Esperanza Rising

Hello, Readers!

This week’s book is a special one. It is a book that touches on race, class, the American Dream, and immigration, but most of all it is a story about the enduring spirit of hope. Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan, was published by Scholastic Publishing in 2000. This young adult historical fiction novel won the Pura Belpre’ Award for Writing and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. It was an ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, an LA Times Book Prize Finalist, included in the New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, and was the Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year.

                In lyrical prose, Muñoz Ryan tells the story of Esperanza, the daughter of a wealthy Mexican rancher who is forced to flee to California with her mother when her father is murdered. The once-privileged mother and daughter become migrant workers in the midst of the Great Depression. They endure incredible hardship, yet when Esperanza’s mother becomes sick, the young girl must find a way to rise above their circumstances.

                I love this book because of the brave, indomitable spirit of the women in the story. Esperanza Rising makes a great read-aloud novel study, relating to many ELA standards as well as to social studies standards related to migration, immigration, and the Great Depression.

 

1.       Twice in the novel, Esperanza lies on the ground and listens to “the heartbeat of the earth”. Why is this important to her the first time? How have her feelings changed the second time it happens?

2.       Why doesn’t Esperanza care for Marta when they first meet? What changes her mind?

3.       Why does Esperanza have such a hard time transitioning to life in California?

 

I hope you and your students enjoy Esperanza Rising. 

Until next time, keep reading!

Where the Wild Things Are

 

Greetings, Readers!

                This week I read a book that has been part of my most-loved book list since I was a kid. Maurice Sendak wrote and illustrated “Where the Wild Things Are” (1963). This beloved fiction book won the Caldecott Award in 1964. Its beautiful illustrations are instantly recognizable, and the plight of Max is relatable to anyone who has ever gotten a little too wild in their playing. In the story, Max is playing make-believe, and when his mother cautions him to calm down, he tells her he will eat her up. He is sent to his room without supper. There, he falls asleep and dreams of being king of the land where the wild things are. However, even a king misses his mommy, and when he wakes up he sees that she has brought him his dinner. They both may have gone a little overboard, but they both realize it and make peace. It is a great read aloud in the classroom, simply to enjoy a wonderful book. Most children love “Where the Wild Things Are”, and I think this repeated passage describing the monsters is part of the reason they do:

“They roared their terrible roars, and gnashed their terrible teeth, and rolled their terrible eyes, and showed their terrible claws.”

When I read this story aloud, I ask questions like, “How does Max’s character change from the beginning to the end of the story?” and “What can you infer about Max’s dinner being in his room for him when his adventure is over?” “What can you infer about Max missing ‘someone who loves him most of all’?”

Happy reading, Wild Things!

Mrs. Ingersoll    

Inkheart

 

Greetings, dear readers!

 

Would you like to fall in love with a book today? If so, I suggest you begin reading Cornelia Funke's "Inkheart" right away. This beautifully woven tale of fantasy was originally published in 2003. It won the American Library Association's Notable Children's Book Award in 2004 and was nominated for the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature that same year.

“Inkheart” is the tale of Meggie, a young girl whose father, Mo, is a bookbinder who has an unusual gift. When he reads aloud, the book characters (and sometimes objects) come to life. Mo has never read aloud to Meggie, or told her what really happened to her mother. Funke takes us on a wild ride through a land filled with castles, magic, stories, and a black-hearted villain.

This book is a personal choice, chosen because of its magic. Funke casts a spell upon the reader with her extraordinary characters and storybook setting. Thankfully, it’s the first book of a trilogy, so there’s more story when it ends! I like to use it in the classroom as a read aloud. Even 4^th graders like to come to the rug to hear a story, and it’s easier to keep their attention that way. I stop and ask questions like “How has Meggie’s character changed so far in the story?”, “Why did her father keep his magical talent a secret from her, or tell her what really happened to her mother? and “Fire is a common element in this story, and means different things to different characters. What does it mean to Mo? Basta? Elinor?”

If you haven’t experienced “Inkheart”, I hope you do soon. Just don’t watch the forgettable movie adaptation--it’s pretty awful.

 

Happy reading,

 

Mrs. Ingersoll

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

 

Greetings, Readers!

I was introduced to this book by my daughter when she was about 6 years old. She was obsessed with doctors, germs, hospitals, and all manners of sickness, and scoured our local library for all books remotely related to sick people. Some of them (a whole series for small children with titles like "Rashes" and "Cuts, Bumps, and Bruises") were painful to read and reread (pun intended). "A Sick Day for Amos McGee" was a gem.

This book, written in 2010, is included in the New York Public Library's 100 Great Children's Books list. Written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by his wife, Erin E. Stead, the book won the 2011 Caldecott Medal for its soft, timeless illustrations. 

Amos McGee is a zookeeper who is very punctual and very predictable. He takes very good care of his animals. One day, Amos doesn't show up for work. His animals catch the bus to his house, and each one adds a little something special to his recovery. 

This simple story celebrates the importance of knowing one's friends, and being able to relate to each one in their own way. You can extend the story with questions like "If your best friend were a zoo animal in Amos' zoo, which would they be and what would he do with them?" and "What details can you find in the illustrations that help you understand more about the animals and their relationship with Amos?".

I recommend that you read this book...seven times if you really like books about sick people.

Until we read again,

Mrs. I.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

 

Hello, readers! I want to share with you an amazing book I read this week. It's a chapter book called "Bud, Not Buddy" (1999). This book by Richard Paul Curtis was the first book to win both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. 

Set during the Great Depression and the Jim Crow Era, "Bud, Not Buddy" tells the story of a young African American boy who escapes a terrible foster family and sets out to find his father. Armed with a flyer about a Jazz musician whom he believes to be his father and a self-made list of rules to live by, Bud carries us on a grand adventure. You'll have to read it for yourself, because it's just too good a story to ruin with spoilers! 

Bud is a great narrator, sharing details of life during the Depression, as well as the violence and injustice of pre-civil rights America. As you read, here are some questions to consider:

What is Bud like? Name some of his character traits, both positive and negative.

What do you think of Bud's list of rules to live by? What are some rules you'd add?

How would Bud's story change if it were set in present day?

I can't recommend this book highly enough. When I read it to a class, they beg for more about Bud every day until it's done. 

Happy reading!

Mrs. I.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

 

Dear readers,

This week I read a wonderful book called Interrupting Chicken (2010). This is a fictional picture book written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein. In 2011, Interrupting Chicken was noted as a Caldecott Honor book, which means it was considered one of the most distinguished picture books of the year.

Stein created vibrant illustrations to complement his hilarious story about a little chicken who could not stop interrupting her bedtime story. The characters of Little Chicken and Papa really come alive through the illustrations. Several beloved classic children’s books are featured within the story, but Papa can’t get through any of them without being interrupted!

This is one of my favorite books to read in the first few weeks of school. It encourages children to think about interrupting and the effects it has on conversations and read-alouds. We always have great discussions about some of the better choices than interrupting, and it can be helpful to make an anchor chart of these. To get that discussion going, you can ask questions like “What happens as a result of Little Chicken interrupting?”, or “Turn and talk to your elbow partner about a better choice she could have made.” This book also complements character education lessons on the virtue of self-control.

I recommend reading Interrupting Chicken. It’s a fun story, and is available in several different formats, including (my favorite) a big book.

Happy reading!

Mrs. Ingersoll