and activities. Each colorful, double-page spread includes an illustrated list of objects to find. The book begins with a short list of six objects and increases in complexity to twelve items to locate. Brightly colored illustrations are digitally created and are sure to capture one’s attention.