Author: Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano Illustrator: Michael Carroll Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 1, 2012) Source: Personal Copy Audience: Ages 9 and up Nonfiction * Astronomy * Science * Informational Text
Description from Publisher:
Get ready to S-T-R-E-T-C-H your mind!
What is a black hole? Where do they come
from? How were they discovered? Can we visit one? Carolyn Cinami
DeCristofano takes readers on a ride through the galaxies (ours, and
others), answering these questions and many more about the phenomenon
known as a black hole.
In lively and often humorous text, the book
starts off with a thorough explanation of gravity and the role it plays
in the formation of black holes. Paintings by Michael Carroll, coupled
with real telescopic images, help readers visualize the facts and ideas
presented in the text, such as how light bends, and what a supernova
looks like.
A Black Hole Is NOT a Hole is an
excellent introduction to an extremely complex scientific concept. Back
matter includes a timeline which sums up important findings discussed
throughout, while the glossary and index provide a quick point of
reference for readers. Children and adults alike will learn a ton of
spacey facts in this far-out book that’s sure to excite even the
youngest of astrophiles.
This book is good for your brain because: Informational text, science, astronomy, photographs, diagrams
My thoughts on the book:
I am on the journey to help teachers understand that good Middle Grade nonfiction does not have to be a random 150 pages long. If that was the true criteria for a good informational text, then these teachers and their classrooms will be missing out on many amazing books. A Black Hole is Not a Hole is 74 pages including all the resource pages. Clearly half the length of the arbitrary page limit set by some teachers. Yet, I was amazed with both the readability of the text and the information provided for children.
Writers of informational text for children have a challenge. Too much dry techno-babble will turn off most children, except for those who may be highly interested in the subject. Too little information and teachers won't view it as valuable for learning or as a source for a report. DeCristofano does a remarkable job providing solid information about the phenomenon of black holes. With the use of humor, scientific research, and practical analogies, DeCristofano provides basic information for students. Carroll's illustrations work to provide the visual understanding and compliment DeCristofano's text.
At the end of the book, DeCristofano provides readers with a timeline, glossary, resources, websites, and most importantly an author's note. She reminds readers that even reliable work can become outdated and that websites should be read with care for reliability.
Though I tend to like my science in the form of fiction with minimal techno-babble and lots of character development, I will concede that if DeCristofano had been writing nonfiction when I was a child I may have developed other thoughts about science texts. Teachers and librarians will find this a great resource for their students and a welcome addition to their libraries.
It's Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Sheila of Book Journey. Jen & Kellee from Teach Mentor Texts have adapted this to focus on Picture Books to Young Adult Books.
Last week's book adventures: I was able to squeeze in about 40 books. Some early readers, a few graphic novels, some poetry, some nonfiction, and lots of picture books.
Here are my favorites from the past week:
Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes by Jarrett Krosoczka - My students are going to be so excited to see the latest Lunch Lady book. And in light of our recent Math Field Day experience, I am certain they can relate.
A Black Hole is Not a Hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano - Check back on Tuesday for my review of this book.
Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine; Illustrated by Matthew Cordell - Just in time for National Poetry Month. I think students will be able to relate to these poems.
Bawk & Roll by Tammi Sauer; Illustrated by Dan Santat - This sequel to Chicken Dance is a fun one. I love Santat's illustrations.
Jean Laffite: The Pirate Who Saved America by Susan Goldman Rubin; Illustrated by Jeff Himmelman - I didn't realize that there were Jewish Pirates with a particular grudge towards Spain. I always learn something interesting reading Goldman Rubin's books.
Just Ducks! by Nicola Davies; Illustrated by Salvatore Rubbino - A sweet story about a little girl and the ducks that live near her home peppered with lots of duck facts.
So, what are you reading this week?
This week is spring break and I am hoping to squeeze in several MG & YA novels. What are your reading plans for the week? Please share! And remember to check in at Sheila's or Jen & Kellee's blog to see what they and others are reading!
I am so happy that this feature is back. It is a weekly feature of picture books that are Hot Off The Press! and I base the post on my weekly visits to Vroman's Bookstore. Their new picture book wall is back and here are the 5 new releases that stood out from the pile this week:
The Cloud Spinner Author: Michael Catchpool Illustrator: Alison Jay Publisher: Random House Children's Books (March 13, 2012) Audience: Ages 4 to 7
With the feel of a classic fairy tale, Catchpool tells the story of a young boy who is able to weave cloth from the clouds. Beautiful cloth in the colors of gold, white, and crimson. The young weaver creates a scarf and catches the attention of the king who wants a whole wardrobe from this special cloth. The boy warns the king, but his greed is great. As with any fairy tale or fable, there is a lesson to learn with modern consequences.
