The Poetry of US

Posted on December 14, 2018 by

Welcome to day two of my National Geographic for Kids Holiday Wish List.  You can check out day one here.

Poet J. Patrick Lewis had an idea. Compile the best poems about the United States and its territories, especially those for children to read and enjoy. Not only that but present them using a treasure trove of pictures from the National Geographic archives as a backdrop.
POETRY US.jpg
The results are stunning.

Organized into eight regions, the journey begins in New England and takes you west to the Pacific Coast. Territories like Puerto Rico and Guam also are included in their own  section. Each region includes dozens of poems from well known authors to the obscure.

In this day and time of political disagreements and focusing on the negative, this hardback tabletop compilation will bring you back to the wonder and awe the U.S. offers in every corner. The colorful pictures enhance the experience. Diverse voices are also included with poems from immigrants and minorities. There are even a few poems written in another language and translated to English. The book ends with some Last Thoughts poetry along with a Title and First Line Index, a real plus for finding the perfect match.

The Poetry of US would be a special gift for any middle grader as they begin to piece together the world we live in. Take a look inside  then grab one for your own. It truly is America the Beautiful!

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Coming up next week is the final MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY for December. I hope you’ll be there with me and again when MMGM returns with its first post of 2019 on January 7th!
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring and a link to your blog at gpcolo (at) gmail (dot) com
 (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thank you so much for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and for spreading the middle grade love!
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.

 

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

My Holiday List from NGK!

Posted on December 12, 2018 by

National Geographic Kids offers the best in engrossing, colorful, and fun-filled titles. Over the next week I’ll be sharing five recommendations. Many are best gift wrapped and placed under the tree, but a few selections could be stuffed in that still not full stocking. You’ll treasure these titles long after the new year sets in.

Let’s start the shopping list off with ULTIMATE PREDATORPEDIA…55D3BD95-ACD1-4A4C-8C16-B6CEDE0B9916.jpeg

The images alone are worth adding this volume of over 100 predators to your library. You can read it from page one like I did or use the handy glossary to find a particular animal.

The first section sets the table with a background on predators: Food webs, behaviors, and protecting species are a few of the topics covered. The meat (pun intended) of Predatorpedia comes in the next five sections, each devoted to a type of predator: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians, Fish, and Invertebrates. Each animal gets a full page image and a second page filled with facts and a written background on its behaviors. You’ll recognize many but also be surprised at ones new to you. Mine were the Madagascar Fossa with a ferocious stare, the skunk like Zorilla, and an Atlantic Torpedo—described as a flattened shark.

This hardback edition can sit on your lap or table. Either way you’ll find hours of learning about these awe inspiring creatures.

Here’s the official scoop (click on the title to find out how to order your copy):

* Ultimate Predatorpedia: The Most Complete Predator Reference Ever (ages 7-10) Welcome to the amazing world of creatures who prey on others for their survival: from high-profile sharks, lions, tigers, and bears to the tiniest ants, mites, and spiders. Every animal in this book is ferocious, fierce, and fantastic in its own way. With colorful photographs illuminating every fang, stinger and razor sharp claw, this easy-to-use encyclopedia features profiles accompanied by Did You Know details, and fast facts (including scientific name, size, diet, and habitat), as well as thematic spreads covering topics from predatory techniques to defenses and communication.

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Next on the list is WHY NOT? with the whys divided into seven catego8D746C97-EE74-48AF-86B2-7EBD3A8863B8ries: ANIMALS, OUR PLANET, THE UNIVERSE, HISTORY, YOUR BODY, TECHNOLOGY, and POP CULTURE. More than ninety starting questions get the ball rolling and within each two-page spread hundreds more are answered. Colorful backgrounds and images add to the I didn’t know that feeling you’ll get.

No spoilers here, but say you turn to TECHNOLOGY and find a question of interest. How about… Why does my voice sound different when I hear it in a video or recording? The question and answer are on the left side of the page with a fun photo. Here it’s a kitten wearing head phones. Too cute. The answer though is straightforward with an easy to understand scientific description.

On the right side of the page is another Q & A, Why don’t I look quite like myself in selfies (and other photographs)? There is also a Q-TIP feature as to how to take the perfect selfie along with three special selfies.

Other features you’ll find on many of the pages include SILLY QUESTION-SERIOUS ANSWER, MYTH MASHED, and PERSONS OF INTEREST.

