So I have a question-What makes books like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Twilight become part of the pop culture of the time and yet others do not?  Is it good marketing?  Is it a good story? Is it a good publisher?  Good book jacket?  What?

I am going to add my 100+ books to this blog as well.  I keep thinking of great books that shape young minds for the better!

Between First Lego League Robotics club of 50+ kids (I have lost count!) and working with great students and teachers, I am a bit full on right now.  Keep checking back!

For a copy of the slideshow and movies and handouts from the presentation, please click on the above link.

I miss J.K. Rowlings writing and the web of mystery, adventure, and emotions that she weaves.  There are a lot of authors writing popular fantasy adventures, but none will compare to the phenomenon of Harry Potter.  My opinion about the reason it became so popular is that it brought families together.  Kids, Moms, and Dads were reading HP!  Families were reading aloud and talking about what they read.

You can read other people’s idea about the lessons that can be learned from Harry.

http://scotteblin.typepad.com/blog/2011/07/harry-potter-as-servant-leader.html is an interesting blog about the leadership qualities of Harry…I would like to add that Neville also presents some interesting leadership qualities as well.

For some cultures, reading for pleasure is a relatively new phenomenon. I was recently listening to a parent discuss how much their family is enjoying all the reading their child is doing in the primary grade. She shared that she really didn’t come from a reading culture, and was enjoying the process of creating a “love of reading” culture at home. It is certain that great parent-child discussions are happening in the home because of this reading culture.

Developing your child’s habit of reading for pleasure can be quite tricky, especially if they think reading is not fun! Most likely you already know whether your child enjoys being read to or reads silently. So what to do if they don’t? Here are a few ideas that might help your family become a reading family. Caution: All ideas come with a dose of patience, persistence, and consistency.

Idea #1: Make reading aloud a family event that brings everyone together…no matter what the age. A former colleague who taught technology classes in the States wanted to have more discussions with her middle school and high school children. She bought a book that neither child had read and began to read one chapter at dinner every night. It only took 1 chapter before they were hooked. They spent several years reading aloud after that. Key to this success was to get an exciting book that the children will love. What book did my friend read? Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone; It had just come out. Now is a great time in children’s literature for fast-paced action packed thrillers. Ask your school librarian for some recommendations.

Idea #2: Do you have a young child that won’t sit still for stories? Read in the bathtub! Take bath time back from your ayi, and read stories aloud no matter how much he or she is splashing. Read poetry, sing songs, or read the same book over and over. They will be able to recite that book before you can. You are building language skills, patterns, rhythm, and wonderful brain stimulation. I found some great plastic books at cheap stores that my children pretended to read while I read to them. We also practice letters, numbers, and spelling with shaving cream on the walls in the tub. Bathrooms are wonderful teaching environments.

Idea #3: Create special reading places in your home where only reading can happen. We had a wonderful pre-k teacher who brought in a plastic swimming pool to her classroom and filled it with books. The children enjoyed leaning against the side of the pool and reading. Tents abound in Shanghai; create a reading tent. Go inside together with a flashlight and read books together. Get a beanbag, a comfy chair, or under the table to create a special reading environment. Make it unique!

Idea #4: In any of those fun reading spaces above, get together and tell stories! I can already hear people complaining that they are not good at storytellers. We are all expert storytellers about our own life and those of our family and friends. My children love the stories about me…like the time I landed in a mud puddle on my bike and you could only see the whites of my eyes. As they get older, I tell them stories about themselves when they were younger. WARNING: They will begin telling stories about you from their memories.  At least you can correct their erroneous recounts!

Becoming a reading family may take some persistence, but the rewards are “priceless”!

By Barbara Boyer

Elementary Librarian, Shanghai American School – Pudong Campus

Book Reviews from Shanghai American School Librarians…

Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran

Xinran, the author of the bestseller The Good Women of China, has written another book on Chinese women, this time focusing on their relationship with their newborn daughters. As the book’s subtitle states, the author examines stories of love and loss, referring to the love and heartache that Chinese women feel when confronted with the fact that they have not given birth to the desired son.   The stories can be a hard read for someone not familiar with the harsh realities that Chinese women and their families faced in times past, though not necessarily distant, when a baby girl was born. Land, prestige, an heir to the family name and sometimes survival itself were often on the line when a woman went into labor, and the delivery of a baby girl more often than not dashed those hopes and unfortunately the newborn infants were the first to feel the pain. Over her career as a radio broadcaster and author, Xinran has interviewed many heartbroken mothers who often live a life of despair, wondering whatever became of their little girl. It is through their pain and stories that Xinran wants to pass a message on to adopted Chinese daughters living around the world. Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother is one book that you will find difficult to put down. (Ages: Adult)

