Ballet for Martha

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

Here at Teach Mentor Texts we are always looking for more ways to support teachers! We've found that teachers seem to be constantly on the lookout for great nonfiction. We know we are! To help with this undying quest for outstanding non-fiction, we are excited to participate in Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and The Nonfiction Detectives. Every Wednesday, you'll find a non-fiction review here - although it may not always be a picture book review. Please visit Kid Lit Frenzy to see what non-fiction others have to share, too.

Title: Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

Author: Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

Illustrator: Brian Floca

Publisher: Flash Point

Publication Date: August, 2010

Genre/Format: Non-fiction/Picture Book

Goodreads Summary: Martha Graham : trailblazing choreographer

     Aaron Copland : distinguished American composer

     Isamu Noguchi : artist, sculptor, craftsman

     Award-winning authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan tell the story behind the scenes of the collaboration that created APPALACHIAN SPRING, from its inception through the score’s composition to Martha’s intense rehearsal process. The authors’ collaborator is two-time Sibert Honor winner Brian Floca, whose vivid watercolors bring both the process and the performance to life.

What I Think: This book is a testament to collaboration. It shows what can happen if 3 brilliant minds get together and want to make something together- both Appalachian Spring and Ballet for Martha were constructed by a group of 3 amazing people. 

     I really love this unique perspective into American History. Aaron Copland is already a name that is part of American vocabulary, but Martha Graham and Isamu Noguchi should be as well and this book shows how they both played a role in helping Aaron Copland to become one of the most well-known American composers. 

     When reading this book, the thing that struck me the most was the specific word choice that allows you to visualize the ballet, music and sets so accurately. It would be a great source for sharing with students how using the right verb or adjective can really change the imagery which a writer portrays. 

Read Together: Grades 4 to 9

Read Alone: Grades 4 and up

Read With: Nonfiction text about ballet, choreography, composing or set designing

Snatch of Text: "There are no steps yet, but Aaron knows the way

Martha and her dancers move. 

Her steps are unusual.
She moves differently from ballerinas. 

No toe shoes. No tutus. No pirouettes. 

'Nobody else seems anything like Martha,' he says. 'There's 

something simple yet strong about here, which one thinks of 

as very American.'" (p. 8) 

"Slowly the Bride glides in, 

the runs to her groom. 

The Preacher's four Followers file in. 

The music turns lively and playful as the young girls dance in pairs, 

then form circles, fluttering, skittering, reaching up to the sky." (p. 28-29)

Mentor Text for: Vocabulary Development, Imagery, Word Choice (Verbs, Adjectives), Visualizing

Writing Prompts: The authors included a "Curtain Call" which gives us more detail into the lives of our three stars- what aspect of their lives do you wish had been explored more in the picture book?; Aaron Copland was so inspired by Martha that he composed an entire ballet for her- has anyone ever inspired you to do something? Or is there someone who has inspired you enough that if you were going to write a song, book, poem, etc. it would be about them?

Topics Covered: Dance, Music, Composing, Collaboration, Set Building, Appalachian Spring

I *heart* It:

(4.5 stars) 

 

Courage Has No Color

Title: Courage Has No Color: The True Story of The Triple Nickels - America's First Black Paratroopers 
Author: Tanya Lee Stone  
Publisher: Candlewick Press  
Publication Date: January 22, 2013 
Genre/Format: Non-Fiction//Book 
GoodReads Summary: They became America’s first black paratroopers. Why was their story never told? Sibert Medalist Tanya Lee Stone reveals the history of the Triple Nickles during World War II.

