Summertime and the reading was fine and  breezy and uplifting and weepy and, at times, gut-wrenching. The titles below offer something for all ages from picture books, to novels, to YA fiction to a great adult read.

PICTURE BOOKS, ages 2- 5 (sure to be ‘Read it again!, Read it!’ again favourites)

Apples and Robins by Lucie Felix

This book is both simple and sophisticated in design. As each page is turned, one thing transforms inot another (eg. an oval becomes a bird). This book will appeal to classroom teachers who want literature to help teach about shapes and/ or seasons. More important, however, Apples and Robins is an artful specimen that ignites the imagination and strengthens visual literacy.

Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

This picture book is a great read aloud for pre-school students, a great side by side read for adult and child and a book taht will quickly have young reader reading to you. Appeal: catchy title, rhythmic refrain, suspenseful story, nocturnal setting, great (simple) illustrations make this book a winner. Thanks to William (age 2) and Peter (age 3) for recommending this title.

NOVELS: ages 9 – 13

Sticks and Stones by Abby Cooper

Whenver Elyse is called a name (good or bad) the words suddenly appear on her skin.  I can accept this intriguing premise (‘and words can hurt forever’), but I found much of this novel to be unengaging (The big event is the quest to be Explorer Event for the school trip or credible (the love story of 11 year olds, the expensive and extravagant birthday party in a Chicago apartment, and the school trip (Why didn’t mother make an effort to find her lost daughter?). But I’m not a grade six girl.

Nine, Ten: A September 11 story by Nora Raleigh Baskin

This novel tells the story of four young people, each living outside of Manhattan, and their connections to the Twin Tower disaster. Like Towers Falling, this novel helps readers who were not living in 2001 to come to an understanding of this significant event in American history.

Lucky Strikes by Louis Bayard

This title is my favourite of all  this month’s listings. A young teenage girl takes charge of her brother when their mother dies. The family struggles to keep the local gas station afloat.  When a vagabond suddenly arrives, a plan is hatched to ‘hire’ him as their father to prevent the trio from being send from an orphanage. This is Bayard’s first novel for young people. I loved it and expect/hope it will be a Newbery contender. Great writing. Great humour. Great heart.

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Deja’s family has moved into a shelter with her family. A school project sets Deja on a journey to learn about the falling of the Twin Towers as well as uncover the trauma her father seems to face. This is a novel layered with compassion and provide information and questions about the 9/11 tragedy.

The Misadvntures of Max Crumbly by Rachel Renee Russell

Russell is the author of blockbuster sereis Dork Diaries and Max Crumbly is the hero of this new series.  I chose this book because I am always intrigued with school bully stories. The font, the graphic-style illustrations and the breezy storytelling will lead to another success for the author. Spoiler Alert: Max’s adventures are not wrapped up in this book. Final page, “I bet you can’t believe I’m leaving you hanging, just like they do in my favourite comic books! Sorry, but all i can say at this point is.. TO BE CONTINUED…I, for one, am not going to get the book(s) so I guess I’ll be left hanging.

NOVELS: Young Adult

Draw the Line by Laurent Linn

Adrian Piper is a sci-fi geek, a talented artist and an out-of-the closet gay student. A gay bashing incident ignites Adrian and his two pals to take action and fight for justice using his own powers and ‘draw the line’ through the fictitious superheroes he presents. This novel is interspersed throughout with black and white drawings from Adrian’s graphic creation.

Freak Boy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark (see below)

FREE VERSE

Gone Fishing by Tamera Will Wissinger; Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Sam loves going fishing with his father, but this year, Sam’s pesky Big Fishy younger sister accompanies them. The special appeal of the book is that each brief chapter is told in an idenitfied poetic format (e.g., ‘All Aboard’ / List Poem; ‘My Big Fish’/ Quatrain

Little Dog, Lost by Marion Dane Bauer

More than anything Mark wants a dog, must have a dog, needs a dog. Dog owners and certainly wannabe dog owners will enjoy reading about Mark’s quest to own a dog of his own and the quest for Buddy (a girl dog) who wants to belong to someone who can love and care for him. A heartwarming tale enriched  by the free verse format.

