Round 2, Match 2

So, did Percy Jackson rise victorious?  Or did almost invisible Hathin of the Lace tribe finally get the credit she deserves?  Angela Johnson had to choose between The Last Olympian and The Lost Conspiracy today.  Last-lost, lost - last?  Which one won?  Angela has to admit, like Julius Lester did a few days ago, that certain types of books just don't appeal to her.  Her argument for her choice is convincing.  But, I never had a doubt who would go on to the next round.

Hathin has received more accolades for her hard work, dedication, sisterly devotion and Machiavellian strategies.  The Lost Conspiracy by Frances Hardinge will fight again.  Sorry, Percy.

ROUND TWO!!!

Yes, Battle of the Kids' Books fans, Round Two has already taken place.  M. T. Anderson had to choose between The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacquelyn Kelly and Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman.  My personal choice would be Calpurnia but my choice does not count, nor should it, since I only read the first two chapters of Charles and Emma.  Anderson gives a clever, and very full defense for his choice.  Read it.  And then read the books.  Perhaps, you will agree with me or perhaps you will agree with M. T. Anderson who chose....

Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman!  The Darwins move on to Round Three.

Tomorrow, Percy Jackson  from The Last Olympian will lock horns with the Lace from The Lost Conspiracy.  I KNEW I should have read those Percy Jackson books!!! My choice for this bracket is The Lost Conspiracy but once again it is not the best informed decision.  Which of these two book do YOU think should move on to Round Three?

Reading to children

When should you stop reading out loud to or with your child?  Parents often ask teachers and liibrarians that question.  In this New York Times article, a school librarian and his daughter decided that the start of college was the right time to stop.

Jim Bronzina and his daughter, Kristin, started The Streak in fourth grade by aiming to read 100 nights in a row.  The Streak ended on Kristin's first day of college over 3000 nights later.

Most parents feel that reading with their children should end soon after the child is comfortable reading alone.  Jim Bronzina and I disagree.  Sometimes books need to be shared.  A nightly ritual of reading a chapter or two together creates a family language and a love of reading. 

So, slow down.  Grab that third or fifth grader and read a chapter of the first Percy Jackson novel or Dear Dumb Diary.  You only have to share ten minutes.  Maybe you and your child can beat the Bronzina's Streak. 

Some of my all-time favorite read-togethers include The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolien, almost anything by Lloyd Alexander, Susan Cooper's Dark Is Rising series,  Little House on the Prairie  and the original, uncut Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne.  Start that last one early and revisit from time to time.  Children grow into Milne's dry British humor slowly.  Re-reading favorites is STRONGLY advised.

Nominate your favorite read-together books by responding to this post. 

Round One Is Done

Today marks the final match of Round One of The Battle of the Kids' Books.  Whew!  This has been a wild ride.  Today's judge, Julius Lester, had to choose between Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan and When Your Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. Tan's book is a wonder of short stories and illustration.  Stead's book is an intriguing puzzle and sometimes a little creepy.  Lester explains clearly how a reader's experience and preferences color the reading experience.

The final winner of Round One is.....Tales from Outer Surburbia.    Half of the Parkland Community Library's YS staff was right in predicting today's winner.

Tomorrow, Round Two begins.  It is the Battle of the Evolutions!  Charles and Emma :The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman clashes with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.  May the best book win!

Graphics rule!

The books in today's Battle of the Kids' Books' match are both visually striking.  Sweethearts of Rhythm is illustrated by Jerry Pinkney, one of the supreme beings of illustration.  Every painting is a treat.  Marilyn Nelson's poems tell the story of the first all-female swing band by letting the band instruments speak.  The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan is a graphic fairy tale about dust storms during the Depression and one boy's struggles with finding his place in a time of worry.  Done in grays and browns, this book gives the reader a lot to see and ponder.

Anita Silvey, the judge for today's match, points out that both books describe America's history in different almost equally appealing ways.  She chose The Storm in the Barn  to go on to Round 2.  Read her explanation.  And then, read both books to see if you agree.

Tomorrow's match between Shaun Tan's Tales from Outer Suburbia and Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me is the final match in Round 1.  The Parkland Community Library YS staff is split between these great books.  Stay tuned!

As April approaches, the YS staff is preparing for National Poetry Month and National Kite Month with the Fly a Poem activity.  Check the Children's area for more information.

The Battle is Joined Again

Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson went up against A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck this morning.  Cynthia Kadohata, author of Weedflower  and A Million Shades of Gray, had the difficult job of deciding which book will move on to the next round.  She describes her decision-making process on the BOKB website.

The Battle of the Kids' Books is a great way to make sure that books that deserve more attention are getting it.  Both of these titles are sequels to other books.  Peace, Locomotion is the second book about Lonnie, a foster child who is separated from his younger sister.  A Season of Gifts brings back the inimitable Mrs. Dowdel from A Long Way from Chicago and A Year down Yonder.   The Battle will send readers to discover the other books in these series and to other books by these talented authors.

So what book moved ahead today?  A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck will get to flex its muscles in round two.

April - Fly a Poem!

April is National Poetry Month!  It is also National Kite Month!  So visit the Parkland Community Library during April and place a poem in the Poem Box.  The Youth Services Staff will put that poem on a kite and fly it from the ceiling in the Children's area.  Fly a Poem in April!

The poem can be a favorite poem written by someone else, or an original poem written by the person submitting the poem.  But the poet's name must be clearly and truthfully written on each poem.

Visit Poets.org to sign up for a Poem-a-Day and to read poems by great American poets, present and past.

The Family Education site lists ideas for ways to involve families in poetry fun.  This site has corporate sponsors so expect some advertisements.

Gomber Kites has interesting links on its National Kite Month page.  Click on Five People Who Flew Kites...to read how kites have aided with scientific research.  Further down the page are instructions on running kite workshops with some easy-to-make kite plans.

Get ready for April.  Find books on kites - and poetry - at the Parkland Community Library.