History of children's literature: Many Moons

Thurber, J. (1943) Many moons. New York: Harcourt Brace & Co.

Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin, this book is the Caldecott medal winner for the year 1944. 

From Horn Book Magazine: 

"Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. A charming picture book about an imperious ten-year-old princess who wanted the moon, and what her father did to get it for her. The Lord High Chamberlain, the Royal Wizard, the Royal Mathematician were all called upon in vain, and at last it was the Royal Jester who helped the princess find her own answer to the troublesome demand. Louis Slobodkin’s many lovely pictures have an important share in making a distinguished book of this amusing fairy tale — the first book James Thurber has written for children. Reviewed in the September 1943 issue of The Horn Book Magazine. Retrieved from the Horn Book Website 9/25/2017. 

School Library Journal review of a later edition:

"PreSchool-Grade 3-- Although the Caldecott-winning edition illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (HBJ, 1943) is the one that many parents and librarians grew up with, this new full-color version by Simont has a charm of its own. His illustrations are more modern in appearance... Backgrounds are generally sketchy, giving the characters center stage. The clever Jester, dressed in fool's motley, is still the only one of the King's advisors who has the sense to ask Princess Lenore just what she expects when she asks for the moon. The pompous Lord High Chamberlain, the skatty Wizard, and the absent-minded Mathematician are as helpless as ever, and the little princess with her common sense and gap-toothed smile is charming. This will delight a whole new generation of children. --Rosanne Cerny, Queens Borough Public Library, NY Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. (This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.)" -retrieved 9/25/2017 from Amazon.com

I am adding this book to my collection for 3rd-5th grade. Although this book is recommended by School library journal for preschool-3rd grade, I believe older kids will enjoy this book. Accelerated Reader system rates the book at grade level 4.5. At 47 pages it is longer than most picture books, and features 2-3 weighty paragraphs per page. I have found a great science lesson tie-in for this book for third graders here: Lesson plan. This linked lesson plan ties into third grade English language arts standards for the state of Utah.

This book is also a great introduction or accompaniment to other fantastic Thurber readings like Thirteen Clocks, The Tiger who would be King, and in later grades The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.The humor will endear this tale to 3rd through 5th graders. As a Caldecott medal winner enthusiast i have to say that I would only recommend versions illustrated by Louis Slobodkin. 

Keywords: Princess, Moon, Jester, King

Great books to read aloud: James and the Giant Peach

Dahl, R. (1996). James and the giant peach. NY: Penguin.

From the inside flap: 

"Roald Dahl's children's classic will be rediscovered with wonder and delight in this handsome gift edition with all-new black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Honor Book artist Lane Smith (who also designed the characters for the Disney animated film).  How James escapes from his miserable life with two nasty aunts and becomes a hero to his new insect family, including Miss Spider, the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the Centipede (with his 21 pairs of gorgeous boots), is Dahl-icious fantasy at its best 'This newly-illustrated edition of an avowed children's favorite has all the makings of a classic match-up: Milne had Shepard, Carroll had Tenniel, and now Dahl has Smith...author and illustrator were made for each other, and it's of little consequence that it took almost 35 years for them to meet' --Kirkus."

This classic book, first published in 1961 (Knopf), is illustrated by renown children's author and illustrator Lane Smith for the 1996 edition that came out around the time of the Tim Burton film adaptation.

I am adding this book to my collection for 3rd-5th grade because it is a classic that stands the test of time. The dark humor in this book serves as inspiration for Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman and many other current children's authors. This book reads aloud well, with enough humor and unexpected turns of event to keep even very young listeners riveted. 

Keywords: Orphans, Fantastic Journeys, Magic, Escape

This book can tie in to the English language arts standards for grades 3-5 beginning on page 70 of the Kentucky Academic Standards. 

Kentucky Department of Education. (2017). Kentucky Academic Standards. Retrieved September 20, 2017, from https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/Pages/default.aspx

Inspiring a love for books: Ban This Book: A Novel

Gratz, A. (2017). Ban this book: a novel. NY: Starscape/Macmillan.

From the publisher:

"Ages 8-12"

"In Ban This Book by Alan Gratz, a fourth grader fights back when From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg is challenged by a well-meaning parent and taken off the shelves of her school library. Amy Anne is shy and soft-spoken, but don’t mess with her when it comes to her favorite book in the whole world. Amy Anne and her lieutenants wage a battle for the books that will make you laugh and pump your fists as they start a secret banned books locker library, make up ridiculous reasons to ban every single book in the library to make a point, and take a stand against censorship. Ban This Book is a stirring defense against censorship that’s perfect for middle grade readers. Let kids know that they can make a difference in their schools, communities, and lives!"

