Jen Robinson's Book Page

Turtle in Paradise: Jennifer L. Holm

Book: Turtle in Paradise
Author: Jennifer L. Holm
Pages: 208
Age Range: 8-12

Background: Turtle in Paradise was already on my "to be read stack", but I bumped it up a bit last month after it won a Newbery Honor, author Jennifer L. Holm's third. I loved Jenni's Penny from Heaven (review), and I'm a loyal fan of her Babymouse series (see here, for example), written with her brother, Matt Holm. Although I do know Jenni in person, I believe that I'm still objective about her books, which I discovered before meeting her.

Review: Turtle in Paradise is historical middle grade fiction set during the Great Depression. Eleven-year-old Turtle has been living with her single mother, a housekeeper, in New Jersey. When Turtle is sent instead to live with her mother's relatives in Key West, she finds a very different world. She learns about everything from "Conch" foods to the art of fishing for sponges. And she learns, for better and for worse, what it means to be part of an extended family.

I think that my favorite thing about this book is how realistic the relationships are. Turtle's tired aunt takes her in, but is patently un-thrilled to have another mouth to feed. One of her cousins (the one who loses his bedroom to her) is downright hostile. And her grandmother is well-known for being a mean, cranky old lady. Turtle does develop bonds with her relatives, but this happens slowly and naturally over the course of the book. (There's a faint echo of Anne Shirley's relationship with Marilla Cuthbert).

And I do love Turtle. She's strong and smart and wise beyond her years (though the reader may figure a few things out before Turtle does). She's got a great voice, pragmatic, with a keen vision and a dry sense of humor. She's rather cynical, as one might expect from a kid growing up during the Depression. Here are a few examples:

"Mama's always falling in love, and the fellas she picks are like dandelions. One day they're there, bright as sunshine -- charming Mama, buying me presents -- and the next they're gone, scattered to the wind, leaving weeds everywhere and Mama crying." (Page 6)

"What is it with folks always talking about where they're from? You could grow up in a muddy ditch, but if it's your muddy ditch, then it's gonna be the swellest muddy ditch ever." (Page 12)

"In my opinion, the fellas who make Hollywood picture are really just salesmen. Instead of peddling girdles, they sell thrills and chills, and folks eat them up. Not me, though. I'm no sucker. I know there's no such thing as giant apes climbing skyscrapers or mummies walking out of tombs. But just try telling that to the boys." (Page 123)

"What is it with boys and fighting? I'm amazed any of them get to be grown-ups the way they're always going at it." (Page 146)

The Key West setting is conveyed through Turtle's experiences, and through dialog, rather than via extended narrative descriptions. I think that this makes Turtle in Paradise quite kid-friendly. Although much of setting and many details of the book are based on true stories from the author's family history, Turtle in Paradise never for a moment feels like a book written to spoon-feed history to kids. Instead, the author's note at the end comes as a wonderful surprise. As in 'Wow, a bunch of these things (including a hurricane) are real. Cool!'

Turtle in Paradise is a book that you'll try to read quickly, because you want to know what happens next to Turtle and her cousins. But you'll find yourself slowing down to appreciate details, like Turtle's dislike of Shirley Temple, and the matter-of-fact way that several of the boys in the story take care of the neighborhood babies. You'll mull over hints('Hmm, is that writer fella who I think he is?'), and drool over Mrs. Soldano's delicious lunches.

In short, Turtle in Paradise is everything a reader could want in a novel. I can see why the Newbery committee picked it for an Honor. As for me, I look forward to reading it aloud with Baby Bookworm when she's older. Highly recommended!

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 11, 2010
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

© 2011 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. All Amazon links in this post are affiliate links, and may result in my receiving a small commission on purchases (with no additional cost to you).

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day Today

LitWorld asks:

What would you miss most if you could not read or write? Imagine your world without words.

I can't honestly imagine my world without words. Can you? My default state, when I don't have something else that I have to do, is reading. I read to my daughter as often as I possibly can. I read blog posts and Tweets and Facebook status updates and newspapers and magazines and instruction manuals and road signs and ... There are words everywhere. Not being able to understand them would be indescribably bleak.