Red Butterfly by A.L. Sonnichsen; Illus. Amy June Bates

Kara, an eleven year old girl born with a deformed hand, was abandoned  as an infant and was secretly mothered by an elderly American woman living in China. Kara longs to be with her father who lives in Montana but is challenged with a strict adoption system that is preventing her from finding true happiness and a family. Kudo’s to Bates’s spot illustrations that appear throughout.

Freak Boy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark (Young Adult)

More than wanting to be with the perfect girlfriend, Vanessa, seventeen year old Brendan Chase wants to BE like her. A star athlete, a star student, Brendan struggles with sexual identity issues. This free verse novel is told from three viewpoints and offers significant insights with adolescents who strive to come to terms with their place on the transgender spectrum and the friends and family who support them.

ADULT

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.

Not just because  its a 2016 Oprah Book Club selection, but  this remarkable novel should continue getting to get the buzz – and possibly the awards – it deserves. We have read many novels about the plights of slavery, but the premise of this story, is that there was, in fact, an Underground Railroad that brought African American slaves to freedom. Colson centres his narrative on the life of  Cora as she takes flight from a cotton plantation and journeys through several Southern Southern states, attempting to escape the horrors of bondage. For better or worse, a book that will probably be in Book Club settings and beyond.

Comment: I loved the first half of the The Underground Railroad. Found the second half plodding.

Comment: The Gospel Truth. the free verse YA novel by Canadian Caroline Pignat was a book about slavery that, for me, had more ‘punch’ than Whitehead’s book.

SHOUT OUT!

Literacy 101 by David Booth, Pembroke Publishers

In preparation to teach two literacy courses this fall, I just finished reading Literacy 101 by David Booth. Booth outlines 101+ questions about literacy programming and provides answers to these questions, turning theory into effective best practice. Throughout the book, David Booth shares dozens of anecdotes  informed his own remarkable life as an educator and serve as data to support his answers. As I read through the book, page by page, new questions formulated in my head and seeking answers to these questions is the stuff of being a reflective practitioner. Literacy 101  offers me the opportunity to work alongside the teacher candidates I work with to formulate their own questions, to gain understanding of effective language arts programming as they begin and continue their careers.  For experienced teachers, Booth serves as a guide and mentor as his words challenge and stretch their assumptions.

KEY QUESTIONS: Chapter Headings

• Chapter One: Why is ‘literacy’ such a popular term in teaching today
• Chapter Two: How do I actually teach students to read?
  Chapter Three: Should students always respond to a text?
• Chapter Four: How can I organize an effective reading program?
• Chapter Five: Is writing a period in the school day or part of every subject?
  Chapter Six: How do I develop a literacy community?
  Chapter Seven: How can I use tests to teach?

Traditionally, we consider novels to be arranged in chapter by chapter format. In recent years, many authors have expanded the novel form by presenting the novel as verse novels, where the text is written as poems. Over the past several months, I have included several recommendations of novels that appear in book free verse format, and here I am providing additional lists for further consideration:

 

A TOP TEN LIST

Alexander, Kwame. The Crossover (also: Booked)

Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave

Creech, Sharon. Love That Dog (Sequel: Hate that Cat)

Frost, Helen. Spinning through the Universe

Herrick, Steven. Naked Bunyip Dancing

Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust

Lai, Thanha. Inside Out and Back Again

Pignat, Caroline. The Gospel Truth

Porter, Pamela. The Crazy Man

Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion (also: Peace, Locomotion)

 

PUBLISHED WITHIN THE LAST YEAR

Alexander, Kwame. Booked

Creech, Sharon. Moo

Crossen, Sarah. One

Davis, Andrea Pinkney. The Red Pencil

Donwerth-Chikamatsu, Annie. Somewhere Along

Hilton, Marilyn. Full Cicada Moon

Shovan, Laura. The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary. Laura Shovan

Sonnichsen A. L. Red Butterfly

Wissinger, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing

Woodson, Jacqueline.  Brown Girl Dreaming.