I spent hours with this volume of answers and could go hours more with the amount of information covered on the pages. Great learning and better yet, it will encourage you to ask your own questions. Take a look at the official description below:

* National Geographic Kids Why Not?: Over 1,111 Answers to Everything (ages 8-12) The concept is simple. Got a question? This book has the answers.  Over 1,111 of them. Why don’t you keep growing your whole life? Check out the human body section. Why aren’t we traveling by jetpack yet? Tech has your answer. Why aren’t school buses red? Flip to the pop culture chapter. Why aren’t dinosaurs still alive? Why can’t you walk on clouds? With hundreds of topics ranging from silly to serious, each page is filled with expert information in a fun Q&A format that will keep kids digging for answers. Answers include all kinds of fascinating extra info like top 10 lists, weird-but-true facts, explorer profiles, and cool activities. 

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I’ll be back Friday with my next choice on the list. In the meantime, I’m diving back into these fantastic resources once more.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

MMGM for 12/10/18

Posted on December 10, 2018 by

                   

IMPORTANT DECEMBER MMGM REMINDER: MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY will have one more set of links on December 17. December 24th is devoted to my holiday wish to all the bloggers who have participated in MMGM the past year. On December 31st, I’ll reveal my picks for MG’s best in 2018 with a big GIVEAWAY!

MMGM will return to its regular schedule on January 7, 2019 and my second year of hosting. As for today, enjoy a great set of links…

Here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE, I have a review of ZACK DELACRUZ UPSTAGED by Jeff Anderson. Click the ornament to read all the details and then keep clicking below for more reviews and features.
Natalie Aguirre at Literary Rambles has an interview with debut author Rebecca Caprara and a giveaway of her MG fantasy THE MAGIC OF MELWICK ORCHARD.
June McCrary Jacobs at Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic shares an  article she wrote for the golden anniversary of the television premiere of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas‘ back on December 9th, 1965.
Suzanne Warr at Tales from the Raven spotlights Everlasting Nora, by Marie Miranda Cruz–and in case anyone else is peckish, link to a Filipino banana que recipe included!
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal recommends a touching holiday chapter book, The True Gift by Patricia MacLachlan. The paperback was printed in 2013.
Beth Mitchell at Imaginary Friends has a review of Class Action by Steven B. Frank
Rosi Hollinbeck has a review of The Atlas Obscura Explorers Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid. Don’t miss her links for writers as they’re always helpful.
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads always has an informative MMGM post. Be sure to check out today’s feature and all of her other reviews the past week.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot in the parade, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring and a link to your blog at gpcolo (at) gmail (dot) com
(Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book you’re featuring)
You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged , | 1 Comment

ZACK DELACRUZ UPSTAGED

Posted on December 9, 2018 by

Zack Delacruz returns in this series set in San Antonio. It began with ME AND MY BIG MOUTH in 2015 and JUST MY LUCK the following year. This time around sixth grade continues to be a challenge for Zack and even more so with his participation in the school play—A Christmas Carol.upstaged.jpg

He never intended to try out except for two beautiful creations that changed his mind: Extra credit and the girl he secretly adores. All of his friends from the first books return and although you’ll find an ethnically diverse cast, its never brought up as anything but normal, which is quite refreshing.

Zack’s nervousness and hesitation about performing (a panicked Zack center stage on the cover hints at his predicament), and the relationship with his divorced parents are the main focus. He has to remember his lines and remember which bus to get on each Friday depending on whether he is with Dad or Mom.

A fun read and the perfect start to this holiday season. No worries either if you haven’t read the first two Zack Delacruz books as this does find on its own. And that’s no Bah Humbug!

PUBLICATION DATE: 2018   PAGE COUNT: 192

FULL PLOT

Zack Delacruz wants to win the role of Scrooge in his school’s production of A Christmas Carol—and the lovely Abhi’s admiration, too. But he’s not the only one trying out for the play. So are José (aka El Pollo Loco), Marquis, and Janie – bah, humbug!  Bowling balls, gurgling stomachs, complete chaos, and quick detective work turn this year’s drama into a spectacular scene that will have actors rising to new heights—literally—and leave readers rolling in the aisles.

What role will Zack end up playing on stage . . . and in his life?  Just in time for the holidays, and with a diverse and funny cast of characters, ZACK DELACRUZ: UPSTAGED (Sterling Children’s Books) is sure to please even the most reluctant readers!