Review by Jeff Barrons, High School Librarian on the Puxi Campus

Linda Bailey, a well-known Canadian children’s author, is coming to Shanghai in March 2012! She will be hosted by the Shanghai American School for two weeks and will consider visiting other schools in Shanghai too.

She is a prolific writer of novels, picture, non-fiction and history books. We love Stanley the Party Dog, and the Stevie Diamond mysteries are also exciting. The Good Times Travel Agency gives some time-traveling experiences to the Binkerton family – and provides very good historical information too.

Take a look at her website: lindabaileybooks.com! Her books can be ordered through the Blue Fountain website in Shanghai. (Ages 4-10)

The Tale of Rhonda Rabbit by Sarah Brennan

The newest book in the Chinese Calendar Tales is out and about and giving children a thrill as they always do! Rhonda is just soooo naughty, sneaking into the Emperor’s vegetable garden and stealing his lovely greens. And then we have a beloved and very wicked cat thrown into the mix. Who is going to come out the winner in this exciting story?

Sarah has a very good website (sarah-brennan.com) and loves to do school visits. Her books are readily available in Shanghai too. (Ages: 5-10)

Review by Rosemary Kinyanjui, Elementary Librarian on the Puxi Campus

Scorpia Rising: An Alex Rider Mission by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider is now fifteen years old and more than ready to leave behind all the pain and suffering that Alan Blunt and MI6 have brought to his life. They promised to never involve him again…until Alex is attacked by a sniper at school and his best friend is shot. Somehow this attack, the shootings in the London Museum, the helicopter crash in the Thames, and breakout of an inmate from a high security prison in Gibraltar will bring Alex back into the business of spying at an elite private international school in Cairo, Egypt. Who is the evil behind these well-planned events? The answer is Scorpia, the international criminal organization that killed Alex’s family and tried to kill Alex himself several times! In this final Alex Rider adventure, fans will be swept away with the fast-paced action, surprised by some well-know characters (Smithers!) and torn apart by the chain of events.   Strap yourself in and eat a big snack because you won’t put it down until it is over…and it is over! (Ages: 10-15)

Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

Turtle is a self-described hard-shelled girl. Not mean, but certainly a realist. In this year’s Newbery Honor book, Turtle has to travel to Key West, Florida, in June 1935, to live with family whom she has never met because her mom is a housekeeper for a woman who doesn’t like kids.   Turtle doesn’t really blame the woman because she too has met many mean kids. Turtle is unpleasantly surprised when she finds her family is mostly made up of rough boy cousins. She uses her brains to hold her own against this fun-loving diaper gang group (you will have to read the book to find out about the gang). There are many different “treasures” in this Depression era book, but none as valuable as the relationships of these colorful characters in Key West. This book will bring you sunshine on a cold wet day! (Ages: 9-12)

Reviews submitted by Barbara Boyer, Elementary Librarian on the Pudong Campus

SchoolLibrarianSymposium

Steps:

Session 1:  Read David McPhail’s Edward and the Pirates…How a boy learns to read by becoming one of the characters.  Also read David Wiezneski’s The Three Pigs…How the characters leave the story to go into other stories.

Session 2: Students will choose a favorite book…then choose 2-3 pages that are their favorite, that really tell the story for them without giving the ending.  After looking at the pages we will choose 1 page to “go into” .  We will have to look at how artistically a person can be set in without disturbing the picture.   They will choose where they want to be on the page with sticky notes.  Students will complete a book report style template that they will read while in their picture.

I love (this book) by (the author).  It is (adjective).  My favorite picture is (). I hope that you will read this book because ().  See if you can find me!

(In between time, library staff will take pictures of the pages and get them into Photobooth.

Session 3:  10 student at a time will open Photobooth, find their picture, and practice getting in front of the picture.  (We have 10 laptops).  Begin taking 1 student at a time in front of the green screen.