 

TOWARDS AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE REFUGEE EXPERIENCE: Four Remarkable Novels

The following titles invite readers to consider the plights of refugees The are heartwarming and promote compassion for characters who are resilient and optimistic in their determination to  find a place of safety and a thing called family in a world that considers their past, present and future lives. I highly recommend these titles be used in grade five to seven classrooms to help young people consider issues of immigration

Applegate, Katherine. Home of the Brave

Burg, Ann E. All the Broken Pieces

Lai, Thanhha. Inside Out and Back Again

Pinkney, Andrea Davis. The Red Pencil

 

YA FREE VERSE TITLES

Clark, Kristen Elizabeth. Freakboy

Herrick, Steven. The Wolf (also: By the River)

Hopkins, Ellen. Tricks

Koertge, Ron. The Brimstone Journals

Leavitt, Martine. My Book of Life by Angel

Major, Kevin. Ann and Seamus

Phillips, Wendy. Fishtailing

Pignat, Caroline. The Gospel Truth

Wild, Margaret. Jinx

Woodson, Jacqueline. After Tupac and D. Foster

 

SHOUT OUT: A GRADE SEVEN CLASS EXPLORES FREE VERSE

This past spring I had the privilege of working with ERNEST AGBUYA and his Grade Seven Students at Queen Victoria Public School in downtown Toronto. Ernest and I worked together to develop a month long investigation of Free Verse Novels.

Ten Events that Explore Free Verse Poetry

1. INDEPENDENT READING: Twenty five free verse novels were offered on display. After a  brief talk, eeach student chose to read a novel independently.
2. RESPONSE: CREATING A FICTIONAL JOURNAL As a response to the novel, students wrote a diary entry from one of the character’s point    of view.    Students could choose to write the entry in free verse format or not.
3. SNIPPETS: Prose into Free Verse: A Demonstration LessonA sentence written as prose was displayed on the smart board. As a class we explored ways to transform this sentence into free verse style.
4. TRANSFORMING STUDENT WRITING INTO POETRY: Students then were challenged to transform a sentence from their own writing into a short free verse poem.
5. EXPLORING A THEME OF FREE VERSE POEMS: Free Verse poems centred on the theme of bullying were distributed to each student. Students met in groups to discuss themes, issues and questions inspired by the poem
6. BLACKOUT POETRY: Teacher demonstrated how to create a blackout poem by striking out passage on a photocopied page, leaving words scattered throughout the page, thus creating a free verse poem. Students independently created a free verse poem using a photocopied passage from a novel
7. THE GOSPEL TRUTH by Caroline Pignat. As a class, we read and responded to one passage from the novel The Gospel Truth by discussing 1. What we know 2. How we felt 3. What we wondered about. Students were each given a different passage from the novel. Student worked in groups to summarize and synthesize information.
8. CHORAL DRAMATIZATION: Students worked in groups of four or five to present a free verse poem chorally by dividing lines amongst group members, exploring voices and    movement to present the poem.
9. REFLECTIONS: Students responded in writing to the following prompts:    1. Here’s what I learned about free verse poems… ii. Here is something I enjoyed / didn’t enjoy about reading a free verse novel…iii. Reading a free verse novel is similar/ different to reading other fiction because…
10. CULMINATING PROJECT: TRANSFORMING PROSE TO POETRY: A culminating project invited the 17 students create a Free Verse Novel version of the novel, WONDER by R. J Palacio.  Each student was given a short passage from the novel, each passage representing a different character voice.  Students transformed the narrative into a free verse poem and the 17 poems were assembled into package, photocopied for each student. The following excerpted poem serves as a sample of the students’ work:

    NAMES

    According to Auggie

    Freak

    Gross-out.

    Mutant.

    The names fly past like wind,

    stinging my teary eyes as I head

    to the washroom.

    The wrenching pain in my gut

    isn’t from a stomach bug.

    It’s the laughing voices swirling around my brain until

         I

             get

                    sick.

    Lizard face.

    Rat boy.

    Monster.

    These names don’t define me.

    I am August.

    SHOUT OUT: Movie Recommendation

LIFE, ANIMATED

This documentary tells the story of Owen Suskind, who was diagnosed with autism in the 1990’s and who made sense of the world from watching animated Disney films. The director follows Owen in recent years when he graduates from high school, sets up a new home to live independently, and also discovers the tribulations of falling in love. I so admired Owen’s parents, his brother, and this resilient – wise – character.  See this film. (NOTE: I ordered the book written by Owen’s father Ron Suskind.