Today, LitWorld asks you to join them in celebrating World Read Aloud Day. It's quite simple. All you have to do is make some time to read aloud. And if you want to participate in WRAD as a shared virtual event, check out this post for ideas. Or follow LitWorld on Twitter.

Growing Bookworms Newsletter: March 8

Tonight I will be sending out the new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's and young adult books and raising readers. There are 1367 subscribers. Currently I am sending the newsletter out once every two weeks or so.

Newsletter Update: In this issue I have four book reviews (1 middle grade, 2 young adult, and one adult) and two children's literacy roundups (one here and one posted in detail at Rasco from RIF). I also have a Booklights reissue about the E.B White Read-Aloud Awards, a quick link to a must-read post at Read Aloud Dad, and two posts about this week's Share a Story - Shape a Future literacy blog tour (an event that I really hope you'll check out - it is fabulous!). Not included in the newsletter this week, I shared:

• An announcement about the Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards; and
• A news release about President Obama's cutting of funding for Reading is Fundamental.

Reading Update: Since the last newsletter, I finished four books (besides picture books and board books, see those here):

• Jennifer L. Holm: Turtle in Paradise. Random House Books for Young Readers. Completed February 26, 2011.
• Karen Day: A Million Miles from Boston. Wendy Lamb Books. Completed March 5, 2011.
• Zilpha Keatley Snyder: William S. and the Great Escape. Atheneum. Completed March 7, 2011, on MP3.
• Robert Crais: The Sentry (A Joe Pike novel). Putnam Adult. Completed March 1, 2011, on MP3.

Reviews to come. Work has remained rather hectic, and my "to be reviewed" stack is growing fast (especially in regards to picture books). I'm currently reading Gemma Malley's The Legacy (dystopian YA, sequel to The Declaration and The Resistance), and listening to The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson.

How about you? What have you been reading and enjoying? Thanks for reading the newsletter, and for growing bookworms. Also, don't miss World Read Aloud Day tomorrow (March 9th).

© 2011 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. All Amazon links in this post are affiliate links, and may result in my receiving a small commission on purchases (with no additional cost to you).

Giving the Gift of Literacy to New Parents

As I mentioned yesterday, the third annual Share a Story - Shape a Future literacy blog tour is happening this week. This year's theme is Unwrapping the Gift of Literacy. Today's specific theme is about giving the gift of literacy. Dawn Little, today's host, asked me to write something about giving the gift of literacy to new parents. This is something that I have now experienced as giver and recipient, and I jumped at the chance to participate. [Image credit: SAS logo designed by Elizabeth O. Dulemba]

Giving books to new parents is, I think, one of the highest yield ways there is to give the gift of literacy. There's a reason that organizations like RIF, Reach Out and Read and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, among others, focus on giving books to infants and preschoolers. Children who have books of their own are much more likely to learn to love reading than children who don't. And kids who grow up loving books later reap many rewards, from improved literacy to enhanced imaginations to better math skills. [I'm not sure there are any studies about the enhanced imaginations part, but I'll bet it's true.]

If I were a fairy godmother, I would bless children with the gift of loving books. As a regular old godmother, aunt, and friend, I do what I can by giving books. I buy books for baby showers, christenings, and birthday parties. And you can, too.

I will admit that I have an advantage here. As a reviewer, and now as a parent, I read a lot of picture books. I read blogs where people recommend picture books. I see the ALA and Cybils awards lists every year. I subscribe to Horn Book Magazine, and various newsletters. It's easy for me to come up with a few high quality titles, titles that are a bit out of the mainstream. Titles that the new baby would likely not have received otherwise. I belive that it's my job to get those titles into new parents' hands.

But even if you aren't out there keeping up with all of the newest picture book releases, you are qualified to pick books to give to new parents. Pick the books that you loved most as a child, or that you enjoyed reading to your children. Or ask a librarian or bookstore associate for help. Tell the new parent why you chose these books. I promise, this information makes the gift even more special.

Whether the books you're giving will be the only ones that the family receives, or whether yours will be one of hundreds, you can't go wrong by giving books. I don't believe that it's possible for a child to have too many books - the parents can always donate or share them with others later, as the child grows older. Hardcover picture books are nice as gifts because they make good keepsakes. But board books and cloth books can used right away, chewed and loved and looked and tucked into the diaper bag. I like to give a mix of both.