The Hero of Little Street Author/Illustrator: Gregory Rogers Publisher: Roaring Brook/Macmillan (March 27, 2012) Audience: Ages 5 to 8
Wordless picture books can be simple or complex. In either format, there is a story to be told. I had one image in mind when I saw the cover of this book and was surprised to find out that the book was wordless. To escape a group of bullies, our boy hero jumps through the frame of a picture in a museum. The adventure begins with a romp through art and time. With a nod to Vermeer, readers get a chance to experience 17th century Holland. This is one book that will require multiple readings in order to grasp all of the details of the story and the illustrations.
Author/Illustrator: Laura Vaccaro Seeger Publisher: Roaring Brook/Macmillan (March 27, 2012) Audience: Ages 5 to 8
Green. All types of green. Seeger explores variations on the color green in the outdoor world with the help of die-cuts. The text leads reader to anticipate what is presently before their eye and what is coming on the next page. Brilliantly executed, and fascinating to explore. I found myself searching for the die-cuts (which at times are quite small) and trying to imagine what would be on the following page. Well done by the woman who knows how to do concept books.
Falcon Author/Illustrator: Tim Jessell Publisher: Random House Children's Books (March 27, 2012) Audience: Ages 5 to 8
A young boy imagines what it would be like to be a falcon. He describes what he would do and where he would go as a falcon. Jessell's illustrations make the reader feel like they have indeed transformed into this awesome winged creature. May favorite scenes were the ones where the falcon dives between buildings skimming right above the people and cars and then sharply returning to the air. The illustrations would be beautiful as wall art.
I truly have no clue how to classify this book. Graphic Novel? Sort of. Nonfiction? Not completely. Science Fiction? Partly. Humor? Yup. This book is horizontally long, but the narrator suggests that the reader turn it vertically. Makes sense when you think you will be drilling to the center of the earth. The simple line drawings with speech bubbles take you on an adventure where the reader encounters strange creatures, and some twists and turns. However, a careful reading will also reveal that this book is filled with a ton of geological facts. Who says adults can't learn something from children's books.
Blog Tours are a fun way for readers to learn more about a new or favorite author or about an upcoming new book or a continuation on a book series. I am excited to be a part of Dom Testa's The Galahad LegacyBlog Tour. Dom has taken a moment to answer a few questions, there is an excerpt from Chapter 2, and a giveaway. So what are you waiting for...get reading.
One thing that always fascinates me is to learn how an author plans out a book series and develops the world in which his/her story takes place. The Galahad Series is comprised of six books. Did you have an idea of what kind of adventure your characters would take from the beginning or did each book unfold individually?
Alyson, this same question intrigues me when it comes to series that other authors have created. It might sound crazy, but when I began the Galahad series I had (a) no idea how many books it would eventually include, and (b) no idea of the plot for each individual volume. The first book, The Comet's Curse, ended how it needed to end, which then led me to sit down and pick up the tale in volume two, The Web of Titan. But at the end of each book I honestly didn't know what would happen in the following book. And the truth is, I really enjoyed writing them that way.
In this last book, The Galahad Legacy, there were huge questions that I didn't even know the answers to when I was halfway through the manuscript. One of the biggies, in fact - What's in the Storage Sections? - didn't occur to me until I was about a month away from finishing the book. That made it as much fun for me to find out as the readers!
Characters seem to take on a life of their own after they have been created. Did any of your characters change in unexpected ways from what you originally thought?
That's a definite Yes. Two of the main characters reached a point where they questioned their participation in the mission, and of all the characters, they would've been the LAST two I would've thought would feel that way. But the circumstances leading up to these feelings made their reactions understandable. As an author, you kinda mumble, "yeah, I suppose she WOULD feel that way."
And there was a personal relationship that began to unfold in the last book and a half, really, that I didn't see coming. I never suspected those two would get together, but they obviously were connecting while I wasn't looking.
When I think about writing a Science Fiction story, I freak out a little. The idea of researching and getting the balance between techno-babble and story to balance out seems like a challenge. What was the process like for you?