 

 

What’s on your bookshelf?  I have a batch of non-fiction reads that I hope to get to this summer, many of them are related to the world of theatre, of course.  Hope to tackle the following ten titles over July, August (and September)

THEN & NOW: A memoir by Barbara Cook with Tom Santopietro

Why this one? I’m a fan.

LIT UP: One Reporter. Three schools. Twenty0four books that can change lives by David Denby

Why this one? This reporter inspects  urban high school classrooms to consider the power that teaching with passion and commitment can have inspire every(!) student to ‘enjoy’ great literature, new and old.

ON SONDHEIM: An opinionated guide by Ethan Mordden

Why this one? I’m a fan.

MY PROMISED LAND: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit

Why this one? This book is a detailed heartfelt account of the history of Israel. I began reading      this earlier in the year and only got to 1967.  The history continues.

THEATRE OF  THE UNIMPRESSED: In search of Vital Drama by Jordan Tannahill

Why this one? Wunderkind Jordan Tannahill, offers sharp views of what makes theatre boring – for some/ for many. I consider myself an avid theatregoer, but Tannahill certainly has a sharper eye on the world of theatre, particularly of the ‘alternative’ kind.

RAZZLE DAZZLE: The battle for Broadway by Michael Redel

Why this one? I see a lot of Broadway musicals. Hope to gain insights into the world behind the razzle dazzle.

THE VIOLET HOUR: Great writers at the end by Katie Roiphe

Why this one? Read an article by the author in The New York Times about ‘saying last words (or not) to loved one’s.  This book is an account of the last days of Susan Sontag, Sigmund Freud, Maurice Sendak and others.  Final days and mortality:  Something to think about.

AMERICAN GIRLS: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers by Nancy Jo Sales

Why this one? Insights into the mean girl culture. Please help me understand.

HUMANS OF NEW YORK: STORIES by Brandon Stanton

Why this one? I love New York. Everyone is a story.  This will be a second read. It’s a fantastic book.

THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL: How Broadway shows are built by Jack Vertel.

Why this one? I see a lot of Broadway musicals. Hope to gain insights into how they are built.

 

Dr. Larry recommends a smorgasbord of highlights that includes an adult book, children’s novels, theatre, a movie and other ‘this’ n that’ tidbits, including a few deserved ‘shout outs!’

What to see in NY: Recently saw  9 plays in 5 days.  The Crucible by the marvel director Ivo Von Hove was an exhilarating experience.. Shuffle Along: the making of the musical of 1921 and all that followed (full title required) was grand entertainment with knock-em-dead tap dancing, a great cast and the stupendous Audra MacDonald. (was luck to catch Ms M since she will be leaving the show in July (materinity leave).  The Father was a thoughtful and heartfelt examination of Alzeheimer victims and those who care for them. Frank Langella was sublime.  Dear Evan Hansen, currently playing off broadway, examines the loner, the outcast teenager. Again, a fantastic performances. 9Wow to Ben Platt!) This musical has a future and will certainly resonate with adolescents. Also saw Bright Star (great music by Steve Martin), Eclipsed (harrowing performances including Lupita N‘Yong0), Tuck Everlasting (charming)  American Psycho (!!!) and an uninspired marionette production of The Pied Piper at the New Victory Theatre.

What’s playing in Toronto?  The Tony Award Winning Musical A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER is at the Princess of Wales Theatre.  Terrific! Terrific! Terrific!  A play that  deserves to be called a musical comedy.  Hilarious!

Did you catch Season #5, Episode #4 of VEEP? on HBO. Brilliant.  Darkly comedic. Fell out of my bed laughing. (Note: lots of F-bombs)

Canada Reads THE  ILLEGAL by Lawrence Hill and so did Larry.  I enjoyed this one. Flowing narrative with timely insights into the refugee, illegal immigrant story.

Speaking of immigrants, DHEEPAN was the winner of the Palme D’Or Prize at Cannes last year. This is a harrowing film centred on three Tamil refugees surviving in a rural community in France. I found it gut-wrenching.

Registration is now open for CODE Conference (Council of Drama and Dance in Education) taking place OCTOBER 21-23, 2016 in St. Catherines Ontario.