Here are a few titles that I've been giving to new parents lately, and/or that we received for our baby and particularly enjoyed (I'm leaving off the really obvious classics, though are usually be good choices, too):

Board Books/Cloth Books

• Begin Smart Baby Faces (great for brand new babies - the first thing that our baby really looked at)
• Begin Smart Animal Faces (cloth book with attached rattle - the first thing that our baby reached for, and still a cherished favorite)
• Who Do You See: My First Taggie Book (cloth book with tags and a mirror - much loved for the animal images and as a pillow)
• Each Peach Pear Plumb by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (review)
• Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest (ill. Anita Jeram) (review)
• Any of Leslie Patricelli's board books, like Yummy Yucky
• ABC Baby Me by Susan B. Katz (ill. Alicia Padron)
• Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester (ill. Lynn Munsinger)

Picture Books

• Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman (ill. Charles Vess) (especially good for girls)
• The Goodnight Train by June Sobel (ill. Laura Huliska-Beith) (review)
• Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown (ill. Garth Williams) (review)
• Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox (ill. Helen Oxenbury)
• Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin (ill. Betsy Lewin) (I especially like to give this one to parents who are on the computer a lot)
• Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (kids love his smiling, timid face)
• Anything at all by Mo Willems

I also like to give new parents a copy of Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook (reviewed here). The early chapters make a strong case for why parents should read aloud and why they should start early. Jim Trelease writes from the perspective of a parent (and now grandparent). A parent somewhat obsessive on the topic of reading aloud, sure, but still, a parent. This makes The Read-Aloud Handbook a good starting point for people.

Of course there are other great books out there for parents looking to nurture young readers, like Esme Raji Codell's How to Get Your Child to Love Reading and Mem Fox's Reading Magic, among other titles. If you already know that the new parents are actively seeking to raise a reader, one of these books would be an excellent choice, too.  

A Note for New Parents and Parents-To-Be

You can help the people who care about you to give your child the gift of literacy. My daughter, our first child, was born last year. The people who knew me best knew that the thing I would most want for my baby was books. But I was afraid that some of them would be paralyzed by the idea that I must already have a lot of picture books, books that they wouldn't want to duplicate. And in truth, my library was missing many classics.

So what I did was made a wish list for Baby Bookworm on Amazon, and linked to it from my more traditional baby gift registry (and from my blog, and from a footer in my personal emails). I wasn't trying to drum up gifts, you understand, but if there were people out there who wanted to buy my baby books, I wanted to make it easy for them to see what we needed.

We ended up having a lovely "book shower" thrown by some of my fabulous blog friends (special thanks to Terry for organizing and to Sarah, shown here, for collecting and delivering the books). We also received books from high school friends, college friends, relatives, and even a few people I met through Twitter.

Baby Bookworm now has this fabulous library, with books from people from all different stages of my husband's and my lives. I get a bit teary-eyed just thinking about it. I wrote the giver's name in each book, too. Whenever I read a book to Baby Bookworm, I tell her where the book came from. This makes our far-flung friends and relatives feel closer.

Of course you don't have to use Amazon - I'm sure that your local independent would be happy to set up a wish list, too. Or you could do what my business partner did, and create a little web page of your own with a list of books that you want (or list the ones that you already have). The point is, if you let people know that you're interested in books, and you make it easy for them to select books, you can help people to give your child the gift of literacy.  

In Closing...

One of the most meaningful and lasting gifts that you can give to new parents is to support their children's future literacy. You don't have to be a blogger or a literacy advocate or a librarian to do this. All you have to be is willing to take the time to pick out a few books. Choose books you loved as a child. Choose this year's Caldecott winners. Choose whatever catches your eye at your local bookstore. Don't worry too much about what books the new parents might already have (duplicates can always be shared or traded with friends). Just get out there and give books. They're fun to buy, easy to wrap and ship, and can last for years. And the real gift that you're giving, supporting the child's love of books, well, that lasts a lifetime.  

I hope that you'll visit Dawn Little's blog, Literacy Toolbox, for links to today's other posts. Happy reading! Thanks for stopping by for Share a Story - Shape a Future 2011.

Share a Story - Shape a Future Literacy Blog Tour: This Week!