From Kirkus:

"A shy fourth-grader leads the revolt when censors decimate her North Carolina school's library. In a tale that is dominated but not overwhelmed by its agenda, Gratz takes Amy Anne, a young black bibliophile, from the devastating discovery that her beloved From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler has been removed from the library at the behest of Mrs. Spencer, a despised classmate's mom, to a qualified defense of intellectual freedom at a school board meeting: "Nobody has the right to tell you what books you can and can't read except your parents." Meanwhile, as more books vanish, Amy Anne sets up a secret lending library of banned titles in her locker--a ploy that eventually gets her briefly suspended by the same unsympathetic principal who fires the school's doctorate-holding white librarian for defiantly inviting Dav Pilkey in for an author visit. Characters frequently serve as mouthpieces for either side, sometimes deadly serious and other times tongue-in-cheek ... Indeed, Amy Anne's narrative is positively laced with real titles that have been banned or challenged and further enticing teasers for them. Contrived at some points, polemic at others, but a stout defense of the right to read. (Fiction. 9-11)"

I am adding this book to my collection for grades 3-5 because it fosters a love for books and it refers students to other great books in the process. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg stars in this book as a main character. I believe this book will catch readers’ attention and challenge readers in 3-5th grade. Kirkus recommends this book for ages 9-11, and the publisher recommends this book for ages 8-12.



Keywords: Books, Censorship, Libraries, Free Speech

This book can tie in to the English language arts standards for grades 3-5 beginning on page 70 of the Kentucky Academic Standards. 

BAN THIS BOOK. (2017). Kirkus Reviews, Lxxxv(12), Kirkus Reviews, Vol.LXXXV(12).

Kentucky Department of Education. (2017). Kentucky Academic Standards. Retrieved September 20, 2017, from https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/Pages/default.aspx

Macmillan Publishers. (2017). Ban This Book, Alan Gratz. Retrieved September 20, 2017, from https://us.macmillan.com/banthisbook/alangratz/9780765385567/

Engaging youth with award winning literature: The One and Only Ivan

Applegate, K. (2012). The one and only Ivan. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

From the Publisher:

        "This stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself.  Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.
        The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional story and true events." (Retrieved 9/10/2017 from Harper Collins)

Awards: Newbery Medal, 2013


From Horn Book Magazine Review:
"'I am Ivan. I am a gorilla. / It's not as easy as it looks.' In short chapters (the book has an open layout and frequent illustrations) that have the look and feel of prose poems, Applegate has captured the voice of Ivan, a captive gorilla who lives at the "Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade." When a new baby elephant, Ruby, arrives, Ivan promises the old elephant, Stella, that he will take care of her. When Stella passes away, he realizes that their years of captivity in such a restrictive environment are not what Ruby deserves. He hatches a daring plan that involves his own original artwork, a stray dog, the daughter of the custodian, and a zoo thousands of miles away. Ultimately, his plan is successful and the captive animals are relocated to the much-more-humane habitat of the zoo as the pensive, melancholy tone gives way to hope and joy. The choice to tell this story in the first person and to personify the gorilla with an entire range of human thoughts, feelings, and emotions poses important questions to the reader, not only about what it means to be human but also about what it means to be a living creature, and what kind of kinship we all share. An author's note describes the true incident that inspired this story and includes more information about the real Ivan."
         I have selected this book for grades 3-5 in my juvenile fiction collection because it is a great book, and can be the basis of many discussion starters. The main theme of animal rights is not the only deep discussion that this book can lead to. This can also lead to a discussion about "progress," and change. It would be illegal to keep a gorilla or an elephant in a shopping center now. Speaking up and standing for what is right is also something that can be discussed. Was Ivan brave? Was Ivan's friend Julia brave?  The publisher web site has a free teaching guide, reading guide, and printable activity guide for download.

Keywords: Animal Rights,  Gorillas, Captivity, Elephants

This book can tie in to the English language arts standards for grades 3-5 beginning on page 70 of the Kentucky Academic Standards. 
 
Hunt, Jonathan. 2012. The one and only ivan. The Horn Book Magazine 88, (1) (Jan): 83, http://ezproxy.uky.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uky.edu/docview/912679260?accountid=11836 (accessed December 11, 2017). 
 
Kentucky Department of Education. (2017). Kentucky Academic Standards. Retrieved September 10, 2017, from https://education.ky.gov/curriculum/standards/Pages/default.aspx