Book Review - Perfect Pairs: Using Fiction and Nonfiction Picture Books to Teach Life Science, K-2

Perfect Pairs: Using Fiction & Nonfiction Picture Books to Teach Life Science, K-2
by Melissa Stewart & Nancy Chesley
Stenhouse Publishers (August 2014)
Barnes & Noble | WorldCat |

Behind the Books: Perfect Pairs | Reproducibles for Perfect Pairs

Description from the publisher:
Hands-on lessons can be fun and compelling, but when it comes to life science, they aren't always possible, practical, effective, or safe. Children can't follow a lion as it stalks a gazelle, visit the exotic kapok tree in a rain forest, or swim alongside the underwater life in a pond. But they can explore a whole world of animals, plants, and ecosystems through the pages of beautifully illustrated, science-themed picture books.

Perfect Pairs, which marries fiction and nonfiction picture books focused on life science, helps educators think about and teach life science in a whole new way. Each of the twenty-two lessons in this book is built around a pair of books that introduces a critical life science concept and guides students through an inquiry-based investigative process to explore that idea—from animal/environment interactions to the role of structure in plant and animal survival, from inheritance of traits to variation of species.

Each lesson starts with a "Wonder Statement" and comprises three stages. "Engaging Students" features a hands-on activity that captures student interest, uncovers current thinking, and generates vocabulary. The heart of the investigative process, "Exploring with Students," spotlights the paired books as the teacher reads aloud and helps students find and organize information into data tables. "Encouraging Students to Draw Conclusions" shows students how to review and analyze the information they have collected. Bringing high-quality science-themed picture books into the classroom engages a broad range of students, addresses the Performance Expectations outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards, and supports the goals of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

Even if you are science shy, Perfect Pairs can help you become a more confident teacher whose classroom buzzes with curious students eager to explore their natural world.

My thoughts on this book:
In 1991, I had my first classroom. In those day, curriculum was truly developed by teachers. It was my belief that all things could be taught with the use of literature. For young children, this means through many different picture books. I would create units and hunt down the books that I wanted to use to support a theme or emphasize a concept. In those days, I really never thought about fiction vs. nonfiction. As I think back to those early years of teaching, I certainly had a mix of fiction and nonfiction that I used. 

In the past few years, as I think about the many English Language Learners that I work with, I have been pondering how to return to some of what I did in those early years of teaching but to do it with even more intent and purpose. How can I use the wonderful books available in ways that will facilitate instruction in science, while also building stronger skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking? 

When I opened up Perfect Pairs by Melissa Stewart and Nancy Chesley, I fondly thought about the books I have used in lessons. The books that I used as read alouds and the ones that I used as the foundation for a lesson and those that I used to supplement and support the main text.  Books like Swimmy by Leo Lionni, The Salamander's Room by Anne Mazer, or Jack's Garden by Henry Cole.  I also thought about newer books like A Seed is Sleepy by Diana Hutts Aston, or Miss Maple's Seeds by Eliza Wheeler.

However, what I loved about this book is despite how comprehensive it is there is an ease in which it is laid out and how it is structured. Whether someone is a new or an experienced teacher, the ideas and suggestions are easy to follow and can be implemented in the classroom. For teachers, who may be a bit nervous about teaching science or for those, who are feeling overwhelmed when they hear NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), Perfect Pairs helps by making it all a little more understandable.

Recently, I took Perfect Pairs into a meeting I was having with a school librarian.  She is one of the few librarians I know who also has an advanced degree in science. As she flipped through the book, her comment was "every K-2 teacher needs a copy of this". Yes, my sentiments exactly. 

Unlike most book reviews, this one will be more on-going. I am planning on partnering up with the school librarian I mentioned and implement some of these lessons with her and her teachers and then report back. At the same time, I would love to hear from teachers who have decided to pick up Perfect Pairs and how they have used it with students. Let's keep this conversation going and see where it leads us.

About the Authors:

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 150 science books for children. She has always been fascinated by the natural world and is passionate about sharing its beauty and wonder with readers of all ages. 

Nancy Chesley was an elementary teacher for 26 years and a K-5 science and literacy specialist for six years. She won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Elementary Science Teaching in 2000 and the Milken Foundation National Distinguished Educator Award in 2002. 

Book Review: Spirit's Key by Edith Cohn

Spirit's Key 
by Edith Cohn
Farrar, Straus, & Giroux (September 9, 2014)
Audience: Ages 9 to 12
Fiction * Mysteries * Ghosts * Dogs
IndieBound | WorldCat
Author's Website | Discussion Guide
 

Description from GoodReads:
By now, twelve-year-old Spirit Holden should have inherited the family gift: the ability to see the future. But when she holds a house key in her hand like her dad does to read its owner's destiny, she can’t see anything. Maybe it’s because she can't get over the loss of her beloved dog, Sky, who died mysteriously. Sky was Spirit’s loyal companion, one of the wild dogs that the local islanders believe possess dangerous spirits. As more dogs start dying and people become sick, too, almost everyone is convinced that these dogs and their spirits are to blame—except for Spirit. Then Sky's ghost appears, and Spirit is shaken. But his help may be the key to unlocking her new power and finding the cause of the mysterious illness before it's too late.

