Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: A Memoir of My Fifth Grade Year by Esme Raji Coddell

This book documents Esme Codell's fifth grade year, which was probably very different than the fifth grade experience of a lot of people! Esme grew up in Chicago in the 70's which provided a backdrop for a lot of interesting characters and stories.

What I Thought:
I am a fan of Esme Raji Codell! Ever since I head her book, Educating Esme, which is the diary of her first year teaching. (It was a requirement of my teacher certification program, and should be required teachers of teachers-in-training everywhere!) She's also written several other books for kids, all of them are really great.

I enjoyed this book because it gives a peak into Esme's life and the interesting childhood that she experienced. I found especially intriguing was the school her parents sent her to---where the kids chose what they wished to do each day. They could sign up for math or reading if they felt like it. Esme mentions that she spent many days writing screenplays and recruiting classmates to act them out! Sounds great fun, but when Esme transfers to a "normal" school she finds that she is sorely lacking in her math skills because she did not sign up for math lessons in her old school.

Overall, I think this is a great book that provides an interesting glimpse into a different way of living for a lot of people. This would be a great story to read to any fifth grader and compare/contrast the times, their lives, and experiences.

This book would also be a great way to encourage kids to start their own memoirs, so they can prevent getting "grown-up amnesia" -- where we forget our childhood as we grow to adulthood.

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: A Memoir of My Fifth Grade Year by Esme Raji Coddell.

Be Back Soon

So I'm not getting a chance to read much these days as I am busy, busy preparing for my library's 2009 Summer Reading Program.

I over plan (is there such a thing??) in hopes that it runs smoothly and only minor troubleshooting will have to happen.

We'll see!

Anyway, as soon as I get a chance to pick up a book and blog, I'll be back.

In the meantime, check out the sidebar for some of my favorite book bloggers. (They're way better than me anyway!)

--Liz

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

In this graphic novel, the lunch ladies are super secret undercover spies, complete with cool spy gadgets-made from kitchen utensils!

One day a very odd substitute teacher arrives and sparks suspicion. The teacher he is subbing for has not missed a day in decades, and assigns so much work it is impossible to finish!

Thankfully, the lunch ladies are on duty to save the day!

What I Thought:
Oh my! What a fun book! This is going to be a sure hit with the elementary, maybe middle school crowd! It is a very imaginative and creative book. It's a graphic novel which makes it a fun read as the action is drawn in the illustrations. Illustrations are done in black and white, with some yellow accents.

There was a few points that I particularly enjoyed:
*I loved all the creative gadgets the lunch ladies use: the spatula helicopter, the hot dog nun-chucks, chicken nugget bombs, and cafeteria tray computer. So creative!

*I loved how the author steered away from stereotypes. There are three kids who decide to follow the lunch ladies to see what they do in their spare time. A "cool" looking guy, a "nerdy" looking guy with glasses, and a girl. One may automatically come to conclusions about these kids, but you would be wrong!! The "cool" kid is actually kind of timid and easily scared, the "nerdy" kid is brave and athletic, and the girl is strong and will stand her ground...even against the class bully! Well done!

*The cliff hanger! There's more of this series to come!

I've had these on order for a while now, though they will not be published until July 2009. I can't wait to put this book in a kid's hand this summer!

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka.

Mao and Me by Chen Jiang Hong

This is the story of a young boy growing up in the midst of the Cultural Revolution in China, 1960's.

What I Thought:
Interesting book. I do not know much about the Cultural Revolution and the history of China in general, but this book was informative and gave an interesting viewpoint of what it was like to grow up in a communist society.

The illustrations are drawn in comic style blocks, which gives the story movement. The drawings themselves are amazing, filled with so much detail that shows the realities of how the little boy grew up. Each page has a short section of text, but make sure that you spend the time following the story through the illustrations.

A superb book to share when studying China, the Cultural Revolution, and Mao.

Highly Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Mao and Me by Chen Jiang Hong.

Take the Lead, George Washington by Judith St. George, illustrated by Daniel Powers

This book includes stories and adventures of George Washington's childhood from a very young boy living in on Pope's Creek in Virginia, to the ripe age of sixteen at the conclusion of a surveying trip. We learn about the death of his mother, remarriage of his father, new siblings, how he idolized older brothers, his hopes, his dreams, and adventures all along the way.

What I Thought:
This is a great story about George Washington's childhood that gives readers a sense of his character and life before he became a war hero and our country's first president.

While this is a rather long picture book, the text is split up into chapters and would be a very appropriate book to include in lessons on George Washington. St. George includes a biography and bibliography. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and while the people are a bit caricature-ish, they are inviting and fun to look at.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Take the Lead, George Washington by Judith St. George, illustrated by Daniel Powers.