The 2011 Share a Story - Shape a Future literacy blog tour is taking place this week. This year's overall theme is Unwrapping the Gift of Literacy. Different aspects of this theme will be discussed each day:

• Monday: The Power of a Book - From the literal power of owning a book and a good story to the intangible power that comes with knowing how to read. 
• Tuesday: The Gift of Reading - Whether you're looking for a book to excite a reader, want to help someone learn to read or celebrate the "gift" ... it's covered.
• Wednesday: Unwrapping Literacy 2.0 - With all of the talk of digital literacy, e-readers, etc. What does "literacy" look like in this new century?
• Thursday: Love of Reading v. Homework - Do they have to be at odds? We'll talk about ways to help readers at home and at school.
• Friday: The Gift that Keeps on Giving - To wrap up the week we'll be remembering "that moment" when we realized we were a reader or writer and how to celebrate it with others. Lots(!) of interviews this day.

This year's events include a podcast interview between Katie Davis and SAS founder/champion Terry Doherty, an original story by Mrs. P, and a roundtable discussion on multiculturalism in children's books. There will also be daily writing prompts and prizes! This year's generous donors include Barefoot Books, MrsP.com, Elizabeth Dulemba, and Reading is Fundamental.

I haven't been able to participate as much in Share a Story this year as in previous years (nearly 1 year old now, Baby Bookworm is quite a handful!). But I will have a post up tomorrow about giving the gift of reading to new parents. And I'll be spreading the word throughout the week, here and on Twitter, as much as I can.

I do hope you'll stop by and check out the 2011 Share a Story - Shape a Future celebration of reading and literacy. Terry and her amazing team of organizers and contributors have assembled a simply glorious collection of resources. Stay tuned...

President Obama Cuts RIF's Funding

This news release from RIF came out yesterday. The elimination of federal funding for RIF is such a sad thing, I hardly know what to say. So I'm sharing my friend Carol Rasco's words with you instead:

Congress and President Obama Cut Reading Is Fundamental - America’s Largest Children’s Literacy Program serving over 4 Million children

March 3, 2011—Statement by Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of Reading Is Fundamental

On March 2, President Obama signed a bill that eliminated funding for Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) the nation's largest organization providing free books and literacy resources to prepare and motivate children to read.  RIF’s ability to provide  4.4 million children with free books  and reading encouragement from RIF programs at nearly 17,000 locations throughout the United States is in jeopardy.

RIF programs are in schools, community centers, hospitals, military bases, and other locations that serve children from low-income families, children with disabilities, homeless children, and children without adequate access to libraries. For 44 years, RIF has provided millions of children the opportunity to choose free and high-quality books to read and keep for themselves. The seeds of inspiration in these books have motivated children to follow their dreams and achieve their full potential.

The facts are simple. Millions of children are living in the United States without access to books. Book distribution programs are a key factor in developing children to be readers at an early age and a gateway to greater student achievement. In 2010, RIF commissioned a comprehensive meta-analytic research synthesis by Learning Point Associates, an affiliate of the American Institutes for Research. The study found that providing children access to print through book lending and book distribution programs:

• improves  their reading performance,
• is instrumental in helping them learn the basics of reading,
• causes them to read more and for longer lengths of time,
• and improves their attitude toward reading and learning.

RIF has been an authorized, national program by the Department of Education through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for over thirty years.  RIF has received bi-partisan support and has been funded by six administrations without interruption until now.

Our educational programs are under attack and it’s time to fight back. Investments in education are investments in our country’s future—our children. When I visit RIF programs across this country, I see firsthand the joy children feel when empowered to choose their very own book to own.  All children deserve the American Dream, and we owe it to our nation’s children to provide the resources they need to turn the dream into reality. Even such small opportunities and encouragements to choose can inspire children to make greater choices: to choose learning, to choose success in school and life, to choose a brighter future.

RIF is committed to ensuring that despite the odds, all children have the chance to experience the joy of reading and have books to call their own. By providing children this opportunity, we are preparing them for a better life. Reading is indeed fundamental.

I know that these are difficult times, but it makes me so sad to see this happening to a wonderful organization like RIF. To see this happening to millions of disadvantaged children who will have a harder time getting their hands on books. I'll keep you posted on anything else that I hear from RIF, including ways that RIF's supporters can help.

Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards Announced

I received this news release from Meg Smith at the ABA this week, and thought it would be a nice follow-up to my recent post about the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards.

ABA Announces Finalists for Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards

Tarrytown, NY. March 2, 2011. The American Booksellers Association announced on March 1 the finalists for the 2011 Indies Choice Book Awards, now including the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards. The winners will be chosen by the owners and staff at ABA member stores in balloting throughout the month of March.

The Indies Choice Book Awards finalists in six categories - Adult Fiction, Adult Nonfiction, Adult Debut, Young Adult, Picture Book Hall of Fame, and Most Engaging Author - were selected by a jury of independent booksellers from the 2010 Indie Next List Great Reads and additional bookseller recommendations. Each is representative of the types of books that indie booksellers champion best. (Only the children's and YA selections are included here.)

As a result of the recent merger of the Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) and ABA, this year, for the first time, balloting includes the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards. Now in their eighth year, the E.B. White Read-Aloud Awards recognize books that lend themselves to being read aloud by a family or a group. They replace the Indies Choice Book Awards in the categories of Middle Reader and New Picture Book. All of this year's finalists reflect the playful, well-paced language, the engaging themes, and the universal appeal to a wide range of ages embodied by E.B. White's collection of beloved books.

ABA members will vote for one favorite in each category, with the exception of the Picture Book Hall of Fame, where they will choose three. The top vote getters will be declared the winners in each category with the remaining titles designated as honor books.

BOOK OF THE YEAR - YOUNG ADULT

• Bamboo People, by Mitali Perkins (Charlesbridge)
• Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver (HarperCollins)
• Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (Knopf Books for Young Readers)
• Out of My Mind, by Sharon M. Draper (Atheneum)
• Revolution, by Jennifer Donnelly (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green and David Levithan (Dutton Juvenile)

E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD - MIDDLE READER

• Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
• The Familiars, by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson (HarperCollins)
• Penny Dreadful, by Laurel Snyder, Abigail Halpin (Illus.) (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• The Sixty-Eight Rooms, by Marianne Malone, Greg Call (Illus.) (Random House Books for Young Readers)
• The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, by Tom Angleberger (Amulet Books)
• A Tale of Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Juvenile)

E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD - PICTURE BOOK

• Bedtime for Bear, by Brett Helquist (HarperCollins)
• Chicken Big, by Keith Graves (Chronicle Books)
• Children Make Terrible Pets, by Peter Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
• Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, by Eric Litwin, James Dean (Illus.) (HarperCollins)
• A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea, by Michael Ian Black, Kevin Hawkes (Illus.) (Simon & Shuster)
• The Quiet Book, by Deborah Underwood, Renata Liwska (Illus.) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

PICTURE BOOK HALL OF FAME

• Bread and Jam for Frances, by Russell Hoban, Lillian Hoban (Illus.) (HarperCollins)
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle (Henry Holt & Co.)
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, Lois Ehlert (Illus.) (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
• Corduroy, by Don Freeman (Viking)
• Curious George, by H.A. Rey (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• Goodnight Gorilla, by Peggy Rathmann (Putnam)
• Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow)
• The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper (Grosset & Dunlap / Philomel)
• Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• The Napping House, by Audrey Wood, Don Wood (Illus.) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking)
• Stellaluna, by Janelle Cannon (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle (Philomel)

MOST ENGAGING AUTHOR
(The author who is an in-store star with a strong sense of the importance of indie booksellers to the community.)

• Laurie Halse Anderson
• Jonathan Evison
• Kevin Henkes
• Mitali Perkins
• Richard Russo
• Terry Tempest Williams

All booksellers at ABA member bookstores in good standing are encouraged to vote; only one ballot per person will be accepted. Voting, which is via an electronic ballot on BookWeb.org, is open until March 31. The winners will be announced on April 7. This year's winners and finalists will be honored at ABA's Celebration of Bookselling Author Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, May 24, at BookExpo America 2011.

A Must-Read Post on How Reading Aloud Made Read Aloud Dad a Better Father

Every once in a while a post comes along that reminds me of why I'm doing this whole blogging thing in the first place. Today, I found such a post at Read Aloud Dad. Read Aloud Dad, father to young twins, shares the story of how reading aloud made him a better father.