Session 4:  Students getting into the pictures using Photobooth.

(Take all photos to create a slideshow using Pages)…Hide and Seek in our Favorite Books.
Finished the first project on January 24th…See the slideshow..

How could taking away the physical, tactile, experience of reading a book be a good thing for a young child?  I still don’t think that it is, but I do believe that the publishing industry is making great strides with more interactive books and of course the new Ipads will be changing many reading habits.  Where will it all go, not sure, but it will change.  I can handle the change, when I believe that it is what’s best for children.

My student centered philosophy is what led me to a great article in SLG about the attempts of a school administrator to go paperless now.  The writer, who is from the publishing industry (vested interest of course), summarizes that it will happen, but the quality of digital material is not available right now and students will miss out.

Balance would be the key here.  Instead of huge pendelum swings, I would like to see my present library system adopt some of both. Let’s begin exploring and developing our digital libraries and devices, but let’s not throw out the physical books yet.  When access to current good quality ebooks are availabe, then I too will be ready to get rid of the having to reach down to shelve on the bottom shelf!

If I have peaked your interest, please visit SLJ at the following link and read the entire article.  Enjoy and react!

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/reviewsgrade5andup/857994-316/the_biggest_losers.html.csp

The Emperor of Nihon Ja by John Flanagan…#10 in the Ranger’s Apprentice series. Fast paced adventures books for ages 9+ (Boys really like this series)

Yet another satisfying adventure of Will, Horace, and Halt.  As with the other books in this series, we are entertained with the innocent humor of the hulking Skandians.  Halt, the terse senior ranger, and Will, quick-witted and positive-spirited young ranger, again show their keen sense of military strategy as they search for Horace who has gone missing in the Nihon-Ja Kingdom for some months.  Unbeknownst to Will and Halt, Horace, the ever honorable knight, has chosen to defend his new friend, the Emperor, from a coup attempt by the Senshi warriors.  As important as all this is, Alyss and Evalyn (Princess Cassandra) steal most of the action in this book.  They must find a race of shaggy giants from across the big lake, fight a night terror, and bring an army to save the Nihon-Ja Emperor and their friends.  Beyond all the outside threats, the most serious battle these young women face is how not to kill each other!  They must become friends to overcome the challenges that will take their friends’ life!

Love Aubrey by Suzanne M. LaFleur  Ages 10+  (A good read aloud)

A story of grieving and the long road to recovery.  Aubrey is abandoned by her mother after the mother “loses it” from mourning the loss of the husband and youngest daughter death in a car accident.  Aubrey, grieving and alone, shuts herself away and becomes “independent” until her grandmother arrives to provide a solid support for her.  She moves to live with her grandmother in Vermont.  Aubrey’s mother is finally found, but recovering takes a long time…sometimes a lifetime.  Wonderfully written!

We Can’t All Be Rattlesnakes by Patrick Jennings Ages 8+ (Something for all ages-Good read aloud) (Boys will like this book)

I picked up this book because of the title. Clever titles do make a difference. This is a great book about what it is like to be kept prisoner against your will and whether it is right to keep wild animals for pets…all written from the point of view from the animals kept in prison.   I really liked it when the snake bit the boy’s friend!  My favorite statement is from the snake of course “Raising one’s offspring is definitely for birds and mammals!”  Funny, action-packed, and with some deep philosophical views; something for everyone!

You Wouldn’t Want To Salariya Book series now published by Franklin Watts and Scholastic Press.  Ages 8 +

This nonfiction series displays the not so glorious side of life while participating in some of history’s most famous events.

Titles in this series include:

You Wouldn’t Want to be in the First Submarine! An Undersea Expedition You’d Rather Avoid by Ian Graham

You Wouldn’t Want to be a Greek Athlete!: Races You’d Rather Not Run by Michael Ford

You Wouldn’t Want to Be Tutankhamen! A Mummy Who Really Got Meddled With by David Stewart

You Wouldn’t Want to Travel With Captain Cook! A Voyage You’d Rather Not Make by Mark Bergin

For more information about this series, visit http://www.salariya.com/wouldnt/pages/wouldnt.html to see what else you wouldn’t want to do.

For more “Book Buzz”, check the tab at the top or find me on Barbara B on http://www.shelfari.com