My thoughts on the book:
Every once in awhile, I find myself struggling to find a book to just read for enjoyment. One that doesn't require me to read dozens of pages before my interest is piqued. When I picked up Spirit's Key, I was a bit nervous. I love the cover, and was curious about the premise of the story. It seemed to be exactly the type of book I would enjoy.  I, also, had met Cohn at several Southern California author events. It is always fantastic when the person you know and the book you read are equally wonderfully.  However, I was thrilled when I easily slipped into the story and found myself investing in the characters and what would happen to each one of them.

Spirit's Key has a little of everything. A delightful main character named Spirit Holden who is twelve years old and lives with her father, who has the ability to see things about the future when holding someone's key. Quirky secondary characters, superstitions, ghosts - well ghosts of dogs, and a mystery. To top it all off, it is set on an island. See, how can you not be interested in this already? 

One of the things that I loved about Spirit's Key is that despite being about physic abilities and spirit dogs, the story is very real. Small communities are filled with their own set of rules for how they interact with one another and in what they believe. Those beliefs can help to develop and establish their fundamental guidelines for living together. However, they can also do much damage especially if driven by fear. Regardless of whether Spirit has inherited her father's gift or not, she still has to battle against prejudices, especially about the local baldies (wild dog packs that live on the island). With the direction of her father, the support of friends, and the encouragement from the spirit of her dog, Sky, Spirit unearths the truth about what is killing the baldies and making people ill, and uses it to create a future for her community. 

Finally, I love the cover to Spirit's Key. The wonderfully delightful Eliza Wheeler (Miss Maple's Seeds, The Grudgekeeper) designed the cover.  If you look at the cover carefully, you might notice that Wheeler also illustrated the cover for one of my favorite books in 2013, Holly Black's Newbery Honor book, Doll Bones.  And fans of Black's Doll Bones will likely find another book to enjoy. 

Here is to wishing Edith Cohn a very happy book birthday. Her debut Middle Grade novel, Spirit's Key is now available for everyone to read and enjoy.  Pick up a copy at your local indie bookstore or look for it in your public library. 

Don't forget to check out Edith Cohn's recent guest post here. 

There is still time to enter the SPIRIT'S KEY Giveaway:
Thank you to Macmillan, one lucky reader will win a copy of Edith's book SPIRIT'S KEY. And Edith is offering a copy of a poster she created. To learn about how to get a copy of the Be the Breed that Reads Poster click here.  To enter for a chance to win a copy of the book you need to be 13 years old or older and have a US mailing address. Complete the rafflecopter below. 

What I Read This Summer

Last week, my summer vacation came to an end when I had to return to school. While I read many various different books throughout the summer, there were a couple that stood out to me as favorites.  Here are my top 5 choices:

I loved the interesting world Livia Blackburne created in Midnight Thief. I found all the politics that Kyra (the main character) has to deal with as she navigates the strange relationships between the city council, an assassin's group, and the Demon Riders to be intriguing and fascinating.

As an avid tumblr user and participant in fandom communities, this book is hilariously accurate and paints a positive picture of how investing in a book series or a TV show can help a person stay grounded through emotional strife. Fangirl strikes a perfect balance between being emotionally thematic and yet enjoyable to read and funny.

The vivid setting, along with the commentary on the psychological and social aftereffects of the Great War, make all of the Maisie Dobbs novels fantastic. Pardonable Lies, though, stood out as it dealt with familial strife and how one finds closure in a very poignant way. 

I've always loved time travel stories (cough Doctor Who cough), but I also enjoyed the secret society and shifting allegiances. I thought that the way in which familial issues were dealt with and portrayed in Ruby Red was done well, too. 

The historical setting was lovely, and the the drama, romance, and suspense were all very well executed in The Morning Gift. I loved how Ruth dealt with the awkward and sometime dangerous situations she was in, and how the book painted an interesting picture of what life was like for different people in pre-WWII Europe. 

So, what have you been reading this summer? ~ Carolyn 

Book Review: Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet

by Bernie Su and Kate Rorick

Touchstone (June 24, 2014)

Interest Level: Young adult/Adult

Fiction * Classic Retellings * Sisters

Indiebound | Worldcat

Description from Goodreads:

Based on the Emmy Award–winning YouTube series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.

Twenty‑four‑year‑old grad student Lizzie Bennet is saddled with student loan debt and still living at home along with her two sisters—beautiful Jane and reckless Lydia. When she records her reflections on life for her thesis project and posts them on YouTube, she has no idea The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will soon take on a life of their own, turning the Bennet sisters into internet celebrities seemingly overnight.