World War II is raging, and thousands of American soldiers are fighting overseas against the injustices brought on by Hitler. Back on the home front, the injustice of discrimination against African Americans plays out as much on Main Street as in the military. Enlisted black men are segregated from white soldiers and regularly relegated to service duties. At Fort Benning, Georgia, First Sergeant Walter Morris’s men serve as guards at The Parachute School, while the white soldiers prepare to be paratroopers. Morris knows that for his men to be treated like soldiers, they have to train and act like them, but would the military elite and politicians recognize the potential of these men as well as their passion for serving their country? Tanya Lee Stone examines the role of African Americans in the military through the history of the Triple Nickles, America’s first black paratroopers, who fought in a little-known attack on the American West by the Japanese. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, in the words of Morris, "proved that the color of a man had nothing to do with his ability." 
What I Think: I'm so glad that Tanya Lee Stone told the story of these African American who paved the way to integration in the military. I love how so many pieces of non-fiction lately in children's literature is about taking obscure or little known pieces of history and writing books that bring the stories to life. Non-fiction is so fascinating because it is part of our history. It really happened. Stories are so important but especially true stories of what people in distant or recent history accomplished.
     While reading this book, I had to remind myself how the history brought to light in it is recent history. At the end, the author talks about a few of the men who were in the Triple Nickles and who were these first black paratroopers...and they are still alive today. This whole act of injustice was not that long ago. (Obviously, I know and understand this, but it's always a good reminder that it wasn't that long ago that our country looked very different in terms of racial prejudices and equities.) I think reminding students of this is so important because, to them, I think it will seem as though it was ages ago, when it might have been when their grandparents were young.
     One thing that really struck home to me when reading this book was how black soldiers were received by citizens when they returned from service. My dad is a Vietnam veteran and I know how much it impacted him that when he returned from serving in Vietnam that many people were not supportive of the soldiers because of their disagreement with the war in general. It hurt him so badly to return and not be recognized for his experiences like soldiers have been in more recent wars. It is traumatic enough to experience war but to come home and not be celebrated and thanked makes the trauma of war even more intense. This resonated with me and made me feel even more for the men whose stories are shared in this book.
     At the end of this book, Tanya Lee Stone discusses some of the process of her research and she does include pages and pages of citations and resources. This book is definitely an example of how primary texts can be incorporated and can be so important. As we move forward with the Common Core (in most states), and as we move towards students curating various non-fiction text and analyzing various non-fiction texts, I think this discussion about primary sources will be even more important. The Library of Congress has a phenomenal site where students can search for primary sources. Courage Has No Color is an example of how primary sources and quotes support non-fiction writing and a good mentor text to discuss when reading and writing non-fiction.
Read Together: Grades 5 - 12 
Read Alone: Grades 5 - 12 
Read With: 12 Rounds of Glory by Charles R. Smith, Jr. , Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson, other books about African-American history, other non-fiction books about less known stories such as Plant Hunters by Anita Silvey, Phineas Gage by John Fleischman, The Giant and How He Humbugged America by Jim Murphy, How They Croaked by Georgia Bragg 
Snatch of Text: 
"Most lack soldiers in World War II were kept out of combat. Instead, the military often assigned them to service duties such as building roads, driving trucks, sweeping up, unloading cargo, cooking, doing laundry, serving meals, or guarding facilities. Of course, there is honor in any of those jobs. But less so if the job ix forced upon a person, if ons it not offered other options. As one soldier put it., 'It is hard to identif one's self with fighting a war, when all one does is dig ditches.'" p. 8
"The U.S. military has a long history of racial prejudice, from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and right up through World War II. Despite the fact that African-American soliders had served the Army with distinction in World War I, there were outspoken and unfair criticsms sabou their abilities." p. 9
"'Why would a black man risk his life to help his country? The answer was simple. This is my country, this is my duty regardless of the social climate; regardless of the faults. This is my country, my children's country, and their children's. It is up to me and many, many people of all races and cultures to fight the haters and racists to make this a better place to live.'" p. 93
Mentor Text For: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections, Asking Questions, Non-Fiction, Expository, Quotations, Personal Narrative
Writing Prompts: Write about at time in your life that you did something because of the principal or a value that you believed in even when others weren't doing the same. 
Topics Covered: Determination, Adversity, Prejudice, Injustice, Perseverance, Integration - History - World War II, War, Parachuting, Race

I *heart* It:

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 2/18/13

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA! 

It's Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It's also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…who knows, you might discover that next “must read” book!

After doing the meme for a couple of weeks, we realized this would be a fun meme to start up with a kidlit focus - anyone reading and reviewing books in children's literature - it can be picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, you name it in the world of kidlit and it's in! We have loved being a part of this meme and we hope you do too!  We encourage everyone participating to go and visit the other kidlit book bloggers that link up and to comment on as many posts as you can. We love talking books and believe in sharing and discussing what we're reading. We hope you join us!