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: ZACK DELACRUZ: UPSTAGED by Jeff Anderson

  1. You’ll never look at coffee the same way after Zack’s unfortunate encounter with caffeine.
  2. His Mom is what you hope all moms to be: A consistent sounding board, listener, and advice giver for the son she loves.
  3. The effective art work on the cover is continued with images on many of the chapter headings. The best though are the yearbook style renderings of Zack, his classmates and teachers inside the front and back covers.
  4. I observed an eleven-year-old boy laughing uncontrollably at the potty humor coming into play in several chapters… although I doubt older readers will feel the same way.
  5. An accurate portrayal of life on the bottom rung of a three grade middle school.

FAVORITE LINES:

The seat next to her was empty.

I gulped. It was go time. My pits trickled a little stream down the inside of my red uniform shirt. I wondered if anyone could see it. Boy, was I glad Mom convinced me to start wearing deodorant.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Jeff Anderson is the author of Zack Delacruz: Me And My Big Mouth (2015), and Zack Delacruz: Just My Luck (2016) – a middle-grade series that has sold over 30,000 copies!  He’s also the author of Mechanically Inclined, Everyday Editing, 10 Things Every Writer Needs to Know, and Patterns of Power. A former elementary and middle school teacher, Jeff travels to schools across the country working with teachers and students to discover joy and power in the writing process.

To learn more visit Jeff’s web site on writing and publishing  at WRITE GUY.

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Congratulations to Deb from Michigan. Her name was chosen from four schools and eleven individuals entered in the drawing for THE RENAISSANCE series.

I’ll have a new giveaway later this month so stay tuned!

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, Reviews | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

I AM A WONDER WOMAN

Posted on December 7, 2018 by

A great idea becomes reality with the release of this new non-fiction title. Sixty outstanding women i-am-a-wonder-woman-9781684125487_hr.jpgfrom the present and past are each featured in their own two-page spreads. They’re presented alphabetically by first name beginning with Ada Lovelace and ending with Zaha Hadid. Read in order or use the handy Contents or Index section to find your favorite.

No matter who you start with, every page is unique in its presentation, which adds to the attraction for readers. The left half features their life accomplishments. It’s not a typical biographical layout. You’ll find straightforward blocked text on some while others are splashed across the page in colorful boxes. Common though is an illustration accompanied by dates they lived (or year of birth for those in the present) and a description of their life’s focus.

The right half of the two pages let readers dig deep with a look at themselves and the world they live in. The activity is a writing or hands-on exercise related to the person they’ve read about. Definitely fun and revealing.

The end of the book is where you create your own two page spread entitled I Am A Wonder Woman. A perfect way to summarize the Aha moments girls will get reading the stories and have it make a difference in their own futures.

There are many familiar names (like Michelle Obama, Cleopatra, and Rosa Parks) but also ones I’d never heard about (Turia Pitt or Niki de Saint Phalle to name a few). Wow! Girls can do anything and often better than their male counterparts. This is the inspiration needed for any Wonder Woman in the making.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ellen Bailey grew up in Cambridge and spent her childhood making up games, putting on plays, and writing a magazine for the other children living in her street.  After studying English literature, she worked as a children’s book editor for a few years before moving into the charity sector. She lives with her husband and daughters, and is the author of a variety of bestselling activity books and annuals, including All About Me.

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Coming up this Monday is another edition of…

If you would like to join in the MMGM fun, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring and a link to your blog at gpcolo (at) gmail (dot) com
 (Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , | 3 Comments

MMGM for 12/3/18

Posted on December 3, 2018 by

                   

IMPORTANT DECEMBER MMGM REMINDER: MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY will be here the next two Mondays— December 10 and 17. On December 24th I’ll have a holiday wish with links to all the bloggers who have participated in MMGM this past year. On December 31st, I’ll reveal my picks for MG’s best in 2018 with a big GIVEAWAY!

MMGM will return to its regular schedule on January 7, 2019 and my second year of hosting. As for today, enjoy a great set of links…