Shout out to…Ron Dodson and his hard-working team for the International Children’s Theatre Festival next month in Stratford Ontario followed PLAY SYMPOSIUM (June 9-12) bringing together educators to experience and consider the significance of play (pun intended).

Shout out to… Martha Burns and Susan Coyne for their fine documentary celebrating the work of acclaimed theatre director Robin Phillips. Try and catch Robin and Mark and Richard III at Bloor Hot docs Cinema to witness a master class with a master director.

Shout out to…Lynda Hill, artistic director of Theatre Direct, for her mammoth work with THE WEE FESTIVAL, performances targeted for ages 0 to 5 years old. Praise goes to HUP from Scotland and TRACES and WOODBEAT  from Germany. (I was only able to see six of the nine shows).  Speaking of standing ovation, Lynda you are a marvel.  Congrats to you and all the volunteers that helped make this festival a success. Toronto is lucky to have you, Lynda, and wish this could be an annual venture. (currently every other year).

What about book recommendations? Yes, purchased some NEW NOVELS for young people. Reviews of Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu, Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk and The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle will be forthcoming.

 

 

Over 100 Canadian picture books have come across my desk in the past few months because of my involvement with two projects (juror: Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Prize; consultant: We Have Diverse Books catalogue for The Association of Canadian Picture Books).  Listed below, alphabetically by author, are ten picture books which certainly do Canada proud.

Stanley at School by Linda Bailey; illus. Bill Slavin

This is the sixth book in the Stanley Series. Young readers will likely delight in the adventures that Stanley has when visiting a neighbourhood school to find out what kids do each day.

Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox by Danielle Daniel

In this introduction to the Anishinaabe tradition of totem animals young children explain why they identify with different creatures such as a deer, beaver or moose. This book helps build connections when children are invited to name the animal that they identify with and explain how they are like this animal. A gem of a book promoting visual arts, drama and writing and inquiry.

The Wolf-Birds by Willow Dawson

Deep in the wild winter wood, we learn about the alliance between the wolf pack and the  ‘wolf- bird’ ravens who hunt and feast in an attempt to avoid starvation. Narrative, non-fiction and poetic text make this picture book a lovely tribute to the natural world, animal symbiosis, and survival.

InvisiBill by Maureen Fergus; illus Dusan Petricic

Bill thinks that he is invisible to his very busy family. Mother, Father, Brother, Sister hardly every notice the middle child in the family – until one day he does become invisible and finally gets ‘noticed’.  If I were ever to write a picture book, I would be thrilled to have Mr. Petricic be this award-winning illustrator.  Two other 2015 titles by the artist include My Family Tree and Me and Snap! written by Hazel Hutchins.

In a Cloud of Dust by Alma Fullerton; illus. Brian Denes

This book, narrated in simple poetic language, (most pages of verbal text are less than twenty words in length), is an ideal read-aloud to help students think about respect and teamwork. Fullerton tells the story of one determined girl who helps hear friends learn how to ride they bicycle they receive from a truck that pulled into their Tanzanian schoolyard. This book can lead to a study of Bicycle Libraries and perhaps lead young people to consider ways to support this humanitarian cause.

Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson; illus. Sydney Smith

While on a walk with her distracted father, a little girl, dressed in a red cloak, collects wildflowers. Each flower becomes a gift to those she passes by. This powerful wordless picture book, winner of the Governor General’s Children’s Literature prize for best illustrated book,  is an ode to the beauty that surrounds us – and the importance of respecting and honouring that beauty and passing it on to others.

Butterfly Park by Elly Mackay

Remarkably rich illustrations are featured in this picture book which tells the story of a little girl who moves to a new town. When she opens the gates to the park and discovers that there are no butterflies, she is inspired to invite the town to help her retrieve the butterflies. A story about community, friendship and the beauty of nature.

Walk on the Wild Side by Nicholas Oldland

Another amusing adventure , a bear, a moose and a beaver who love adventure. In this tale, the three friends set out on a mountain hike one day and once again their competitive nature comes forth as they walk on the side and then race to the mountain summit to make things more exciting.

Today is the Day be Eric Walters; illus. Eugenie Fernandes

Many children in Kenyan orphanages do not know the day when they were born and in this story a young girl named Mutana is excited to celebrate a day to enjoy and remember when the orphanige honours its newest arrivals by creating a birthday especially for them. This is the third book in a trilogy (My Name is Blessing and Hope Springs) where the author and illustrator based their stories on real chaildren in an orphanage in Kenya run by The Creation of Hope charity.