Last Week's Book Adventures:

Jen Says: It was another crazy busy week! I'm not sure the craziness will stop...maybe when spring break gets here there'll be a break. By the way, I learned about mid-winter break recently. Why does this not exist in my world? Sounds great! This week I did finish True (...Sort Of) and I am almost to the last CD of the audio of The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I also did get some reading done of Necromancing the Stone. I'm enjoying it so far but waiting for it to get really interesting, I'm about 100 pages in so far and am sure Lish McBride won't disappoint. I also read lots of great #bookaday picture books! 12 Rounds of Glory was excellent and Zoe and the Robot was really cute, too!

Kellee Says: I read 4 really great novels this week- not a bad one in the bunch. First, I finished A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan which is about a super-smart, strong young lady. It was quite an adventure and I cannot wait to read the second one. Second, I read Wonder Show by Hannah Barnaby. I can definitely see why it won the Morris Award; it was definitely deserved. Third, I read Deadly Pink by Vivian Vande Velde, a companion to Heir Apparent which is a hit in my classroom and I was quite excited to see that there was companions. Finally, I read a time-travel, dinosaur adventure by Greg Leitich Smith, Chronal Engine. It was great to put a dent in my TBR list with these four great novels. 

Reviewed Last Week:

      

Just click on any picture above to go read the review

Upcoming Book Adventures: 

Jen Says: I'm going to finish listening to The Forest of Hands and Teeth and then I think I'm going to listen to Rotters but if it ends up being too much zombies, I may switch it up. I have Rot and Ruin on audio...which I think is more zombies, but I do have The Fault in Our Stars which I haven't listened to on audio and that may be the way to go for me! I also plant continue reading Necromancing the Stone and I also have a bag full of books from the library to dig into for my #bookaday reads and Courage Has No Color and Come August, Come Freedom from Candlewick to read and review.

Kellee Says: I have a pile of books I want to finish this week; we'll see how many I get through. I started one today, but I don't know if I am going to finish it so I'll let you know next week how it goes. As far as my audiobook, I am still listening to The Cat Ate My Gymsuit and I am so glad that I finally got to it as I am really enjoying it. I wish I'd read it in high school, though, as I think I would have connected even more than I am now. 

This Week's Reviews:

 

   Check back throughout the week to hear about these books. 

So, what are you reading this week? 

Link up below and don't forget to check out other blogs to see what they are reading!

To help build our community and support other bloggers, 

we ask that you please try to comment on at least the three blogs that posted before you. 

Also, if you tweet about your Monday post, don't forget to use #IMWAYR!

 and

Jen's WRAD Blogging Challenge Post #2

Last week I posted my first post in the WRAD Blogging Challenge! It has been fun talking with colleagues about their plans for World Read Aloud Day. One teacher shared that she just started reading aloud Wonder to a 4th grade class that she works in and she plans to read to them on WRAD. 

The topic for this week is "Now and Then". Make sure to visit litworld.org to sign up for World Read Aloud Day and for ideas for how you can celebrate World Read Aloud Day!

Week 2: February 17 – February 23

Now & Then

Answer the following questions twice. 
First, from your ten-year-old self's perspective 
and then from your current perspective.

1. I think everyone in the world should read...

When I was 10: The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynn Reid Banks. The author visited my school and I love how the main character can bring his toys to life.  

Now: Wonder by RJ Palacio. As I read Wonder, I kept thinking of people I wanted to recommend it to...by the end, I wanted to give it to everyone I know. I have recommended it to so many people, from neighbors and friends to colleagues, I even recommended it to my doctor. It is such an important book about how we treat each other. The world would be a kinder place if everyone read Wonder.  

2. If I could listen to anyone in the world read aloud to me it would be...

When I was 10: My teacher, Ms. Risinger. I loved her as a teacher and loved being in her class!

Now: Nick Podehl. I love every audiobook I have listened to by Nick Podehl but specifically Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green and After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick. I also really enjoy Jim Dale as an audiobook narrator. Most recently, I listened to his narration of Erin Morgenstern's Night Circus and The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens. All of these are excellent books with equally excellent narration by these two men.

3. When I read aloud, my favorite character to impersonate is...

When I was 10: I didn't really ever impersonate them but I loved the girls from Ann M. Martin's The Babysitters Club. I read every book I could get my hands on. A few of my friends and I even set up our babysitters' club. We made flyers and had meetings and got lots of great babysitting jobs. 

