L.M. Montgomery. Putnam Adult, 2008. ISBN: 978-0399154782
Plot Summary: When Anne is left an orphan, she ends up being brought to Green Gables, the home of Matthew and Marilla. At first her future seems uncertain as she quickly discovers that they had requested a boy from the orphanage to help again Matthew around the farm. Luckily, they decide that red haired Anne can stay and she begins to win their hearts. Anne is quite a handful for the elderly brother and sister. She is talkative, energetic and has a wild imagination. It is a huge adjustment for the two to adjust to life with Anne but soon they cannot imagine their lives without her.
Critical Evaluation: This book is a Canadian classic for good reason. It is well written and brings to life PEI in the early 1900's. The reader can easily empathize with Anne and will feel her triumphs and heartaches as though there were their own. The character of Anne Shirley is completely irresistible and her story is heartfelt and quickly grabs the reader.
Reader's Annotation: Anne Shirley is excited to finally have a home. Unfortunately when she arrives, she discovers the she is not wanted because she is a girl. Can she change their minds with her fast tongue and brilliant imagination?
Genre: Fiction
About the Author: Lucy Maude Mongomery was born in 1894 and is the author of the Anne of Green Gable series as well as other stories about the town of Avonlea. Her work has been made into a television series as well as films.
Interest Level: 8-14
Curriculum Ties: Canadian History
Booktalking Ideas:
Focus on Anne's temper and her imagination.
Challenge Issues: None. If any, become familiar with book and the series. Read reviews of the book and seek out opinions of reader's.
Selection Process: I read it in school many years ago and wanted to re-read.
Focus on her friendship with Diana
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Guinness Book Of World Records - 2010
Guinness Book of World Records. Guinness World Records, 2009. ISBN: 978-1904994503
Plot Summary: This is the 2010 version of the Guinness's yearly publication of records set around the world. The book contains photos and description of the records set in various categories. Records include: largest hamburger, tallest and shortest man and woman, speed records, etc. There aer also frivolous records such as longest time spend hiccuping, time spend on Pogo stick and other endeavors.
Critical Evaluation: This series holds interest for people of all ages. It is fun to look through and is informative and educational.
Annotation: A book containing information on world records.
Genre: Non Fiction
Curriculum Ties: None
Interest Level: 8-14 Years old
Booktalking Ideas:
Do you know how much the worlds fattest man weighs? How many hot dogs do you think someone can eat in 10 minutes?
Challenge Issues: None. If any, become familiar with the book.
Selection Process: I receive it every year as a gift from my Grandmother :)
Plot Summary: This is the 2010 version of the Guinness's yearly publication of records set around the world. The book contains photos and description of the records set in various categories. Records include: largest hamburger, tallest and shortest man and woman, speed records, etc. There aer also frivolous records such as longest time spend hiccuping, time spend on Pogo stick and other endeavors.
Critical Evaluation: This series holds interest for people of all ages. It is fun to look through and is informative and educational.
Annotation: A book containing information on world records.
Genre: Non Fiction
Curriculum Ties: None
Interest Level: 8-14 Years old
Booktalking Ideas:
Do you know how much the worlds fattest man weighs? How many hot dogs do you think someone can eat in 10 minutes?
Challenge Issues: None. If any, become familiar with the book.
Selection Process: I receive it every year as a gift from my Grandmother :)
Trixie Beldon Fan Fiction
http://barbln.org/trixie/fanfic.htm
Summary: This is a website for fans of the Trixie Beldon mystery series. There are opportunites for fans to contribute essays and writing about the characters in teh series, plot ideas and to discuss various aspects of the stories or contribute artwork.
Critical Evaluation: This is not a very professional looking website although some of the content is good. It is obviously maintained by people who love the series but perhaps do not have a lot of technical abilities. Much of the writing on the site is done by youth and is true to the style of the original series.
Reader's Annotation: A great site for those who enjoy the Trixie Beldon series and would like to contribute their own work.
Genre: Fan website
Interest Level: 10-15
Curriculum Ties: Writing, Art, English
Booktalking Ideas: N/A
Challenge Issues: None
If any, become familiar with the website and content.
Selection Process: Found a link from another site.
Summary: This is a website for fans of the Trixie Beldon mystery series. There are opportunites for fans to contribute essays and writing about the characters in teh series, plot ideas and to discuss various aspects of the stories or contribute artwork.
Critical Evaluation: This is not a very professional looking website although some of the content is good. It is obviously maintained by people who love the series but perhaps do not have a lot of technical abilities. Much of the writing on the site is done by youth and is true to the style of the original series.
Reader's Annotation: A great site for those who enjoy the Trixie Beldon series and would like to contribute their own work.
Genre: Fan website
Interest Level: 10-15
Curriculum Ties: Writing, Art, English
Booktalking Ideas: N/A
Challenge Issues: None
If any, become familiar with the website and content.
Selection Process: Found a link from another site.
The Nancy Drew Notebooks #53: Recipe for Trouble
Carolyn Keene. Illustrated by Paul Casale. Aladdin Paperbacks, 2003.