Bad Pirate by Kari-Lynn Winters; illus. Dean Griffiths

‘Shiver me timbers!’ This book not only has readers partake on  voyage with a saucy pirate named Barnacle Garrick and his crew of pirate-dogs/ dog-pirates, but through the eyes of the pirate’s daughter they can learn the importance of being true to yourself. Winters does a fine job of pirate talk which seems to jump off the page in bold speech bubbles.

 

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT…?

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK BANK

The Children’s Book Bank is a registered charity that supports childhood literacy by providing FREE books and literacy support to children in low-income neighbourhoods in Toronto area. The Children’s Book Bank collects and distributes gently use children’s books and distributes them free of charge to children who might not otherwise have a chance to own their books. For more information about school excursions, donating books or ‘How You Can Help” check out the website:  childrensbookbank.com

 

THE MARILYN BAILLIE PICTURE BOOK AWARD

A prize of $20 000 is awarded annually to the distinguished piece  of children’s literature in picture book format.  Nominations are often announced by The Canadian Children’s Book Centre by the end of June and the prize winner will be announced at the TD Book Award Gala in November.

 

Have been doing journeying in the past little while and being in hotel rooms and airplanes etc. is a good opportunity to keep up with some reading and  books as travel companions. I alway pack a book or two (or more) for my travels? Don’t you/ Call me old fashioned, but  I still need the ‘real thing’. (OK – You’re off the hook if you choose to read e-books!)

The following are ten book titles (both adult and children’s) that have kept me company in Florida, Barcelona,  Kitchener and St. Catherines and London (Ontario) – and at home:

For Grown-ups

A LITTLE LIFE by Hanya Yanagihara

Why I chose this: Knockout reviews. Great cover. A friend highly recommend it.

Verdict: This is a haunting and harrowing read. Disclaimer: not usually good with books over 700  pages (paperback version is 832 pages). but I hung in and read this book about the friendship of four men, the disturbing life of one character (who is a ‘cutter’), and the theme of unconditional love. Grab-your-attention cover. I have recommended it to friends.

SPILL SIMMER FALTER WINTER by Sara Baume

Why I chose this: Great title! Irish writer. The relationship between a man and his dog.

Verdict: The writing in this book is staggering and I found myself turning down the corners of a number of pages to savour (“I shut my book, lean forward in the potbellied armchair an try to dredge the words from the stew of my memory and hook them together again, so I can sing along.”(p. 57). ‘Stew of my memory’: I love that.  Uniquely told in the second person, a man shares his thoughts and his life story with a stray dog he picked up as a company. And of course the man One Eye have much in common and provide comfort to one another. A very moving read. Highly recommend this one.

SLEEP by Nino Ricci

Why I chose this: Heard Nino Ricci present this book at a reading. Jacket art features Alex Colville’s painting Pacific, 1967.

Verdict: I wonder which came first the Colville painting or Ricci’s novel. The central character of this novel is tackling a sleep order and his relationship with his wife, his son, his co-workers, his job as a university professor, an author, his family, his sexual prowess and his fascination with guns.  Can’t say that I loved this book (this guy needs help!), but hung in there and the cover makes perfect perfect sense.

LUST & WONDER by Augusten Burroughs

Why I chose this: I find Burroughs funny. Enjoyed his two previous autobiographies (Running with Scissors and Dry. This man’s a survivor.

Verdict: Not only does Burrough’s survive his addictions but he is desperate (yes!) to make his relationships with three different men work. This third book in the trilogy, lets us take part in the struggles and triumphs of finding love and yes (hooray!) happiness.

HUMANS OF NEW YORK STORIES by Brandon Stanton

Why I chose this: I love New York. I find the humans of New York fascinating.

Verdict: The stories of the humans of New York are fascinating! I wanna be a part of it.

THE CRUCIBLE by Arthur Miller

Why I choose this: Am going to see The Crucible in New York (director: Ivo von Hove).

Verdict: A great play.

Novels: ages 10 – 12

Ms BIXBY’S LAST DAY by John David Anderson

Why I chose this: Received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. I of course, like books about student / teacher relationships. I like books presented from the points of view of different characters.