HAPPY DECEMBER!  Here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE, I have a review of THE TURNAWAY GIRLS by Hayley Chewins. Click the snowflake to read all the details and then keep clicking below for more reviews and features.
June McCrary Jacobs at Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic has a multi-cultural picture book entitled ‘A World of Cookies for Santa‘. The book includes ‘delicious cookie recipes’.
Patricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews Blended by Sharon M. Draper a book that addresses what it feels like to be a biracial child.
Beth Mitchell at Imaginary Friends has a review of Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages.
Sue Heavenrich at Archimedes Notebook joins us this week with her look at a very cool book—Path to the Stars, My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist by Sylvia Acevedo.
Rosi Hollinbeck has a review and GIVEAWAY of The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden. Also… Don’t miss Rosi’s links for writers as they’re always helpful.
Andrea Mack at That’s Another Story has the poetic Missing Mike by Shari Green.
Michael Gettel-Gilmartin at Middle Grade Mafioso features Jenna Gavigan’s sweet theatrical story, LULU–THE BROADWAY MOUSE.
Karen Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads always has an informative MMGM post. Be sure to check out today’s feature and all of her other reviews the past week.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot in the parade, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring and a link to your blog at gpcolo (at) gmail (dot) com
(Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book you’re featuring)
You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, MMGM Links | Tagged | 1 Comment

THE TURNAWAY GIRLS

Posted on December 2, 2018 by

WELCOME TO ANOTHER MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!

The Turnaway Girls is set in Blightsend where singing is not allowed. The Masters — men and boys — make music with instruments. Women and girls trapped underground turn the music into gold. Twelve-year-old Delphernia Undersea hates her life, especially Mother Nine, the abusive caretaker.  Despiturnaway girls.jpgte the dangers, Delphernia sings in secret. Then one day a Master claims her and takes the young girl above ground where mysteries abound.

This elegantly told fantasy is like a poem stretched to bring meaning to your true self through music. Delphernia take center stage as the first-person narrator and like her, readers will at times be thoroughly confused by what is happening. Thankfully, all is explained by the climatic end. The final sixty pages gave the plot a needed push and saved the story.

Like myself, I’m sure many teachers and librarians will gush over the lyrical qualities of the book. The problem is the targeted MG age group may have a hard time wrapping themselves up in this fantastical tale. Regardless, I look forward to what comes next for this debut author.

THE OFFICIAL BLURB (From AMAZON)

Delphernia Undersea wants to sing. But everyone on Blightsend knows music belongs to the Masters — and girls with singing throats are swallowed by the sea.On the strange, stormy island of Blightsend, twelve-year-old Delphernia Undersea has spent her whole life in the cloister of turnaway girls, hidden from sea and sky by a dome of stone and the laws of the island. Outside, the Masters play their music. Inside, the turnaway girls silently make that music into gold. Making shimmer, Mother Nine calls it. But Delphernia can’t make shimmer. She would rather sing than stay silent. When a Master who doesn’t act like a Master comes to the skydoor, it’s a chance for Delphernia to leave the cloister. Outside the stone dome, the sea breathes like a wild beast, the sky watches with stars like eyes, and even the gardens have claws. Outside, secrets fall silent in halls without sound. And outside, Delphernia is caught — between the island’s sinister Custodian and its mysterious Childer-Queen. Between a poem-speaking prince and a girl who feels like freedom. And in a debut that glimmers with hope and beauty, freedom — to sing, to change, to live — is precisely what’s at stake.

FIVE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT:

THE TURNAWAY GIRLS

  1. The cover does its job providing intrigue to what lies ahead for readers. Delphernia sings and in turn it raises your curiosity.
  2. Stereotyped gender roles and believing everything you hear are two of the powerful themes waiting for a discussion.
  3. The two antagonists, one above and one below ground,  give you the chills at their nastiness. Well done villains are hard to create, but these two were fantastic foils.
  4. The prince was an interesting character I wanted to know more about. Bly’s presence was always welcome and his upbringing brought a satisfied surprise.
  5. Beautifully written and many of the pages will have you rereading to take in the mastery of the written word.

FAVORITE LINE

The wind catches the door again and flings it shut over the boy’s head. He jumps, but he keeps climbing down. And then we are held, the three of us, in the cloister’s quiet: me, and Mother Nine, and a boy who could have killed me.

A QUOTE FROM THE AUTHOR, HAYLEY CHEWINS

One polished draft and two rough drafts.

I’ve never done this before. I’ve always thought of myself as a one-project-at-a-time sort of writer. But if there’s anything I’ve learnt about writing (and life) it’s this: never assume anything you know about yourself is unchangeable. You can change anything if you really want to.

(For more about how Hayley writes three books at the same time, visit her blog).

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I received a copy of the book for my honest review.  Make a comment if you have time. I enjoy reading all of them.

If you missed Friday’s post, I’m giving a away a four book series on The Renaissance. Click here to read all about it with details on how to enter.

renaissancebooks

 

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 5 Comments