Plot Summary: It is spring break and Nancy, Bess and George don't know how they will pass the time. Luckily, Nancy's dad has enrolled them in a kids dessert making class taught by a french dessert chef. The girls are very excited and each want to win the "Top Chef" award that will be given out on the last day. Things start to look bad however when someone starts sabotaging desserts in the class. The girls have a few suspects and they all have motive to wreck the class. Will the girls discover the culprit before the the final day? Or will the dessert demonstration for the parents be ruined?
Critical Evaluation: This version of the classic Nancy Drew series is meant for a lightly younger reader than the original. The story is very formulaic and there are few surprises. There is also sense of redundancy in the dialogue and the adjectives used through out the book which takes away from the story line. Those who read and enjoy the classic Nancy Drew series will be disappointed.
Reader's Annotation: Nancy and her two best friends are taking a week long dessert making class. Too bad one of the other students is trying to wreck every ones deserts! Can Nancy and her friends track down the culprit?
Genre: Mystery
About the Author: Carolyn Keene the pen name of the author(s) of the popular Nancy Drew series.
Interest Level: 6-10
Curriculum Ties: None
Challenge Issues: None.
If any, become familiar with the content of the story as well as the series. Talk with tweens who enjoy the series.
Booktalking Ideas:
Focus on relationship of three best friends.
Selection Process: I was a fan of the original series of Nancy Drew when I was young and wanted to see what the newer series was like.
Plot Summary: It is spring break and Nancy, Bess and George don't know how they will pass the time. Luckily, Nancy's dad has enrolled them in a kids dessert making class taught by a french dessert chef. The girls are very excited and each want to win the "Top Chef" award that will be given out on the last day. Things start to look bad however when someone starts sabotaging desserts in the class. The girls have a few suspects and they all have motive to wreck the class. Will the girls discover the culprit before the the final day? Or will the dessert demonstration for the parents be ruined?
Critical Evaluation: This version of the classic Nancy Drew series is meant for a lightly younger reader than the original. The story is very formulaic and there are few surprises. There is also sense of redundancy in the dialogue and the adjectives used through out the book which takes away from the story line. Those who read and enjoy the classic Nancy Drew series will be disappointed.
Reader's Annotation: Nancy and her two best friends are taking a week long dessert making class. Too bad one of the other students is trying to wreck every ones deserts! Can Nancy and her friends track down the culprit?
Genre: Mystery
About the Author: Carolyn Keene the pen name of the author(s) of the popular Nancy Drew series.
Interest Level: 6-10
Curriculum Ties: None
Challenge Issues: None.
If any, become familiar with the content of the story as well as the series. Talk with tweens who enjoy the series.
Booktalking Ideas:
Focus on relationship of three best friends.
Selection Process: I was a fan of the original series of Nancy Drew when I was young and wanted to see what the newer series was like.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
WALL*E
Directed by Andrew Stanton. Written by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter. Voices by Ben Burdett, Jeff Garlin. Disney/Pixar, 2008. ASIN: B0013FSL3E
Plot Summary: Humans have finally filled the planet earth to capacity with garbage. Human kind has left the planet until it is cleaned up - a duty which falls to WALL-E, a small robot. WALL-E is alone on earth until a female robot, EVE, seeking plant life lands, and steals WALL-E's heart. Meanwhile, humans circle endlessly in space on huge chips getting fatter and fatter and losing touch with where they came from. In an attempt to impress EVE, WALL-E ends up getting involved with a scheme to bring humans back to earth.
Critical Evaluation: This is a great movie for the whole family. Even thought the main characters are robots, the film is filled with human emotions and is very touching. Pixar has managed to animate the inanimate in such a way as it creates empathy and though into the human condition. The animation is spectacular, especially the views from space and the expressions in WALL-E's face.
Annotation: WALL-E has been left on earth alone, except for his little cockroach friend. He is supposed to be cleaning up the earth to allow humans to come back, but do they have any intention of returning?
Genre: Science Fiction/Comedy
Interest Level: 8-18
Curriculum Ties: It may be a good choice for classes focusing on the environment.
Booktalking Ideas:
Focus on what has happened to the Earth's environment.
Discuss relationship between WALL-E and EVE.
Will humans ever leave Earth?
Challenge Issues: None. If any familiarize self with the film. Research Pixar, and reviews of the film.
Selection Process: Recommended at the video store.
Plot Summary: Humans have finally filled the planet earth to capacity with garbage. Human kind has left the planet until it is cleaned up - a duty which falls to WALL-E, a small robot. WALL-E is alone on earth until a female robot, EVE, seeking plant life lands, and steals WALL-E's heart. Meanwhile, humans circle endlessly in space on huge chips getting fatter and fatter and losing touch with where they came from. In an attempt to impress EVE, WALL-E ends up getting involved with a scheme to bring humans back to earth.