Verdict: When students in Ms Bixby’s class learn that their teacher needs cancer treatment and is not expected to return to school they are determined to reconnect with her. Topher Brand and Steve have adventures (sometimes humorous) that prolong their plans for the day when they ‘skip’ school in order to meet up with their teacher who is in the hospitalized. Have a kleenex handy. A heartwarming read that reminded me of Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea and A Begonia for Miss Applebaum by Paul Zindel.

FREE VERSE by Sarah Dooley

Why I chose this: The title, of course. The blurb on the book jacket (“Sarah Dooley’s poignant adn profound tale of family and belonging shows us that life, like poetry, doesn’t always take the form you intend.”)

Verdict: This book is about LOSS in many forms. Learning about loss in a novel can strengthen our emotional connections as readers, and build compassion. We cheer for Sasha whose father was killed in a mining accident, whose mother ran off when she was five, and whose brother who had became her guardian, dies. Sasha dreams and optimism are strengthened when she meets a new friend at school and is embraced by a loving foster parent. Despite the good things that have come her way, Sasha is troubled and longs for escape from the small mining town. It is through poetry that Sasha finds reflection and hope. Section Three of this novel (pages 229-293) is devoted to the poems Sasha writes in free verse, and otherwise.

BOOKED: Kwame Alexander

Why I chose this: Alexander won the Newbery Medal for his book The Crossover. If a book is in free-verse format, I will most likely by it.

Verdict: I like free-verse novels because the narrative comes through succinctly and poetry gives a punch to the events and feelings of the character. Alexander presents an authentic portrayal of a young adolescent learning to cope with family separation, first romances, friendships, bullying, school obligations and a lust for soccer.

THE WILD ROBOT by Peter Brown

Why I chose this: Peter Brown is a great picture book illustrator and this is his first publication of a novel for young readers (ages 9-12).  The chapters are short. Brown’s illustrations appear throughout. And yes, the strong reviews on Amazon prompted me to click the button and buy the book.

Verdict: A great read! A fantastic read aloud!.  This one is going to win the Newbery. (Didn’t I already say that about Pax?)

 

 

MORRIS MICKLEWHITE AND THE TANGERINE DRESS

by Christine Baldacchino; Illus. Isabelle Malenfant

In the picture book, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress*, a young boy enjoys dressing up in a tangerine dress because it reminds him of tigers, the sun and the colour of his mother’s hair. At school, Morris is teased (“We don’t want you to turn us into girls.” When Becky, a feisty girl in the class says ‘Boys don’t wear dresses,’ Morris answers saying “This boy does!”. This picture book was a contender for the Forest of Reading (Blue Spruce), the Marilyn Baillie picture book prize and the TD award for book of the year. Recently, I have shared this book with primary, junior and intermediate students and though I’ve read the book a number of times, I gain new insights by having book talks with the students. I feel that this book invites revisiting, rereading and rethinking.
NOTE: This picture book is a an ideal choice to have students – of all ages – consider gender identity and stereotyping to honour INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PINK (April 13, 2016)
A simple response activity that has prompted significant reflection is to have students complete sentence stem prompts to help them consider their feelings, connections and puzzlements after listening to the story. This activity can be done to as a preview to group discussion or as a follow up to book talk:
I feel…
I remember / I am reminded of…
I wonder…

NOTE: A French edition of this book is available with the title:

Boris Brandamour et La Robe Orange.
The titles below address the issue of identity, bullying and non-gender conformity. In both picture book and novel formats, we meet characters who choose to be / celebrate who they are. These characters prefer to wear clothing not typically associated with boys and prefer to do ‘girl things’ thus helping readers understand that there are many ways to be boy. Each of the books recommended here encourages discussion of stereotypes, self-confidence and acceptance. Titles are listed in order of suggested grade level, thus demonstrating the spectrum of texts available to explore the issue of gender identity.

APRIL 13, 2016
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PINK is a day against homophobic, transphobic and all forms of bullying celebrating diversity by wearing PINK and challenging stereotypes.