I understand what your saying about freaking out a bit, but it's probably different for me because I've always been such a science nerd. I guess it's like this: If I was just sitting around at lunch trying to share this really cool space/science info with you, your eyes might roll back in your head or you'd yawn yourself to death. But if I'm able to slip it into an action/adventure story, then it becomes part of the fabric, in a sense. Suddenly it's much more accessible to think about what it's like jumping through a wormhole when you're worried about Triana (the lead character) doing it. Will she survive? Will she make it back? What happens to you when you pass a boundary like that? In a sense, a science fiction writer is essentially camouflaging the "science" in the stories, so that it just seems natural to want to absorb it.
I went a step further, even, by creating a series of features called The Science Behind Galahad. They're short (2 or 3 pages), fun looks at some of the real science nestled within the pages of the Galahad series. I have one on Comets, one on Artificial Intelligence, one on Earth-like planets, and more to come. Teachers and readers really seem to like them.
Can you share with readers any plans for future books or what they might be able to expect from you now that the Galahad Series is ending?
I'd like to someday revisit the characters from the Galahad series and see what they're up to. I don't know what that project will look like, but I've already had a lot of inquiries about that. So it's always an option.
I'm also in the midst of creating a new series for Middle Grade/Young Adult. It's a mystery series, and I'm loving it. The first book is finished, and I'll likely finish numbers two and three before I sell it. Stay tuned.
Loving books as a reader is one thing. Wanting to write a book is another thing. Was there a book that inspired you as a reader and as a writer?
I credit the Hardy Boys and The Three Investigators as the books that really got me hooked on reading, followed by some of the sci fi masters like Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov. I was in seventh grade when I read Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, and that completely captivated me. It was real science mixed with action/adventure, which is how I see the Galahad books, too.
But the one book that convinced me to be a writer (also in seventh grade) was Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke. The last line of that book blew me away. (By the way, don't cheat and just read the last line...you have to read the whole thing first, or you'll ruin it!)
If you could write a sequel to any book (not written by you), what would it be and why?
Cool question. My gut instinct is to say "none," because I'd hate to think I took a great book and didn't fulfill the author's vision, blah blah blah. But, to play along, I'll say H.G. Wells' The Time Machine. I'd be fascinated to see what happened between the Eloi and the Morlocks.
As a child, I always wanted to insert myself into the story as I read a book either as the main character or another character in the story. Did you ever imagine yourself as a character in a book? If so, what book/character?
I thought it would be cool to be Milo from The Phantom Tollbooth.
What advice would you give to parents or teachers who are trying to encourage boys to read or read more?
My belief is that it's not so much a matter of encouraging boys to read, as it is finding the kinds of books or blogs or magazines that excite them. I'm also a believer that our culture portrays reading as a "chick thing," which is why so many boys think it's uncool for them - or unmanly. The more men that read - and make it known that they read - the more younger boys will accept it and find their own joy in it.
What does a typical writing day look like for you? Where do you write? Do you have any routines that you like to follow?
I have no firm writing time; it's truly a "write when you can" approach for me, primarily because of my hectic schedule. I host the top-rated morning radio show in Denver (The Dom and Jane Show on Mix 100), and I also run a non-profit foundation called The Big Brain Club. We help students recognize that Smart Is Cool. With all of these things on my plate, I have to carve out time to write, but, as a writer, it's what you have to do.
I've also found that I get the most writing accomplished when I leave my house. I'm too easily distracted, so I pack up my laptop and my notebooks and I get away by myself. If you see a guy in a restaurant, alone, with his laptop open and a glass of wine beside him, that's probably me.
What is currently in your To-read pile?
I'm on the third and final book in Kim Stanley Robinson's "Mars" trilogy. Next up will be Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith. I'd also like to read Captain Nemo, by Kevin J. Anderson. And then I'll probably find an Elmore Leonard book I haven't read yet, just to bask in the dialogue.
Alyson, thanks for the opportunity to participate in this interview with Kid Lit Frenzy, and thanks for all you do for readers and writers.
~ Dom
Thank you Dom for stopping by and for all the answers to the questions.
Check out this video of Dom talking about Creating the Curse:
Excerpt from the 2nd chapter:
“Oh, I’m bursting with thoughts,” the computer said. “But before we go on, is there any chance of getting some popcorn? How are you guys just sitting there, listening to this, without popcorn?”
“Well, let’s start with your thoughts on the wormhole,” Gap said.
“To begin with,” Roc said, “you have to stop thinking of a wormhole as a tunnel. It’s not. It’s a theoretical doorway between points in the universe, with no real depth to it. Does that make sense?”
Channy, who had been listening to everything with her fingers tented in front of her mouth, dropped her hands into her lap. “Or a window. When Triana shot through, it was like crashing through a window, from one side to the other.”
Please visit Star Shadow for the next excerpt from the second chapter of The Galahad Legacy.
DOM TESTA has been a radio show host since 1977. He is currently a co-host of the popular "Dom and Jane Show" on Mix 100 in Denver. A strong advocate of literacy programs for children, Dom began The Big Brain Club to help young people recognize that Smart Is Cool. More information on Dom Testa, his books and educational work can be found here at www.DomTesta.com.
* Saturday, April 14th: Murder by the Book, Houston, TX; 11:00 am
*Wednesday, April 18th and Thursday, April 19th: Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX; various times
*Friday, April 20th: Barnes & Noble, 1000 Research Drive, Austin, TX; 7:00 pm
*Saturday, April 21st: Barnes & Noble, 15900 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX; 2:00 pm
Information about the Publisher:
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Enter to win a copy of The Galahad Legacy - Contest Rules:
1.
Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any
personal information in the comments section (including your email,
website, etc.). If you do enter personal information, you comment will
not be posted.
2. You must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.
3. The Giveaway is open from April 1, 2012 to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on April 7, 2012.
4. You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
5. If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail. If
you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter:
#nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new
non-fiction picture books that are released this year. Wednesdays will
be my primary day to post the reviews.
Though I believe we should celebrate Women's History all year long, March has been designated Women's History Month. As March comes to a close, I am celebrating Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday with a review & giveaway of Women Explorers by Julie Cummins.
Women Explorers Author: Julie Cummins Illustrator: Cheryl Harness Publisher: Dial/Penguin Group (February 16, 2012) Source: Copy for Review Audience: Grades 4th to 8th Women's History * Biography * Nonfiction
Description from GoodReads: Though most people have
heard of explorers like Henry Hudson and Christopher Columbus, few have
heard names like Nellie Cashman and Annie Smith Peck. With engaging text
and bold illustrations, "Women Explorers" introduces 10 of these
adventurous women to the world. Full color.
My thoughts on the book:
I am really loving the wonderful variety of nonfiction picture books and biographical picture books that are currently available. The format and design are reader friendly and very accessible for kids. Julie Cummins' Women Explorers is one of those books. Cummins looks at the lives of 10 women explorers who lived during the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century.
With colorful illustrations and 3 pages of text per woman, Cummins shares just enough information to provide readers with a sense of each of these unique individuals and to pique interest in discovering more about them. These very special women went everywhere and did amazing things considering that in the late 1800's and early 1900's women did not typically have the same opportunities as men. Additionally, traveling all around the world was not an easy endeavor. Each of these women demonstrated great strength, courage, curiosity, and dedication as they explored places like the Artic, the South Seas, the wilderness of Mexico, or Africa.
For many of them, their upper-class families' resources and wealth, afforded them opportunities that would normally be closed to women. It was also fascinating to read about the types of clothes that they wore and sometimes the amounts of luggage or equipment that was needed in order to embark on these journeys. Though some of these women lived well into their 80's or even 90's, some died young due to illness or unfortunate situations encountered on their travels.
I was inspired and amazed by the lives of these incredible women. I am not certain that I could endure some of the conditions that they had to face in order to pursue their dreams. When I was younger, I moved from the east coast to the west coast. With the support of a friend, I traveled in a Uhaul and camped out each night. I remember distinctly thinking about the men and women who had made similar journeys during the 1800's in horse drawn wagons. The mountains of the west were impressive to this East Coaster, but I couldn't imagine crossing them on horse.
Everyone of these special women were to be admired, but I was especially in awe of Lucy Evelyn Cheesman. This diminutive woman, dressed in "a bush suit with shoes and stockings", used a nail file to cut through the threads of a particularly challenging spider's web and dined with cannibals in the South Pacific.
This is a book that I would certainly recommend for school and classroom libraries. Each story can be read as an individual read aloud or used as a tie-in with other text. If you are interested in a copy, why not enter the giveaway below courtesy of Penguin Books.
Also, don't forget to add any recent nonfiction picture book reviews to the Mr. Linky widget below. Thanks to those who are participating in the Nonfiction Picture Book challenge.
Giveaway Rules:
1.
Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any
personal information in the comments section (including your email,
website, etc.). If you do enter personal information, you comment will
not be posted.
2. You must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.
3. The Contest runs from March 28, 2012 to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on April 4, 2012.
4. You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.
5. If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail. If
you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
6. International participants are welcome to enter the contest.