Now: The Archduke from Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett (with illustrations by Jon Klassen). I love when it comes to his part of the story because he's just so arrogant and rude. I also love reading Robot Zot by Jon Scieszka because I get to do an the robot voice. Other great robot books I love are: Robot Zombie Frankenstein by Annette Simon and Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman.

4. The genre that takes up the most room on my bookshelf (or e-reader) is...

When I was 10: realistic fiction - I remember reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle but having a really hard time understanding it. I connected most with realistic fiction back then and some mild fantasy (like Indian in the Cupboard!). 

Now: I know picture books are a format and not a genre, but that's what takes up the most room at this point. We have fiction and non-fiction picture books at our house...it seems like every time we go to the library we end up a mix of both, too. For myself, I actually really love fantasy now which is so different from when I was ten. I think reading so much as a kid, even if it was mostly realistic fiction back then, helped me progress into a reader that can read and enjoy various genres. 

5. The last book I wish I’d written or inspired me to write my own story is...

When I was 10: I'm not sure! I loved writing and I always had a diary but can't think of a book in particular that inspired me to write my own story. 

Now: Every book! Every book I read inspires me to work on my own writing. Whether I find something that I admire or something that causes me to reflect on the decisions that the author made, I am constantly aware of what I can learn from every book I read. Right now I'm listening to The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan and have been thinking about the genre but also about the main character and the decisions that she makes. I'm also reading Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride and I love her voice as an author. I love the brutal honesty in her characters. They are so real and seem like friends I would have had in high school or college. These are both completely different novels...well, with some similarities genre-wise, I guess...but I am definitely inspired to bring out my own voice and my own characters nonetheless.

How fun was this!?! I loved answering these questions and I hope you are blogging about these, too! If you are, leave a link so I can some read your answers and get to know your 10-year-old self!

 

A President from Hawai'i

Title: A President from Hawai'i 
Author: Dr. Terry Carolan and Joanna Carolan  
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon 
Publisher: Candlewick Press 
Publication Date: July, 2012 
Genre/Format: Non-Fiction/Picture Book 
GoodReads Summary: A celebration of President Obama's ties to Hawaii highlights the state's cultural traditions and includes photos from Barack Obama's childhood.

Barack Obama is the first United States President to be born in Hawai‘i, the Aloha State. A President from Hawai‘i — originally distributed exclusively in that state — explores the unique history and cultural traditions of President Obama’s birthplace. In addition to the well-known concept of aloha, it introduces such Hawaiian concepts as kokua (to help), lokahi (unity), and ohana (family), among others, and includes quotes from Barack Obama’s speeches, books, and interviews that reflect and embrace these themes.What I Think: I really love the vivid colors in this book. Zunon integrates several different types of media to make the illustrations really pop and to add lots of life and energy to every page of this book. I liked seeing pictures of Barack Obama worked in throughout and to read some very powerful quotes from him. I also really liked getting a feel for culture in Hawai'i. I just met a two people from Hawai'i at a conference recently so as I read, I tried to imagine them telling me about Hawai'i. The feel of the text reminded me of them actually.
     One thing I would say that made it hard for me to love this book is that it seemed like there was a lack of clear focus. It seemed like the authors tried to write about Barack Obama but then took breaks throughout to instead tell about the culture and even the history of Hawai'i. Not to mention, there were many quotes from Barack Obama added in along the way. Overall, the information that is shared is interesting, but as a reader it was hard to follow the string of the story and to grasp the author's true message while reading. I can still see how it can be a resource for students, especially to introduce them to Hawai'i or to give them some background knowledge about Barack Obama that might not otherwise be expanded upon in other non-fiction texts.
     I recently read Energize by Chris Lehman and he talks about authentic research for students. I also listened to Will Richardson talk about the abundance of information in today's world. Both of these made me realize how much we need to give students opportunities to read a variety of texts and also to interpret and analyze and curate through this information to find what they are looking for. I love that this book is beautiful and gives information. Readers and researchers can definitely use this as a resource for some information.
Read Together: Grades 2 - 5
Read Alone: Grades 2 - 5 
Read With: Other non-fiction about Barack Obama or other presidents, other non-fiction about Hawai'i  
Snatch of Text:  

"'When I look back on my years in Hawaii, I realize how

truly lucky I was to have been raised there.'