He explains that he wasn't comfortable talking with his kids when they were too young to communicate back. He talks about how he left the talking part to his (already overworked) wife. And he talks about how everything changed for his family once he took over the nightly reading sessions. Once he became "Read Aloud Dad."

He explains: "Children's books almost magically opened up the channels of communication. They broke down all the walls." He reviews other benefits that have come from his commitment to reading aloud, and closes with advice for other dads who would like to see this magic happen in their own homes.

I wish that I had a way to share this post with every dad or mom who feels uncomfortable talking with their pre-verbal children. To share it with all the people who think "oh, well, my child isn't old enough to read to yet." By opening up, by sharing his own limitations and struggles, Read Aloud Dad makes a powerful, completely non-judgmental, case for reading aloud to kids. That is what blogging can do.

Go read it! I hope that this post brightens your day, as it did mine.

Clementine: Friend of the Week: Sara Pennypacker

Book: Clementine: Friend of the Week
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrator: Marla Frazee
Pages: 176
Age Range: 7-10

I'm a big fan of the Clementine series (see here and here). I consider all of the books must-read titles for early elementary school kids (say, first to third grade). When Clementine: Friend of the Week showed up on my doorstep, I figured "it's never too early to introduce Baby Bookworm to Clementine." So I read it aloud to her over the past few weeks. Reading aloud in small doses (babies will fall asleep when you read to them) is a different experience than swallowing a book in one sitting. But equally satisfying.

Clementine: Friend of the Week finds our heroine on top of the world, happy to have been named "Friend of the Week" in her third grade classroom. That person "gets to be the leader of everything and tell all about themselves. And everybody has to say why it's so great to have that person around." At the end of the week, they write down good things about the person for a take-home booklet.

Although Margaret convinces Clementine that she's going to have to ingratiate herself with her classmates, to encourage them to write nice things about her in the booklet, Clementine fans won't be worried about that. They will worry, however, when Clementine's beloved cat, Moisturizer, goes missing.

The second part of the book, in which Clementine searches for her lost cat, is both emotional and nerve-wracking. A friend warned me on Facebook (I don't recall who it was now) that for older kids, this book probably needs to be read in one sitting. Not a problem when reading to a 10-month-old, but good advice for teachers and librarians reading the book aloud.

And you should read Clementine: Friend of the Week aloud. Because the true beauty of this series is Clementine's voice. She is funny and witty and has the biggest heart in the world. She still calls her brother by vegetable names (which is only fair, since she has to have a fruit name), and considers him to be a bit of a disappointment. She sounds like a real third-grader (though perhaps a bit more creative than most). 

Here's my favorite passage:

"I could feel my inside face melting into a big secret smile, and I forgot all about the compliment-thinking-up." (Page 37)

I didn't flag any other passages as I was reading aloud, because I figured that I could always go back, flip through the book at random, and find something worth quoting on any page. Let's try (opening book at random):

"Mrs. Rice sighed. "How about this. How about, the next time you decide to share your artistic talents with your friends, you do it on paper?" (after Clementine draws tattoos on her classmates)

I didn't want to embarrass Mrs. Rice by pointing out that tattoos don't work very well on paper, so I just said, "Sure, next time I will. Thanks for the great idea." Then I told the great idea I'd had." (Page 73-74)

And one more (again choosing a page at random):

"Anyone who expects to eat something in our house should expect to help make it. I always make a face about doing dinner chores, but the truth is I like being in the steaming, clattery jumble of dinner-making with everybody else." (Page 25)

Doesn't Clementine have great parents? They're a nice combination of fun and strict. I especially enjoy her relationship with her dad, who obviously "gets" her, in a way that all kids deserve to be understood.

There's a bit of humor in this book for adults, too. Clementine's habit of naming pets after products found in the medicine cabinet leads to a funny outcome, one likely to go over the heads of your average 7-year-old (though my daughter, as the child of a Urologist, might appreciate it earlier than most).

I also love Marla Frazee's illustrations. They remind me of the work of Joe and Beth Krush (illustrators of my beloved Gone-Away Lake books), albeit with a more modern, streamlined feel. The real point is that she brings Clementine to life, from her unruly curly hair to the way she kicks her feet when sitting in a chair, because she has too much energy to sit still (see page 74).