Critical Evaluation: This is a great movie for the whole family. Even thought the main characters are robots, the film is filled with human emotions and is very touching. Pixar has managed to animate the inanimate in such a way as it creates empathy and though into the human condition. The animation is spectacular, especially the views from space and the expressions in WALL-E's face.
Annotation: WALL-E has been left on earth alone, except for his little cockroach friend. He is supposed to be cleaning up the earth to allow humans to come back, but do they have any intention of returning?
Genre: Science Fiction/Comedy
Interest Level: 8-18
Curriculum Ties: It may be a good choice for classes focusing on the environment.
Booktalking Ideas:
Focus on what has happened to the Earth's environment.
Discuss relationship between WALL-E and EVE.
Will humans ever leave Earth?
Challenge Issues: None. If any familiarize self with the film. Research Pixar, and reviews of the film.
Selection Process: Recommended at the video store.
GooseBumps - Horrorland: Say cheese and die screaming
R.L. Stine. Scholastic, 2009. ISBN: 978-0439918763.
Plot Summary: Julie loves photography. She is in the middle of a contest with her rival David to see who will take the class picture for the yearbook. She purchases a camera at a garage sale and to her horror, terrible things start happening when she uses the camera. No-one will believe that the camera is to blame and Julie is powerless to protect even her best friend, Reena. To top off the book, she ends up in Horrorland and can't find a way out!
Critical Evaluation: This is a great horror/suspense book for this age group. There are scary situation, but there is no blood or gore but still manages to give you the creeps. The Horrorland section near the end of the book is certainly the scariest and most suspenseful. The story is well written and will give tweens goosebumps for sure!
Reader's Annotation: Julie wants to beat David in the photo contest, but can she stop her evil camera from hurting more people?
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Interest Level: 8-13
About the Author: R.L. Stine is the author of dozens of books including the Goosebump series and Rotten School series along with many others. He has been described as the "Stephan King of Children's Literature".
Curriculum Ties: None
Booktalking Ideas:
What if you bought a camera and it was full of evil magic?
Challenge Issues: None. If any ensure a good knowledge of the book and its content. Research reviews of book and teen reviews.
Selection Process: I wanted to include a book from the popular series.
Reader's Annotation: When Julie buys an old camera at a garage sale, she buys more than she bargained for. How can she stop the evil camera from hurting anymore of her friends?
Plot Summary: Julie loves photography. She is in the middle of a contest with her rival David to see who will take the class picture for the yearbook. She purchases a camera at a garage sale and to her horror, terrible things start happening when she uses the camera. No-one will believe that the camera is to blame and Julie is powerless to protect even her best friend, Reena. To top off the book, she ends up in Horrorland and can't find a way out!
Critical Evaluation: This is a great horror/suspense book for this age group. There are scary situation, but there is no blood or gore but still manages to give you the creeps. The Horrorland section near the end of the book is certainly the scariest and most suspenseful. The story is well written and will give tweens goosebumps for sure!
Reader's Annotation: Julie wants to beat David in the photo contest, but can she stop her evil camera from hurting more people?
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Interest Level: 8-13
About the Author: R.L. Stine is the author of dozens of books including the Goosebump series and Rotten School series along with many others. He has been described as the "Stephan King of Children's Literature".
Curriculum Ties: None
Booktalking Ideas:
What if you bought a camera and it was full of evil magic?
Challenge Issues: None. If any ensure a good knowledge of the book and its content. Research reviews of book and teen reviews.
Selection Process: I wanted to include a book from the popular series.
Reader's Annotation: When Julie buys an old camera at a garage sale, she buys more than she bargained for. How can she stop the evil camera from hurting anymore of her friends?
Kidzworld.com
http://www.kidzworld.com
Summary: This website contains a little bit of everything. There are movie reviews, blogs done by tweens, advice columns, chat rooms, posting boards, and much more.
Critical Evaluation: I enjoyed this website as it is not covered in advertising. It is simple to navigate, has a fair amount of visual appeal and has a good variety of things to look at. There is also an educational component to the website. There are book reviews and discussions about school subjects, study tips etc.
Annotation: A website with a wide variety of activities and things to look at geared for tweens.
Genre: Website/Entertainment
Curriculum Ties: None
Interest Level: 8-13
About the Author: N/A - There are many contributors.
Booktalking Ideas: N/A
Challenge Issues: None. If any , familiarize with website and content.
Selection Process: Found through search engine.
Summary: This website contains a little bit of everything. There are movie reviews, blogs done by tweens, advice columns, chat rooms, posting boards, and much more.
Critical Evaluation: I enjoyed this website as it is not covered in advertising. It is simple to navigate, has a fair amount of visual appeal and has a good variety of things to look at. There is also an educational component to the website. There are book reviews and discussions about school subjects, study tips etc.
Annotation: A website with a wide variety of activities and things to look at geared for tweens.
Genre: Website/Entertainment
Curriculum Ties: None
Interest Level: 8-13
About the Author: N/A - There are many contributors.
Booktalking Ideas: N/A
Challenge Issues: None. If any , familiarize with website and content.
Selection Process: Found through search engine.
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