elvis and me

I have to say that I’m pretty pleased with the idea of my unit plan. Writing ones autobiography or memoir could serve as an incredibly validating exercise for anyone. When dealing specifically with children and all of the harsh realities they must face every day, I can envision the autobiography workshop being a truly cathartic experience for them.
The ultimate goal of the Autobiography Workshop is to encourage children to explore their own stories and develop their own literary voice by reading and discussing the assigned texts and engaging in writing exercises that tie back to the readings. Hopefully the children who participate will have developed their reading skills, autobiographical writing skills, and will have developed a portfolio of writings that can serve as the beginnings of their own memoir/autobiography, but, what’s more, learned something profound about themselves.
I may be particularly drawn to the autobiography idea because my very first ventures into adult books were biographies and autobiographies that my mother bought but never read. Ernest Hemingway, Presilla Pressley, Dorothy Hammill, Time/Life: Cowboys…some of them desperately cheesy and horrible; others completely fascinating. But I got a rush from all of them. Reading these intimate stories was way better than the secrets I thought I could find (but never did) by rummaging through family members’ drawers.
Who knows, perhaps I will one day actually implement this plan (or something similar) in a library where I am actually employed. Imagine!

for the birds

My new passion is bird watching. I’m no ornithologist, but I’m suddenly in love with birds. Seeing a hawk soaring or perched in the top of the enormous dead pine in front of my apartment, without fail, makes my day. So, when I saw that one of the books listed in my groups section of chapter 11 was The Race to Save the Lord God Bird I knew I had to read it. It’s quite a dense read. It hardly seems geared toward children at times. School Library Journal says it’s intended for 6th grade and up. The book is well-detailed and incredibly informative, but also depressing as all get out. It seems we humans are bound and determined to destroy anything that crosses our paths even (or especially) the things we find most beautiful. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker’s population was flourishing in the US in the early 1800’s. Then along came logging, plumed hats, collecting…When the book gets too depressing I look out of my window. The tufted titmouse is still here. I see a male and female cardinal, a tow-headed cowbird, a few robins, some chickadees…and I say “everything is going to be okay,” and repeat…

a cold reception for Antarctica

I wish I could say I was in love with our group reading choice for chapter 11…but I’m not. I think I am missing some huge piece of the what-makes-books-for-elementary-aged-children-good puzzle. Antarctica by Helen Cowcher wasn’t horrible. I appreciate the message of humankind’s serious threat to wildlife populations and the environment. But I just wasn’t drawn in to the story or pictures. The style (slightly disjointed) of writing and the aesthetic of the paintings didn’t move me. However, I feel almost certain that I haven’t learned how to read a book for elementary aged children yet. I need to talk with some of the teachers in class and get their take on what my problem may be. Just last night, I was reading to my best friends 2 year old. The book was Stomp! Stomp! and as I was reading it to Toby I was thinking that this kid couldn’t possibly be enjoying this. Suddenly he started bouncing in my lap, slapping at the book, laughing, and yelling “stomp! stomp!” It was then I realized…I really don’t get it. Maybe I should see what he thinks of Antarctica.

eating kid's book crow

I must say I desperately needed a class in children’s literature. I don’t know exactly how I missed so many great books that mostly everyone else has read or are very familiar with. Finally, after reading a lot of additional books for the Unit Plan, I really feel like I know so much more about the genre. It’s funny to think about it now…my best friend, Merritt is always reading YA fiction for her own pleasure…and I always wondered how she could get anything out of such “fluff.” Now I’m embarrassed to admit how wrong I was. There are some REALLY GOOD children’s books out there. Tuck Everlasting rocked my world, Gary Paulson made me cry (several times!), and Jerry Spinelli can tap into what it feels like to be a kid better than some kids can (okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but still). I can actually now imagine seeking out some children’s books to read for total pleasure.

Blood Read

Graham Salisbury’s story of a young Japanese boy living in Hawaii surrounding the Pearl Harbor incident is a fairly solid read. It won the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Although I wasn’t completely enthralled, I do have to admit (just like Number the Stars) has motivated me to learn more about WWII. Lowry’s story of WWII is through the lens of the Danish Resistance. Salisbury gives the reader a view of Pearl Harbor and the events surrounding that tragic day from the perspective of the many Japanese living in Hawaii whose loyalties to the U.S. was questioned. Many Japanese-Americans were imprisoned and killed due to ignorance and fear prevalent in the U.S. at this time. One can’t help but think of the fear and (often times) ignorance surrounding many Americans attitudes towards Muslims now. For discussion value alone, I would say this could deserve a place in a school library. Salisbury definitely taught me something…I just wished he could have also entertained me.