Clementine is a girl that any right-minded kid would want to be friends with. She has a little brother who, well, will probably develop other interests beside banging on pots as he gets a bit older. She has a friendship with her neighbor, Margaret, that is complex and not-dull. She has a different kind of friendship with Margaret's brother, Mitchell, who is N-O-T, not her boyfriend (but might be someday?). She has a range of classmates and family friends that offers something for everyone.

The Clementine books are destined to be classics, read by future generations of kids. They have a timeless feel to them, one that I expect will hold up well (though they don't feel old-fashioned at all - it's a fine line). These days, I recommend the Clementine books to all of the elementary school kids I run across, boys or girls. It's not essential to read the series in order, but why would you want to deprive yourself of the chance to read all four books? And by reading the books aloud, parents can enjoy them, too. Clementine: Friend of the Week has my highest recommendation. Don't miss it!

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children (@HyperionVoice)
Publication Date: July 27, 2010
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

© 2011 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved. All Amazon links in this post are affiliate links, and may result in my receiving a small commission on purchases (with no additional cost to you).

Children's Literacy and Reading News Roundup: Read Across America Day Edition

The early March children’s literacy and reading news round-up, brought to you by Jen Robinson’s Book Page,  Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, and Rasco from RIF is now available here. Over the past couple of weeks Terry Doherty, Carol Rasco and I have collected plenty of content for you about literacy & reading-related events; literacy and reading programs and research; and suggestions for growing bookworms.

I know that Carol just had her end of month roundup on Sunday, and normally we like to space things out a bit more. But there's simply too much time-sensitive news to wait until next week. And scarcely any overlap. Happy reading!

Events

This week's roundup is quite heavy on events. There is a ridiculous amount going on in the world of books and literacy this month. Because there's so much, I haven't even tried to touch on other March celebrations, like Women's History Month (link goes to a neat effort by two kidlit bloggers). Although we've mentioned some of these reading-related events in past roundups, it gets a bit confusing with so many days dedicated to reading. So we're providing a quick summary again.

Today, March 2nd, Dr. Seuss's birthday, the NEA is celebrating Read Across America Day. You can find a great Seussville resources page at Random House. As the site explains, "Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together kids, teens, and books, and you can too! Incorporate these guides and activities to celebrate reading with young people." [Image credit: Seussville]

On March 3rd, people in the UK and Ireland will be celebrating World Book Day. We've already highlighted special events taking place at Tidy Books (a campaign to give books to people in Africa) and Playing by the Book (a Librarithon). According to the World Book Day website, "World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The origins of the day we now celebrate in the UK and Ireland come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition started over 90 years ago."

March 7-11 is the Share a Story - Shape a Future literacy blog tour, an annual collaborative venue to share ideas and celebrate everything reading has to offer our kids. This year's theme is Unwrapping the Gift of Literacy. You can find a sneak peek here. I'll have more news about Share a Story as events unfold. [SAS logo created by Elizabeth O. Dulemba]

On March 9th, LitWorld is celebrating World Read Aloud Day. Their website explains: "World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology." They'll have a submission form on their site on March 9th, so that you can log minutes spent reading. You can also register on the site now to join the movement.

In honor of both Read Across America Day and World Read Aloud Day, Book Blog Fun is having a book club / reading event / contest to promote literacy. From an email from Lauri Chandler: "From March 2nd to 9th read with your kids, cousins, brothers, sisters, teachers and friends.  Post a comment on our blog and let us know who you are reading with and you will be entered to win a copy of Mo Willem’s new Elephant & Piggie book, I Broke My Trunk! One winner will be chosen at random (name picked out of hat) from all those who post a comment on our blog from 3/2-3/9." They'll also be reading another Elephant & Piggie book, Are You Ready to Play Outside, as a book club pick, and welcome your feedback in the discussion.

Via The Big Thrill, an email newsletter from the International Thriller Writers' association, I learned about the Save the Libraries program, started by author Karin Slaughter to "spread the word about the needs for community support for public libraries." According to the newsletter, "The first Save the Libraries event, scheduled for March 12, 2011, will raise funds for the DeKalb County (GA) Public Library system. On that date fellow writers Mary Kay Andrews – who writes the Callahan Garrity mystery series as Kathy Hogan Trocheck – and Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, will join Slaughter at the Decatur Public Library in Decatur, Ga., for “A Mysterious Evening.”"

