Mighty Jack and Favorite Fairy Tales Blog Post

Mighty Jack
by Ben Hatke
First Second (September 6, 2016)
Fiction * Fairy Tale Adaptation * Graphic Novel
Audience: Ages 9 to 12 years
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
Jack might be the only kid in the world who's dreading summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's boring, too, because Maddy doesn't talk. Ever. But then, one day at the flea market, Maddy does talk—to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made.

What starts as a normal little garden out back behind the house quickly grows up into a wild, magical jungle with tiny onion babies running amok, huge, pink pumpkins that bite, and, on one moonlit night that changes everything…a dragon.

KK's thoughts on the book:
In June, I acquired an advanced copy of MIGHTY JACK at ALA's Annual Conference. I read the book on the plane ride home knowing that when I got home I would need to turn over the copy to the 10 year old. I will call her KK for this purpose. Since giving it to her, she has read the book at least 10 times and I have found it in bed with her at night. The book wasn't even officially out and she was asking for the sequel. Yes, I would say that she liked it. 

For this post, I sat down and asked her some questions. 

Me: What did you like the most about MIGHTY JACK?

KK: I really liked the journey that Jack is on because of a packet of seeds and what the seeds can create.

Me: Why did you read it so many times?

KK: I really liked the ending and how things kept popping up that you didn’t think would happen.

Me: What were some of your favorite parts?

KK: Jack and Maddy’s relationship: It is not like most brother and sisters but they got along really well.

When Lily helped Jack with all of the weapons and armor that her brother made for the recent Ren Fair. 

Me: Who would you recommend this book to?

KK: I would recommend it to anyone who is into action books and recommend it to all of my friends.

MIGHTY JACK is sure to be popular with young readers looking for an exciting, suspenseful read. 

When thinking about my favorite Fairy Tales and Fairy Tale adaptations, I realized I couldn't name just one. Here are four of my favorites....

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Books for Young Readers) - As one young reader described this..."deliciously creepy" just like a Grimm Tale should be. 

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy (Walden Pond Press) - Prince Charming and what happens in the "happily ever after". 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends)  - Cyborg Cinderella. Do I really need to say much more?

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal (Knopf Books for Young Readers) - A Grimm adaptation that is dark and creepy with Grimm as narrator. 

What are your favorite fairy tales or adaptations? 

Check out the other stops in the MIGHTY JACK blog tour:

Miss Print, 9/26
Teen Lit Rocks, 9/27
Charlotte’s Library, 9/28
Kid Lit Frenzy, 9/29
Librarians’ Quest, 9/30
YA Bibliophile, 10/3
Ex Libris Kate, 10/4
The Book Rat, 10/5
Love Is Not a Triangle, 10/6
The Reading Nook, 10/7

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Women In Science

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
by Rachel Ignotofsky
Ten Speed Press (July 26, 2016)
Nonfiction * Biography * Science * Women's History
Audience: Grades 5 and up
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads: 
A charmingly illustrated and educational book, Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full of striking, singular art, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The trailblazing women profiled include well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. 
 
Women in Science celebrates the achievements of the intrepid women who have paved the way for the next generation of female engineers, biologists, mathematicians, doctors, astronauts, physicists, and more! 

Quick thoughts on the book:
When I see a title of a book and read the corresponding description, I often hope the book is as fabulous as the what is being promoted. Some books may not live up to expectations and others meet expectations and then, a few books exceed those expectations. Women in Science came out of nowhere. I had not heard a lot of early buzz but as soon as I heard about it I knew I wanted it. I requested a copy from my local indie bookstore and then the wait was on. 

And it was certainly worth the wait. This is a beautiful book from both a design perspective and also from a content standpoint. 

Ignotofsky has selected fifty women from multiple centuries and introduces them to readers. Scientists, mathematicians, inventors, medical doctors, and more are featured on two page spreads as shown above. Though there is only one page of information about each of these amazing women, there is enough to spark curiosity and a desire to find out more about these pioneers.

Throughout the book, Ignotofsky also shares graphics like "Statistics in STEM" and "Timeline". Additional resources are included at the end of the book. 