Picture Books (ages 4+) (to be shared with all ages)

OLIVER BUTTON IS A SISSY by Tomie dePaola

How brave to publish a book with the word ‘sissy’ in the title. Tomie dePaolo presents Oliver’s story who doesn’t like to do what other boys are ‘supposed’ to do. Considering the question of “What are boys supposed to do?” this picture book (1979) as well as helping readers consider how best to confront (or ignore) those who tease us.

JACOB’S NEW DRESS by Sarah and Ian Hoffman: illus. Chris Case

Like Morris Micklewhite, Jacob, who loves wearing dresses, helps readers understand that there are many ways to be a boy.

PRINCESS SMARTYPANTS Babette Cole

Not all princesses enjoy wearing pretty dresses. Not all princess want to marry Prince Charming. Princess Smartypants is a humourous – and insightful – book into gender stereotypes with the central character being female.

MY PRINCESS BOY by Cheryl Kilodavis; Illus. Suzanne DeSimone

This is a book about acceptance told from a mother’s point of view. Recognizing that her four year old son Dyson is happy dressing up in dresses and anything that is pink or sparkly, Kilodavis embraces his uniqueness and invites readers to support children whoever they might be and however they want to be. (Will you laugh at him? Will you like him for who he is? )

WILLIAM’S DOLL by Charlotte Zolotow; Illus. William Pene Du Bois

Published in 1972, this picture book opened doors to examine gender identity with the heroic William, who more than anything, wants to play with dolls. He is teased (“Sissy, sissy,” chants the boy next door) but one day finds compassionate understanding from his grandmother.

Novels: Ages 9 to 12

GEORGE by Alex Gino

George, born a boy, knows she is a girl. She thinks she’ll have to keep this a secret forever until one day in school, the opportunity to play the part of the female spider in the class play of Charlotte’s Web. George lives by the credo “Be Who You Are”, but having others understand why we choose to be different is not always as easy as it seems.

BILL’S NEW FROCK by Anne Fine

Bill wakes up one day and discovers he has been turned into a girl. How will Bill adjust to the changes and wow will he cope in school? How will his school community cope with him?

THE BOY IN THE DRESS by David Walliams; Illus. Quentin Blake

From the back cover: “Dennis is different. Why was he different, I hear you ask? Swell, a small clue might be in the title of this book…” Like other male characters outlined in this list, Dennis believes that he can be whoever he wants to be. This amusing and heartwarming novel introduces young readers to a brave, resilient character. Moreover, this first book by Walliams invites readers to step into the world of David Walliams, master storyteller, funny man and very very very popular author. Coincidentally, Dennis first ‘dress up’ experience is with a sparkly orange dress.

Novels: Ages 12 to 15

TOTALLY JOE by James Howe

This book is a companion to Howe’s The Misfits and demonstrates what might happen to the Morris Micklewhites of the world who are strong to their convictions and must survive the challenges of middle school and find a way to fit in. The novel takes readers through a year in the life of Joe and chapters are presented with alphabetical titles (e.g., O is for OY; P is for Popular [not])!

ABSOLUTELY BRIGHTNESS by James Lecesne

Leonard Pilkey goes through life adorned in rainbow coloured sneakers – until the day he disappears. This book tells the story of an outcast teenager who seems tp carry on despite the prejudices that surround him but when tragedy strikes, those prejudices demand to be confronted and changed.

EVERY DAY by David Levithan

Every day “A” wakes up as a different person. On any day “A” can be a boy or a girl. This becomes complicated when “A” falls for the girl of his dreams.

THE ART OF BEING NORMAL by Lisa Williamson

When David Piper was eight years old, his teacher asked the students in his class to write about what they wanted to be when they grew up. David’s answer: “I want to be a girl.” In high school, David develops a friendship with Leo Denton and things get complicated when the school’s most beautiful girl enters the picture and challenges the relationships, identity – and secrets – of the male characters.

Nonfiction (adolescent/ adult)

RAISING RAINBOW: Adventures in raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron

This nonfiction selection is one family’s story of dealing with the challenges and distresses and joys of raising a ‘gender-creative’ son (i.e. gender variant, gender nonconforming).

Dr. Larry Recommends

What books have I recently enjoyed reading? What plays have I recently enjoyed seeing? This section offers recommendations of some of my current favourite literary and arts experiences.  I look forward to frequently posting children’s literature book lists here.