And, looking forward, Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) Day will be celebrated in the US on April 12th, Beverly Cleary's birthday. More on that closer to the time.

Bottom line: you might as well just plan to read aloud with a child every day in March. Then you'll be sure not to miss any of these celebrations! And once you get in the habit of reading with a child every day, you'll be all set for D.E.A.R. Day in April, and all the months ahead.

Literacy Programs and Research

Reach Out and Read had a big announcement last week. "Until recently, the school readiness experts at Reach Out and Read handled literacy-related questions from pediatricians and parents of children with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. But, thanks to a partnership with CVS Caremark and their All Kids Can program, dedicated to serving the needs of children with disabilities, that’s no longer the case. A new Developmental Disability Literacy Promotion Guide is now being piloted at 57 community hospitals and clinics in Kansas City, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. The guide provides reading tips, recommended books, and literacy milestones for children with seven different disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Hearing Loss, Intellectual Disabilities, Speech and Language Problems, and Vision Loss."

I love local literacy efforts that quietly focus on bringing books to kids. Therefore, I was pleased to see this Lehigh Valley Morning Call story by Kathy Lauer-Williams about how nonprofit Judith's Reading Room donated a cart containing 566 children's books to the new children's emergency room at Lehigh Valley Hospital. "Judith’s Reading Room promotes “Freedom Through Literature” by providing custom libraries to nonprofit organizations that serve people who, for any reason, have limited or no access to literature." (via Jenny Schwartzberg)

I also enjoyed another article that Jenny sent me, about how a Philadelphia nonprofit called Children's Literacy Initiative is using a federal grant to help build classrooms that help kids to master reading skills before they leave 3rd grade. The article describes a reading-friendly classroom that I so wish all third graders could experience!

At Quiet: The Blog, Susan Cain and her guest contributor Royan Lee share some interesting thoughts regarding the power of using social media in the classroom to help introverted kids. Let's just say that I identified with the example that Royan gave of a girl who was very quiet in the classroom, but became much more confident and talkative on social media.

Suggestions for Growing Bookworms

The Early Childhood School Library Blog had a nice post last week about Building a Read Aloud Time. Nancy Jo Lambert (my new Twitter friend) shares a program for building up the amount of read-aloud time for preschoolers as they get older. She adds: "If you haven’t been reading aloud to your child and they are anywhere between the ages of 0-6 years old, it is never too late to start!", and she strongly recommends reading with each child individually when you have more than one child.  (via @ReadAloudDad)

Melissa Taylor has a lovely guest post at Imagination Soup by Robin Merrill called "Why I Read Poetry to My Toddler."  Here's a quick snippet (but do read the whole thing): "By reading him poems, I am introducing him to words that I would not normally use in the daily grind. By reading him poems, I am putting surprising images, sounds, and ideas beside one another and challenging him to make connections in his little brain. I hope that I am helping him learn to communicate, learn to understand, learn to think, and learn to love language the way that I do. And we are having fun while we do it!"

And finally, if you are looking to grow bookworms, you should head straight over to the 8th issue of Literacy Lava, a free PDF magazine created to help parents with their kids' reading, writing, and communicating. Creator/editor Susan Stephenson says: "In this eighth edition, you’ll find suggestions for developing plot in Writing Tips for Kids, storytelling as a way to bring literacy front and centre in kids’ lives, how to get kids reading, ... , great tips for a toddler book club, ideas for encouraging creative thinking in children, and how to help kids collect words." I especially enjoyed Stacey Loscalzo's article about shared reading time between siblings of different ages, and how older kids can benefit from picture books even as toddler s can benefit from hearing chapter books.  But all of the articles are great - full of useful, hands-on tips, book recommendations, and activities.

This week's Nonfiction Monday roundup was at Rasco from RIF.

Thanks for reading the roundup, and for your interest in Children's Literacy! We'll be skipping the mid-month roundup this month, because Terry will be sharing plenty of literacy news as part of Share a Story - Shape a Future. But I expect Carol to be back at the end of the month with a look back, and a look forward to literacy-related events for April.