This can be used to inspire readers to explore new fields of science and math and to see the role women have played in these fields. It can be read slowly over time or devoured in one sitting. And I also love that teachers can read one a day to a classroom to spotlight the work of exceptional women. Pick up a copy of this book at your local indie bookstore or check it out at your community library. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews:

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Antsy Ansel Guest Post with Cindy Jenson-Elliott

Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, A Life in Nature
by Cindy Jenson-Elliott; Illustrated by Christy Hale
Henry Holt and Co. (September 6, 2016)
Audience: Ages 5 to 9
Nonfiction * Biography * Art
IndieBound | WorldCat
 

Description from GoodReads: 
You may be familiar with Adams's iconic black-and-white nature photographs. But do you know about the artist who created these images?

As a child, Ansel Adams just couldn't sit still. He felt trapped indoors and never walked anywhere--he ran. Even when he sat, his feet danced. But in nature, Ansel felt right at home. He fell in love with the gusting gales of the Golden Gate, the quiet whisper of Lobos Creek, the icy white of Yosemite Valley, and countless other remarkable natural sights.

From his early days in San Francisco to the height of his glory nationwide, this book chronicles a restless boy's path to becoming an iconic nature photographer.

____________________________________________________

Thank you Cindy Jenson-Elliot for stopping by and talking about your new book Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, A Life in Nature. 

            If we have had the good fortune to view some of Ansel Adams’s iconic black and white photography, our chief memories are of both the massive spectacles and tiny wonder of the natural world. But Adams’s development as an artist came, in part, from the contrast he experienced between life in early industrial era schools, and the wonder of the outdoors.

            Imagine being stuck in a school like this:

            “It was a dismal three-story building, dark brown on the outside, dark brown and tan on the inside; everything, including its atmosphere, grimly brown. The students acquired this pervading mood of depression from the teachers, and the teachers must have caught it from the building: big square rooms, wide noisy staircases, grimy windows, ink-stained desks, smudged blackboards, and crummy toilets. The janitor dour, the principal grim, and the playground dirty!” (Ansel Adams: An Autobiography, p. 16)

            Not only was Adams’s school a depressing place, the teachers and administrators did not know what to do with a child like Ansel, who, in his own words, was “hyperactive.”

“Each day was a severe test for me, sitting in a dreadful classroom while the sun and fog played outside…Education without either meaning or excitement is impossible. I longed for the outdoors, leaving only a small part of my conscious self to pay attention to schoolwork.” (Ansel Adams: An Autobiography, p. 17)

After a final incident of misunderstood misbehavior, Adams’s father took him out of school. Between tutors, free access to the outdoors, and a season ticket to the San Francisco World’s Fair, Ansel Adams discovered his true love for learning.

In 2011 I had the good fortune to hear Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, speak about his book The Nature Principle. Louv spoke about people who had been saved by their connections with nature – and people who had been lost because of their broken relationship with the natural world. He mentioned Ansel Adams and his father, and immediately the words “antsy Ansel” flashed through my head. I went home and began to research his life.

Connection Children to Nearby Nature

As an outdoor educator and teacher, I have witnessed countless tiny, profound moments of connection between children and nature. These are not National Park moments found only in a special place at a special time. The natural connections that sustain and strengthen us are ordinary day-to-day moments when we connect with nearby nature, in our own back yards or school yards, and fall in love.

My heart leaps when I hear my favorite phrase echoed by a student: “Oh, wow! Look!” I want to write books to reach beyond my own students and connect the world to those moments of wonder. In writing Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, a Life in Nature, I wanted readers to feel what it was like to be in Ansel’s head and body: to be bombarded with stimulus, to feel stuck in a classroom, and to finally be released into the freedom of the natural world. Thirty-five drafts later, the book found its way to editor Christy Ottaviano, and into the arms of illustrator/collage artist Christy Hale, whose meticulous research on-site in Ansel Adams’ home turf gave the book deep roots.

My hope is that this book will encourage teachers, parents and children to see the outdoors as a resource for teaching and learning, and will open the door for people of all ages to develop a relationship with nature in their own back yards.

About the author: 
Cindy Jenson-Elliott is a teacher, environmental educator and the author of 17 books of nonfiction. She currently teaches writing programs to children through Words To Go in San Diego. Find her author page online at www.cindyjensonelliott.com, on twitter at @cjensonelliott, and on her blog at http://naturexplorer.wordpress.com. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: 

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children: The Movie Premiere

It is not every day that you get an invite from 20th Century Fox to see the premiere screening of a new movie, especially a fabulous book made into movie. When I received the invite to attend the Tim Burton Fan Event and screening of Miss Peregrine's Home of Peculiar Children, I knew I had to accept especially since it is my god daughter's favorite book. Last Thursday, September 8th, I found myself at the TLC Chinese Theater in Hollywood with my god daughter and her mother. 