-Barack Obama, Panahou Bulletin, fall 1999

PRESIDENT OBAMA was born in Hawai'i,

a first in America's history.

A kama'aina is a Hawai'i-born resident,

and Barack Obama is our first kama'aina president." 

Reading Strategies to Practice: Activating Background Knowledge, Making Connections 
Writing Strategies to Practice: Expository  
Writing Prompts: Write about your culture, try to explain your culture to someone who has never experience it before.  
Topics Covered: Integration - Social Studies, Geography, President, Culture, Determination, Family, Support, Hope, Respect 

I *heart* It: 

  

Under the Bridge

Title: Under the Bridge

Author: Michael Harmon

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: November, 2012

Genre/Format: Realistic Fiction/Novel

Goodreads Summary: Tate's younger brother Indy is probably the best skateboarder in Spokane. He's also really smart though he couldn't care less about school. But when Indy clashes with his father one too many times and drops out of school, it's up to Tate to win his brother back from the seedier elements of Spokane. Can Tate convince Indy to come home, finish his high school degree, and return to skating Under the bridge with their crew?

     Michael Harmon's fast-paced and highly charged novel captures the enduring bond between brothers and their struggle for survival on the gritty streets of Spokane.

What I Think: Each of us deals with our teen years differently, but I am sure that we all either know (or were) the teen that made some bad choices. This is a book about a teen much like these kids. It is narrated by his older brother and one of the story lines is about our protagonist, Tate, trying to find his own path, but the main story line in Under the Bridge is about his brother, Indy. 

     As a teacher, this one tore at my heart strings because it is definitely a story of a good boy gone bad. Many times throughout the book, I saw how an adult could help this boy, but nothing ever changed. Because of this, too, I immediately think of many readers who would bond automatically with Indy because of this. Michael Harmon's characters are very realistic and I think connections would be made quickly and even if the reader did not see themselves in Indy, they may in Tate or they probably know someone like the two of them. As soon as I finished, I knew exactly what reader needed to read this book and I asked his mother if it was okay if he did- she graciously agreed, thanking me for finding a book that hopefully her son will connect to and learn from. It is books like this one that shows me how important it is to have some gritty novels out there. 

     What I did learn from this book- "There are different ways to do the right thing." And I'll never forget it. 
Read Together: Grades 10 to 12

Read Alone: Grades 9 and up

Read With: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Slam by Nick Hornby, Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli

Snatch of Text: "At three-thirty in the morning, I'd been reading for over 7 hours, rapt with attention as I scrolled through my brother's words and stories until I was brain-dead with fatigue. I hadn't even gotten to his novels. The last short story I'd read, his most recent, went deep, and I knew it was about him. 

     He'd made it fictional, but I could see right through his words and straight to how he felt about the world and school and us and himself. It wasn't sad or depressing or funny or disturbing, but all of them put together. Forty-one pages of my brothers feelings about life." (p. 93) 

"Night skating is one of the coolest things to do in the world. With everything still and quiet but for your wheels rolling on the pavement, it's like skating in a dream. The glow cast from streetlights and the emptiness of the city either freak you out or make you feel like the pavement and rails and sets were made just for you." (p. 191) 

Mentor Text for: Voice, Characterization, Suspense
Writing Prompts: When was there a time that you made a wrong choice and someone else had to help you realize the mistake you made. What was the mistake and who helped you?; At what point do you think that Indy chose to go down the path he did? What do you think he could have done differently? 
Topics Covered: Skateboarding, Death, Drugs, Suicide, Choices, Anger, Story Writing (Narrative), School Counselors, Values, Parents, Goals

I *heart* It:

Romance-y Novels (for Kids & Teens)

I hope you and your significant other (or you and your friends for my single readers) have a wonderful day! 

Now, I must start this post out with honesty- 

Romance novels are very much one of my book gaps. I find that many of them are poorly written and that I just don't enjoy reading books where only romance is the focus. I do enjoy when my books have romance in them, but I just don't like it to be the main story line. With that being said, I did want to share with you some romance-y novels that my students and I have enjoyed on this day when loved is celebrated. 

Middle Grade

Teen

What are your favorite romance-y reads?