Nonfiction Monday: Wired by Anastasia Suen

Author: Anastasia Suen
Title: Wired
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing
Published Date: July 2007
ISBN: 978-1570914942

I am feeling pretty “wired” following the successful conference on Saturday.  Plan to post later this week. 

Wired  is one of my favorite books that I have read to students in preparation for Anastasia’s visit to our school.

Have you ever wondered about the magic of turning on your computer, the television, stove, or the lights in you home.  Wired explains the magic.

I love the combination of rhyming phrases that introduce the informational text:

“humming, thrumming…Electricity is something you cannot see:  Electrons. Electrons are part of of an atom, and atoms are in everything, including you!…”

Thus, begins the book.  Suen has presented big concepts about electricity in a manner that makes it easy for students to understand.   The illustrations which are collage like but easy to understand create a visual context for readers.  Many of the illustrations are diagrams as well. 

A glossary, safety tips and suggestions for further reading are included.  The FOSS kits for electricity will be arriving soon. Wired will be a great supplement for classroom teachers.

If you are curious about the blogging conference, more links can be found here: Portland Kidlit.

Happy Monday. Happy Reading.

MsMac

Nonfiction Monday: Ballots for Belva

Did you know?  Hillary Clinton was not the first woman trying to break the glass ceiling.  In 1884, Belva Lockwood ran for president. 

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen’s new book, Ballots for Belva, the True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency, tells the story of an independent, never-give-up woman.  Belva’s determination was evident in her childhood belief that she could move mountains.  In a way, she did.  After becoming a wife, becoming a mother, and becoming a widow, she went to law school and became a lawyer.

She decided to run for president after her frustration that he own political party  (the Republican Party) refused to make women’s suffrage a part of their official platform.  “I cannot vote, but I can be voted for.”

And votes she got.  From nine states that agreed to count the ballots with her name on them.  Pennsylvania threw away the ballots of those who voted for Belva, out of disbelief that anyone would vote for her.

This book provides a glimpse into a little known event in United States history.   Bardhan-Quallen pulls you in on the first page, a little girl determined to move mountains.  Courtney A. Martin’s illustrations depict the era in a manner of rich full page portraits.

This will be a fabulous book to share with all ages during this election year.

I was sent this book as a review copy and am so glad it arrived in my mailbox.

Book details:
Ballots for Belva, the True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency,

Author: Sudipta Bardham-Quallen
Illustrator: Courtney A. Martin

Includes author’s note, glossary, timeline for Women’s Suffrage, and bibliography.

ISBN: 978-0-8109-7110-3

Hop over to Nonfiction Monday to see other great nonfiction books.

Have a great Labor Day.

Happy Reading,

MsMac

Non-Fiction Monday: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Baby Animals

In my mailbox was this delightful book, Baby Animals: Little Ones at Play in 20 Works of Art.  Its arrival provided a much needed break from typing on my protfolio entries for the national boards. (Due to be sent next week!)

What a delight! The illustrations are excerpt from larger works of art and depict baby animals from dogs to elephants, crayfish to boars.  Artist include Leonardo da Vinci, John James Audubon, Rosa Bonheur, Mary Cassatt as well as illustrations from quilts and clothing.  Did you know that a baby porcupine is called a porcupette and that baby bats are called pups?

There is an appendix giving the full background of the artwork.  This book can be used on so many levels. What a perfect timing to receive this book just as spring begins this week. 

Have a great week.  Head over to Picture Book of the Day for more fabulous non-fiction.

Happy Reading,

MsMac

Monday, Monday

It is “Nonfiction Monday.” My nonfiction is all about the nonfiction writing I am doing for the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards.  After March 25, 2008, which is a month from now, I will have my box sent off and will only have the test prep to do for April or May.

I spent the weekend revising the entry entitled, “Fostering an Appreciation for Literature”.  This entry is actually cleverly disguised as a reading lesson.  I must show a connection to literature, demonstrate that students are inferring, have a curriculum aspect connected to the classroom and show it on a 15 minute tape.  A 2 minute video pan of the library with narration is also required.  Yesterday I was I school for more than 2 hours taping the pan. But it is completed. Hooray.

I am feeling a bit like the princess in Rumpelstiltskin these days.  Two of four entries are near completion but there remains more straw to spin into gold.  My last two entries are “integrating technology” and “collaboration with another teacher”.  I have been collaborating with a second grade teacher.  It has been  great to tie in the science of clouds with poetry.   The teacher said we could continue with the unit on animals later this spring.  This is where I feel so fortunate that my school is small enough that I can work with interested staff beyond the weekly 30 minute requirement.

The prompt at One Deep Breath was “ink”.  My haiku for that reflects my life over the last few weeks:

keys click, thoughts race
printer spits another draft
out, revision

entry completed
more straw in the mind waits to
become golden words

Have a great Monday. If you are interested in terrific nonfiction books, visit Picture Book of the Day. 

Happy Reading.

MsMac