Upon arriving, we received these cool passes that were our tickets in. 

The afternoon/evening would include the ceremony for Tim Burton's Hand and Footprint Ceremony followed by the screening of the movie.

Here is Jax's view of the evening's events:
The night was amazing. Seeing Tim Burton put his hands in the cement was pretty cool (even though I could barely see haha).

I'd say the highlight of my night was meeting Ransom Riggs. I was definitely starstruck when I saw him. I could barely get words out of my mouth because his work just truly amazes me. I've had dreams with his characters and imagined I was there with them. He's just agh! Sorry for lack of a better word, but so freaking amazing. I honestly felt like a movie star.

I also met Deep Roy who was in one of my favorite movies growing up (The Never Ending Story). It was really fantastic. 

The free kid cocktail and popcorn was a plus.

I really enjoyed the movie too.

Honestly, the whole thing was an honor and I had so much fun. Quite possibly some of the most fun I've had in my life! I don't know what other words to use than that it was amazing and awesome.

Thanks Jax for your thoughts on the evening. And  I am definitely with Jax. This was a fantastic evening and Tim Burton did a great job adapting Ransom Riggs' book for the big screen. Make time to see this movie when it comes out at the end of the month.

Check out this trailer with Tim Burton talking about the making of the movie: 

Movie Information: 
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, in theaters September 30
From visionary director Tim Burton, and based upon the best-selling novel, comes an unforgettable motion picture experience.

When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies.

Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

Starring: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Chris O'Dowd, Ella Purnell, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, with Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson

Directed By: Tim Burton

Rated PG-13

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram - #staypeculiar

Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge: Blood Brother Blog Tour

Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights
by Rich Wallace, Sandra Neil Wallace
Calkins Creek (September 13, 2016)
Audience: Grades 5 and up
Nonfiction * Biography * Social Activists
Official Educator's Guide
IndieBound | WorldCat

Description from GoodReads:
Jonathan Daniels, a white seminary student from New Hampshire, traveled to Selma, Alabama, in 1965 to help with voter registration of black residents. After the voting rights marches, he remained in Alabama, in the area known as “Bloody Lowndes,” an extremely dangerous area for white freedom fighters, to assist civil rights workers. Five months later, Jonathan Daniels was shot and killed while saving the life of Ruby Sales, a black teenager. Through Daniels’s poignant letters, papers, photographs, and taped interviews, authors Rich Wallace and Sandra Neil Wallace explore what led Daniels to the moment of his death, the trial of his murderer, and how these events helped reshape both the legal and political climate of Lowndes County and the nation.

Official Book Trailer:

Quick thoughts on this book:
Sometimes a book brings to the forefront a person that you have read about but never explored in depth. Blood Brother: Jonathan Daniels and His Sacrifice for Civil Rights is just that book for me. The Wallaces in Blood Brother gives voice and depth to the work of a young white seminary student who traveled to Alabama and played a significant role in the fight for Civil Rights. 

Despite a number of books that I have read about the Civil Rights Movement over the years, I have never really thought about who was the man who gave his life so that Ruby Sales would live. And nowhere had I made the connection that Jonathan Daniels was from Keene, New Hampshire. Of course that may seem like a small detail, maybe even irrelevant, but as someone who attended college in Keene, New Hampshire, I should have known this fact. 

Blood Brother provides readers with an abundance of primary source information in the form of quotes, news articles, photos and more to bring alive the narrative of Daniels life and work. 

Additional reading: Black Civil Rights Activist Recalls White Ally Who Took A Shotgun Blast for Her (Washington Post, August 2015).  Look for Blood Brother at you local indie bookstore or community library. 

About the authors:
Rich Wallace has written more than three dozen novels for children and teens. His first novel, Wrestling Sturbridge, was selected by the American Library Association as one of the top 100 YA books of the twentieth century. His recent children’s nonfiction includes the acclaimed Babe Conquers the World, co-written with his wife, Sandra Neil Wallace. He lives in New Hampshire. 

Sandra Neil Wallace had a lengthy career as a news anchor and ESPN sportscaster before writing realistic fiction and nonfiction for young readers. A pioneer in the journalism field, she was the first woman to cover the National Hockey League on network TV. Selected as a promising new voice in children’s literature by The Horn Book, Wallace’s titles have been named to state and national awards lists including Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Book of the Year, ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, and Booklist’s Top 10 Sports Books for Youth. 

Don't forget to link up your nonfiction reviews: