Fiction -- Maniac Magee

Title: Maniac McGee   

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Date: 1990


Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

ISBN: 978 0-316-80722-7

Format: Print book, hardback

Summary: Jeffrey "Maniac" McGee is a legend in Two Mills, PA. Jeffrey is sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents are killed when he is three years old. The problem is that they hate each but refuse to get a divorce. When Jeffrey can't take it anymore, he starts running and ends up in Two Mills, a town segregated by race and prejudice. As the legend of Maniac grows, the distance between the townspeople starts to narrow. Maniac brings the people together.

Audience: The recommended audience for this book is children aged 8-12. In the book, Maniac is 12 and there are a slew of other kids who participate in the story, ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. Because of this, the age range is an accurate audience for the book. However, the content is complex and entertaining enough to also be enjoyed by older readers.

Strengths: The strength of this book is its attempt to tackle the issue of racism in America. Jeffrey moves back and forth between the white and black sides of town, seeing no difference between the residents. He points out the incorrect assumptions people make about the differences of people of different ethnicities and focuses on the similarities. This book also addresses the issue of homelessness, which is not a common topic in children's book even though it is a reality of our society. Jeffrey is both a hero and an underdog and his desire to find a home and fit in is something that many readers can relate to.

Weaknesses: The issue of race in the book, while one of its strengths, is also a weakness. While the author attempts to write equally about both sides of Two Mills and correctly represent both races, this is a difficult task to accomplish. The author of the book is white and thus the story is written from this point of view. This can cause inconsistencies to appear in the text that can exclude some readers from being able to fully relate to story.

Uses: This book is useful not only in fostering reading and comprehension skills, but also in opening the door for discussions of race, bullying, belonging and homelessness. It also focuses on the importance of education and learning. Even though Maniac does not go to school, he is constantly reading and trying to better himself by learning all that he can about the world. This can be used to reiterate the importance of learning to readers.

Read-alikes: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Finding Buck McHenry by Alfred Slote

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting

Awards: Newberry Medal winner 1991, Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Nook Award, Charlotte Award, Nene Award, Massachusetts Children's Book Award

Blog -- Abby the Librarian

Title: Abby the Librarian

Author: Abby Johnson, children's librarian at New Albany-Floyd County Public Library in New Albany, IN

Date: created in 2007


Host: Google Blogger

Format: Online blog

Summary: This blog is written by a children's librarian and includes book reviews, library activities such as scavenger hunts and storytime outlines, and advice for current and potential library students and librarians. The blog is organized and updated regularly providing a variety of information on all aspects of working with children in a library setting. The site also provides links to outside resources such as the ALA website, Kidlitosphere blogs, and Goodreads.

Audience: The audience for this blog is children's librarians, mainly in public libraries but can also be useful for school librarians, library students, and potential library students.

Strengths: The strength of this blog comes from the amount of content it features. There is a wide variety of material that is easy to find and written by someone who is working in a library, in the trenches so to speak, and therefore has the experience and personal knowledge to support her posts. She provides information for people considering becoming a librarian, such as "A day in the life of a children's librarian" and information on library school. The content of the site focuses on a variety of activities, topics and reading materials that allow users to see what others in the field are doing ion order to improve their own services.

Weaknesses: This is a well-kept and executed blog that does not seem to have any major weaknesses. The author provides detailed background information on herself and links to outside sites when appropriate, increasing the site's credibility. Posts are made regularly and are relevant to current issues and events. All of the links work and contact information is provided for readers to be able to get in touch with the owner of the site.

Uses: This blog would be useful to children's librarians looking for information on programming and activities or book reviews and recommendations. It also provides useful information for people who are considering librarianship as a career path. Parents looking for reading materials for their child could also refer to this blog for recommendations and reviews.

Magazine -- Ranger Rick

Title: Ranger Rick

Date: Issues reviewed -- February, March, April 2014


Publisher: The National Wildlife Federation

ISSN: 0738-6656

Format: Print periodical, monthly except January and July

Summary: Ranger Rick is a kid's magazine that features articles on animals of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities as well as environmental issues. Each issue is filled with colorful photography covering a variety of creatures. Subscriptions are available for $19.99 per year and includes ten issues of the magazine. Proceeds from the magazine support the National Wildlife Federation. It is available in a print and online format.

Audience: This magazine is created for readers aged 7-12. There is another version of this magazine, Ranger Rick Jr., that is available for readers 4-7.

Strengths: The strengths of this magazine are the many vibrant, colorful photographs that accompany each issue and the variety of topics covered each month. Each issue features a comic detailing Ranger Rick's (the raccoon) adventures for the month, along with games, jokes and riddles. Each month the selection of activities differ, but always includes a variety for children to complete. The magazine also offers ways for readers to interact and participate with Ranger Rick. These include   writing letters, asking questions, submitting jokes or riddles or submitting material for one of the many contests, the most recent of which was a photography contest. The winning submissions were included in the magazine along with the name, age and location of the photographer. This allows readers to not only interact with the magazine, but also explore new hobbies while participating in the various contests. The magazine includes a map with each article that shows where the featured animal lives, providing readers with geography lessons along with the science aspect.

Weaknesses: The only potential weakness of this magazine is that the title is boy-oriented and could cause some girls to overlook it. However, the magazine itself is not directed at a particular gender and  can be enjoyed by both girls and boys, given the chance.

Uses: This magazine presents a fun way to learn about animals and the environment. It can be used as a tool for teaching geography and about various climates and habitats around the world. The magazine provides a connection between animals and people and can educate children on the importance of protecting wildlife and treating animals with respect and care. It can also be used as a tool to inspire outside hobbies, such as photography or creative writing. It would also be useful as a tool to improve reading skills and foster a love of reading in children who are not yet interested in books.

Awards: Periodical of the Year 2011 for grades K-5 as awarded by the Association of Educational Publishers, 2013 Parents Choice Gold Award Winner

Video -- Giggle, Giggle, Quack

Title: Giggle, Giggle, Quack and more stories

Author: Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin, Harry Bliss

Date: 2004


Produced and Distributed by: Weston Woods Studio, Inc. and Scholastic Storybook Treasures

UPC: 767685215852

Format: DVD

Summary: A read-along DVD, this collection features five videos: Giggle, Giggle, Quack, Dooby Dooby Moo, Duck for President, Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Fly. All five stories are written by Doreen Cronin. The videos are animated and narrated, while providing the text at the bottom of the screen.

Audience: This video is recommended for ages 3-8. However, for younger viewers who are not yet able to read along the videos may not be as interested in the content. Children 5 and up may be a better audience.

Strengths: The videos are well illustrated and narrated, giving the characters personality that keep viewers engaged in the story. There are five videos on the disc that provide almost an hour an a half of watching time, but the videos themselves are short enough to keep younger viewers engaged throughout. The words at the bottom of the screen help viewers practice their reading skills while allowing them to participate in the story. The videos include material to help children learn about animals and life on a farm and are entertaining enough that parents can also enjoy watching the videos along with their children. The disc provides two of the videos in Spanish, an interview with the illustrator and discussion questions included with the five videos.

Weaknesses: These five videos are set at a relatively slow pace in order to allow viewers to read along with the narrator. While this is ideal for children learning to read, it can make it difficult for the videos to hold the attention of younger children not yet able to participate in the read-along. Compared to modern-day cartoons available to children, these can appear lack-luster to younger viewers and they may get bored with the videos.

Uses: This video collection is useful in helping children develop their reading comprehensive skills, vocabulary and problem solving. It can also be used to teach children about life on a farm, farm animals and facts about worms and flies.

Awards: Andrew Carnegie Medal winner

Giggle, Giggle, Quack Trailer

Nonfiction -- Shutting Out The Sky

Title: Shutting Out the Sky

Author: Deborah Hopkinson

Date: 2003


Publisher: Orchard Books, an Imprint of Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 0-439-37590-8

Format: Print hardback

Summary: In the late 19th and early 20th century, New York was flooded with people coming to America looking for a better life and trying escape the hardships they were facing in their home countries.

Audience: Children ages 8 to 12 are the recommended audience for this book. This is appropriate as the stories featured in the book focus on people who immigrated to America when they were this age. Situations and conditions that eventually led to Child Labor Laws are also discussed.

Strengths: This book is a well-researched and documented historical account of an important time in American history. One of its strengths comes from its ability to draw readers in and keep them engaged. Hopkinson presents the information in the form of personal stories from people who immigrated to America during this time. Instead of a dry, chronological story about the facts, the book is organized into different aspects of immigrant life with a specific focus on young people. Readers get a personal account of what life was like during this time, while also learning about public policy, government regulations and the people and events who worked to change these things. Another strength is the numerous photographs that accompany the text. The sepia toned images are prominent throughout the story and fit in well with the overall theme and aesthetic of the book. Readers are provided a glimpse into life in the late 19th and early 20th century in a captivating way that vividly paints a picture of what life was like for these people. The book also provides several additional features that allow the reader to further engage in the story. These include a "Voices in the Book" that introduces the readers to the children in the book, an afterword, a timeline and recommendations for further reading.

Weaknesses: There are two aspects of this book that could lessen its effectiveness. First, the narrative jumps from person to person as different areas of life are discussed. This can get confusing. A person is introduced in one chapter and then returns again later in the book after the reader meets several other people. This can make it difficult to keep up with who's who and could cause some readers to lose interest in the story. Second, the photographs in the book are not of the actual people who are featured. While the photographs are authentic and do capture situations similar to those being discussed, had the author been able to provide real photos of the actual families it would have offered a deeper connection to the story. However, given the time that has passed from when these stories took place, this is probably be a difficult task to do.

Uses: This book could be used for a variety of learning opportunities. First, it is an entertaining way to teach children about the history of immigration and the way of life for people during this time. It also provides an introduction and opportunity for further learning of government policy, child labor reform and the methods used to try to enact changes in these areas. Terms such as regulations, enforcement, boycott, strike and work stoppage can be used to teach students about bringing about change and introduce them to how government works in America. Also, the book details the extreme measures that immigrants had to go through to get an education, which can help reenforce the importance of education and the value of being able to freely go to school.

Read-alikes: Tenement: Immigrant Life on the Lower East Side by Raymond Bial

Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

God Bless the Child by Arthur Herzog

Immigrant Kids by Russell Freedman

Awards: Honor book for the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award, A Jane Addams Award honor book, an IRA Teacher's Choice, James Madison Award Honor Book

Graphic Novel -- Bone: Out of Boneville

Title: Bone: Out from Boneville

Author: Jeff Smith

Date: 2005 (reprint, originally published in 1995)


Publisher: Graphix, an Imprint of Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 0-439-70640-0

Format: Print paperback

Summary: Wealthy Boneville resident Phoney Bone gets chased out of town after upsetting the citizens with another of his schemes gone wrong. His cousins Smiley Bone and Fone Bone go with him to help him escape the townspeople. The cousins are separated after attempting to escape a swarm of locusts. Fone Bone finds himself lost in a strange forested valley filled with monsters and dragons. He is saved by the kindness of valley resident Thorn, but still needs to find his cousins before he can try and get back to Boneville.

Audience: The age range for this book is 9 and up. While the book is appropriate for this group, it also features content that can be enjoyed by an older audience.

Strengths: A major strength of this graphic novel is the complexity of the plot and narrative structure. This allows it to be flexible in the readers it attracts. The comic format and use of dialog make it ideal for struggling readers who can use these tools to help understand the text. While the plot and narrative make it appealing to more advanced readers, the book not only appeals to but is beneficial to both groups. Another strength is subtleties that Smith includes throughout the text. These help make the book attractive to older readers as well because it provides content they can understand and enjoy, but it is presented in a way that still makes it appropriate for younger readers. This accounts for the books popularity with both readers in the recommended age range as well as adults. Finally, this book is the first in a series, so readers who enjoy it have it eight more books to look forward to reading.

Weaknesses: The weakness of this book is also one of its strengths: it is a series. While the first book introduces the characters and gets the adventure going, it also sparks questions in the reader that are not resolved in this book. Because of this, some readers may feel an incompleteness after finishing the book and in order to fully resolve this, eight more books will have to be read. This could be a turn off for some readers who want more closure to each book. It could also cause some readers to give up on the series if it does not hook them enough to want to find the answers to the lingering questions.

Uses: This book, as well as the rest of the Bone series, is a great way to reach reluctant readers. This group, typically boys, seem to gravitate toward graphic novels and this book is popular because it offers something for everyone. The illustrations that accompany the text assist struggling readers with understanding the context. This can also be beneficial with ESL readers, improving reading and language skills while inspiring a love of reading. Because the book features literary elements similar to those found in traditional literature, such as an epic adventure and a reluctant hero, it can also be used in the  curriculum as a comparison with traditional works. This can help inspire students to read traditional text that they may have had no interest in initially.

Awards: Eisner Award, Harvey Award

Audio Compilation -- Caribbean Playground

Title: Caribbean Playground

Presented by: Putumayo World Music, kids' division

Date: 2006


Label: Alliance

ISBN: 1587591332

Format: Audio CD

Summary: A collection of Caribbean music and culture from a variety of artists and locations. Reggae, Trinidadian soca, Puerto Rican bomba and Haiti's acoustic-heavy twoubadou are all features of this festive musical disc written and performed for children's ears.

Audience: This CD is appropriate for all audiences. The music is lively, with simple beats and easy lyrics which make it ideal for kids, but the quality of the songs and the performers will allow adults to enjoy it as well. The content is appropriate for all ages.

Strengths: The songs featured on this CD are lively and energetic, making them enjoyable for children and adults. The songs come from a variety of cultures and the book included with the disc includes background information on all of the songs, in English, Spanish and French. Of the 11 songs on the CD, one is sung in Spanish and one is in French, the other nine are in English. Even the cover of the album is colorful and engaging. This CD is part of a larger collection of world music, so children who enjoy it can explore music from other areas. These include: Latin, Acoustic, Cowboy, Brazilian, African, Celtic, Asian, French and New Orleans music collections.

Weaknesses: One weakness of this collection is that there are two different editions. The original Caribbean Playground CD was released in 2004, with a different edition released in 2006 with the same title and cover art but three different songs. This can be confusing for listeners who are trying to buy one version but end up with the other. Another weakness is the limited number of songs on the disc. There are only eleven songs on the disc, providing about thirty minutes of listening time. Adding more songs to the collection to provide longer listening time would provide more continuous entertainment for listeners. This would make it easier for parents playing the CD for children, as they would not have to change/restart the disc as often.

Uses: This CD would be useful in a classroom setting for teaching elementary music education. The beats and lyrics are simple and easy to study, while still exciting enough to keep kids engaged in the music. Also, there are a variety of instruments used throughout the collection that children could learn about. It would also be useful for teaching children about Caribbean culture and other languages. Children can learn about Jamaican, Haitian, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian and Guadeloupe cultures, simply by listening to upbeat music.

Awards: The Putumayo Children's Collection has been recognized by:

• Parents' Choice Awards
• Gold Awards from the National Parenting Publications Association
• "Best of..." for the American Library Association
• ALSC Notable Children's Recording Award
• "Best of..." from Scholastic Magazine

Listen to Little Anancy by Asheba from the album below!