When rich and handsome Bing Lee comes to town, along with his stuck‑up friend William Darcy, things really start to get interesting for the Bennets—and for Lizzie’s viewers. But not everything happens on‑screen. Lucky for us, Lizzie has a secret diary.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet takes readers deep inside Lizzie’s world and well beyond the confines of her camera—from the wedding where she first meets William Darcy to the local hangout of Carter’s bar, and much more. Lizzie’s private musings are filled with revealing details about the Bennet household, including her growing suspicions about her parents’ unstable financial situation, her sister’s budding relationship with Bing Lee, the perils of her unexpected fame, and her uncertainty over her future—and whom she wants to share it with.

Featuring plenty of fresh twists to delight fans and new readers alike, The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet expands on the web series phenomenon that captivated a generation and reimagines the Pride and Prejudice story like never before.

About the vlog:

Back in 2012, Hank Green (of the Vlogbrothers fame) proposed to his viewers the idea of telling a classic story through modern media; specifically, he wanted to tell a modern Pride and Prejudice through a series of scripted vlogs. His idea became The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, a Primetime Emmy Award winning web series with video views over one million.  

With the success of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Pemberley Digital has gone on to create similar web series. So far, in addition to the Lizzie Bennet Diaries, Pemberley digital has produced 4 other series: 2 spin-offs starring Gigi Darcy (Domino and Welcome to Sanditon), a series based off of Jane Austen's Emma (Emma Approved), and a show based on Mary Shelly's Frankenstein (Frankenstein, MD) is slated to premiere this autumn.

Carolyn's thoughts on the book:

I first discovered the Lizzie Bennet Diaries about a year ago and fell in love with them. I watched all of the videos (about 100) over the course of a couple days. I have always been a fan of Pride and Prejudice (as well as all other Jane Austen novels), but I had never seen any modern adaptations that worked for me until stumbling upon the vlogs.

Consequently, when I heard several months ago that a companion book was to be released, I was thrilled. I picked up a copy as soon as I could and devoured it just as enthusiastically as I ate up the vlogs. The book perfectly fit in with the videos. Since most of the action of the story happened off camera and was later relayed to the viewer through reenactments (or costume theater, as Lizzie Bennet prefers to describe it), the story flowed more clearly through the book for me. The reader receives more of the story and more details, as Lizzie recorded two or three minute videos twice a week on her vlog but wrote 4 or 5 page entries often 3 or 4 days a week in the book. Additionally, the story in the book is less biased than what viewers get, because in the videos, as Jane Bennet says, "Lizzie sees what Lizzie sees". 

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet is perfect for fans of the video blogs or fans of Pride and Prejudice. I would highly recommend reading each entry in the book and watching the corresponding video(s) for readers who haven't seen or read this adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I sincerely wish that I had the opportunity to read the book when I first binge-watched the vlogs. 

Book Review: Saving Lucas Biggs

Saving Lucas Biggs

by Marisa de los Santos, David Teague

HarperCollins Publishers (April 29, 2014)

Fiction * Mystery * Time Travel * Fantasy

Audience: Grades 5-8

Indiebound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:

When thirteen-year-old Margaret's father is unfairly sentenced to death by the cruel Judge Biggs, she is determined to save him, even if it means using her family's secret-and forbidden-ability to time travel. With the help of her best friend, Charlie, and his grandpa Josh, Margaret goes back to a time when Judge Biggs was a young boy and tries to prevent the chain of events that transformed him into a corrupt, jaded man.

Carolyn's thoughts on this book:

The book opens with the main character, Margaret, watching as her father is handed down the death sentence for a crime he never committed. As a scientist, Margaret’s father was in charge of ensuring that the fracking done in their small Arizona town was done safely and legally. However, when he discovered that fracking was done neither safely nor legally, he revealed everything; in retribution, Victory Fuels (the energy company he worked for) framed him for arson and murder. There is one thing he has going for him, though: Margaret, like the rest of her family, possesses the ability to travel back in time. She travels back to the 1930’s , wherein an attempt to prevent a young Lucas Biggs from becoming the evil, bitter judge that she knows.

I loved the fascinating premise but also the beautiful solution presented to such a complicated situation. I appreciated that instead of acting in anger or retribution, Margaret decides to act with compassion and understanding. Because of her emotional maturity, Margaret is able to look past (pun intended!) the judge’s actions against her father to see that there is an underlying problem that goes back to his youth.  I found her sensitivity towards others and her actions to be a pleasant surprise; all too often, characters of her age are immature and lash out when upset (usually to teach the general lesson to “be in more control of your emotions”), but I also liked the subtle political messages.

While fracking wasn’t discussed too much in the book, Margaret’s father’s discovery and subsequent trial portrays fracking (and corporations) in a negative light. During her trip to the 1930’s, Margaret sees the sad results of the mistreatment of coal workers (when they go on strike to protest unfair treatment of an injured coal miner, they are fired and evicted); thus, corporations are portrayed as faceless entities that have the potential to use their power for evil.

Overall, Saving Lucas Biggs was a surprisingly excellent read. The mixture of time travel, modest political messages, and wonderful characters make it a perfect book for older kids, teens, and adults alike.